HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2147        FILED ON: 1/15/2025

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Bruce J. Ayers

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act relative to modernization of insurance laws.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2147        FILED ON: 1/15/2025

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 932 OF 2023-2024.]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)

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An Act relative to modernization of insurance laws.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

Section 123 of said chapter 175, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out the second paragraph and inserting in place thereof the following paragraph:

No life insurance company shall accept or take action on any request to change the designation of beneficiary under any policy of life or endowment insurance unless the identity of the person requesting the change is verified by the insurance company to the extent reasonable and practicable. Verification may include a disinterested person witnessing the signature of the person requesting the change, or other proof acceptable to the insurance company. For purposes of this section, a disinterested person is one who is over eighteen years of age and not designated as a beneficiary in the requested change. Upon receipt and acceptance of the change of designation of beneficiary, the insurance company shall provide written notice of the change to the policy owner at the owner's last known address.