Relating to the duties of insurers under medical malpractice insurance policies

Where it is now

1. ✓
   Done: IntroducedJanuary 13, 2025
2. ✓
   Done: SubcommitteeJanuary 15, 2025
3. ✕
   Stopped: Senate committeeDied when the General Assembly ended
4. Next: Passes the Senate
5. Next: House committeeFunnel: by March 20, 2026
6. Next: Passes the House
7. Next: To the Governor
8. Next: Signed into law

Died when the session ended The General Assembly adjourned on October 2, 2026. Bills that didn’t pass both chambers died. What’s a funnel?

What’s in it

This bill provides that an insurance company insuring a health care provider against professional negligence shall negotiate in good faith all claims presented to the provider. If a claimant offers to settle within the policy limits and the insurer refuses or declines the offer and the claim proceeds to judgment in excess of the policy limit, the insurance company is liable for the full amount regardless of policy limitation. The insurance company has a duty to negotiate a settlement within policy limits if an offer has been made by the claimant at or within the policy limits. If the insurance company fails to do so, the health care provider has a cause of action against the insurance company.

From the explanation printed with the bill as introduced, written by the Legislative Services Agency. Amendments adopted later aren’t reflected. Full bill text

Senate subcommittee

Named January 15, 2025. It hasn’t reported yet.

• Sen. Scott Webster REmail
• Sen. Adrian Dickey REmail
• Sen. Janet Petersen DEmail

Three legislators hear a bill first and recommend what the committee should do; it’s the best time to weigh in. How to take part

Iowa Code it changes

Creates§507B.4D

Read from the bill as introduced. Each links to every bill touching that chapter of the Iowa Code. How the Code works

Family tree

Where this legislation came from and where it went: earlier tries, the versions it moved through this Assembly, and later bills built on it.

Earlier and later bills are matched by wording or an identical title; check the text to be sure it’s the same idea.

Tried before

This idea has been filed in an earlier General Assembly. None got through a chamber.

• SF 430 Relating to the duties of insurers under medical malpractice insurance policies
  90th General Assembly · In committee · same title
  Cleared committee

Matched by the wording of each bill’s explanation, or an identical title. Companion bills and renumbered versions of this bill aren’t listed; they’re the same bill.