By Katie Dzurec
Director, State Public Policy Outreach
The Academy and policymakers furthered important policy conversations at multiple sessions of March’s National Association of Insurance Commissioners’ (NAIC) 2026 Spring meeting in San Diego, which included reports to regulators, presentations to stakeholders, and informative discussions of committee priorities.
In addition to professionalism and public policy updates to the Life Actuarial Task Force (LATF), the Health Actuarial Task Force (HATF), and the Casualty and Actuarial and Statistical Task Force (CASTF), the Academy’s Research Director Steve Jackson showcased preliminary results on the Research Committee’s RBC-Impairment Project with the three risk-based capital (RBC) working groups, as well as with the Capital Adequacy and the RBC Model Governance Task Force.
Health Vice President Annette James shared key priorities for the Health Practice Council (HPC) at HATF, highlighting Health Insurance Market Stability Considerations, the HPC’s comment letter on the 2027 Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters, and the Health Equity Committee’s Broadening the Focus project and summit. And at CASTF, the Academy got to turn the spotlight to the latest issue brief from the Homeowners’ Insurance Task Force—Filling the Coverage Gap.
For their parts, the commissioners and NAIC staff also had plenty to share as they kicked off 2026 and delved into this year’s strategic priorities. In his opening session comments, Virginia Commissioner and NAIC President Scott White spoke about the risks life insurers are taking and the strategies they’re using to maintain adequate reserves. He also offered his perspective on enhancing capital and investment framework.
California Commissioner Ricardo Lara highlighted the importance of increasing resilience, encouraging commissioners and stakeholders alike to rethink everything they thought they knew about risk and resilience. He emphasized that resilience is a practice and a choice we make every day, calling particular attention to the P&C market. Lara noted the need to rebuild smarter and modernize tools with a focus on transparency, consumer protections, and fortification.
Finally, NAIC staff and state regulators provided some great examples of the ways they’re taking the lead on artificial intelligence (AI). NAIC Senior Behavioral Data Scientist and Actuary Dorothy Andrews shared insights on operationalizing the NAIC’s AI Model Bulletin—offering potential approaches for implementation as NAIC staff and regulators share lessons learned from the roll-out of the AI Evaluation Tool in pilot states.
Some changes in NAIC committee charges—both new charges and modifications to existing charges—were revealed at the meeting, providing an informative glimpse at new directions in some NAIC work flows and areas of interest. CASTF has a new charge to draft a white paper that will explain how homeowners’ insurance rates are regulated across states; the D Committee is taking a holistic look at the Market Conduct Exam Handbook (as hinted at by Commissioner White during his opening meeting remarks regarding his priority of enhancing market analysis); and the Natural Catastrophe Risk & Resilience (EX) Task Force has a new name and new charges to reflect the task force’s role of serving as the “primary coordinating body for regulatory actions, engagement, communication, and discussions related to natural catastrophe risk and resilience.”
Even as they plan their new work, the NAIC and its committees remain focused on access and affordability—which dominates conversations ranging from health care to property and casualty. During the opening session, guest speaker San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria spoke about his role as the vice president of the United States Conference of Mayors, and he noted that affordable housing, and the role insurance plays in the affordability conversation, remains a priority.
The NAIC’s broad portfolio of life insurance work continues to include hot topics like complex assets and offshore reinsurance, among others, as regulators and stakeholders (including the Academy) focus on changing risk profiles and how to modernize the investment framework. Conversations around RBC model governance and international relations also remain a part of the mix.
The Academy will continue its close tracking of developments at the NAIC, and its robust engagement thanks to our committed cadre of volunteers and staff. To learn more about Academy activities at the spring meeting, listen to the new Actuary Voices podcast, available April 9 (subscribe on your preferred platform to make sure you’re one of the first to know when new episodes are released). And keep an eye on this space to learn about the summer meeting scheduled for Columbus, Ohio, from Aug. 11 to 14.