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News Releases

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Date Posted	2025 News Releases
June 11	Assistant Insurance Commissioner announces retirement Kansas Assistant Insurance Commissioner Barbara Rankin announces retirement
June 9	Insurance Commissioner to offer assistance Kansas Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt to offer assistance to Butler County residents
June 4	Consumer Connection Summer shopping for home insurance
May 23	World Elder Abuse Awareness Day Kansas Department of Insurance to participate in World Elder Abuse Awareness Day
May 21	Commissioner to offer assistance in Grinnell Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt to offer assistance in Grinnell
May 16	Consumer Connection Prepare your home this Wildfire Awareness Month
May 13	Commissioner halts Securities Act fees Kansas Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt halts millions in Securities Act fees
May 2	Financial literacy scholarships awarded Kansas Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt awards financial literacy scholarships
Apr 22	Commissioner Schmidt’s auto insurance verification legislation signed into laws New legislation establishing a system for the instant verification of auto insurance has been signed into law.
Apr 17	2024 Storm season claims cost millions Kansas storm season insurance claims cost $612 million
Apr 15	Fees reduced by millions Kansas Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt to reduce fees by millions
Apr 7	JA students receive scholarships Junior Achievement students receive financial literacy scholarships
Apr 4	KCEE students receive financial literacy scholarships KCEE students receive financial literacy scholarships from the Kansas Department of Insurance
Apr 2	Guidance to Consumers on Insurance Company Liquidation Commissioner Schmidt released a new FAQ for consumers and agents impacted by the recent liquidation of Key Insurance Company
Mar 21	Consumer Connection Be prepared for storm season
Mar 13	Students receive scholarships JAG-K students receive financial literacy scholarships from the Kansas Department of Insurance
Feb 18	Consumer Connection Break the ice with steps to combat winter weather
Jan 24	Millions recovered for policyholders Commissioner Schmidt announces millions in recoveries for Kansas policyholders
Jan 17	Committee Assignments NAIC Committee Assignments
Date Posted	2024 News Releases
Dec 18	Consumer Connection Ask about defensive driver discounts
Nov 26	Commissioner Schmidt Named Chair Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt named NAIC Midwest Zone Chair
Nov 1	Anti-Fraud Friday Healthcare Marketplace a target for fraud
Oct 29	New General Counsel Commissioner Schmidt names new General Counsel
Oct 17	Health Insurance Market Overview Commissioner Schmidt releases 2025 Kansas Health Insurance Market Overview.
Aug 30	Cowley County woman sentenced Arkansas City woman sentenced for insurance fraud
Aug 26	Wichita man sentenced Wichita man sentenced to prison for securities fraud
Aug 7	Consumer Connection Add insurance to your back-to-school checklist
Jul 3	Consumer Connection Practice grill safety this Fourth of July
Jun 27	Firefighters Distribution 2024 Kansas Firefighters receive $18.9 million from Kansas Department of Insurance
Jun 24	Consumer Connection National Insurance Awareness Day
May 31	Butler County man sentenced for insurance fraud Commissioner Schmidt announced a Kansas man has been sentenced for insurance fraud
May 24	(Anti) Fraud Friday Contractor fraud costs us all
May 17	Storm season insurance claims cost $442 million in 2023 Commissioner Schmidt released data on storm damage claims in 2023.
May 9	Department awards scholarships to finalists of financial literacy essay contest Commissioner Schmidt announced the overall winner of the financial literacy essay contest.
May 3	Commissioner offers assistance to tornado victims Commissioner Schmidt offers assistance to victims of Westmoreland tornado.
May 2	Consumer Connection Life Insurance Awareness Day
May 1	Junior Achievement students receive scholarships Three Junior Achievement participants are the winners of essay scholarship contest.
Apr 26	Injunction Issued Injunction issued against Smith General Ventures, LLC
Apr 23	Securities bills signed into law Two securities bills introduced by the Kansas Department of Insurance designed to protect vulnerable Kansans have been signed into law.
Apr 19	KCEE students receive financial literacy scholarships Three KCEE students win a financial literacy essay scholarship contest sponsored by the Securities Division of the Kansas Department of Insurance.
Mar 21	JAG-K students receive financial literacy scholarships Kansas Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt announced three participants as winners.
Mar 8	Consumer Connection Check insurance as storm season arrives.
Mar 4	Overland Park man sentenced for insurance fraud Kansas Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt announced an Overland Park man has been sentenced for insurance fraud.
Feb 27	Cease and Desist Order Cease-and-desist order for alleged violations of Kansas Uniform Securities Act
Feb 16	(Anti) Fraud Friday The red flags of romance scams
Jan 23	Commissioner Schmidt announces committee assignments Commissioner Schmidt announced she will be serving on three committees for the NAIC
Jan 19	Sedgwick County man sentenced for insurance fraud Kansas man has been sentenced to 12 months of probation for insurance fraud
Jan 17	Department recovers millions Insurance Department recovers over $16 million for Kansas policyholders
Date Posted	2023 News Releases
Dec 15	(Anti) Fraud Friday Understanding your Explanation of Benefits
Dec 8	Guidance on surplus lines tax reduction Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt released guidance on reduced surplus lines tax rate.
Nov 16	Leavenworth man sentenced for insurance fraud Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt announced a Leavenworth man has been sentenced for insurance fraud.
Oct 27	(Anti) Fraud Friday New investment scam combines AI and cryptocurrency.
Oct 25	2024 Overview Released Commissioner Vicki Schmidt releases 2024 Overview of the Kansas Health Insurance Market.
Oct 19	Producer licensing fees reduced Commissioner Schmidt reduces producer licensing fees by $1.2 million.
Oct 9	Kansas man sentenced for violation An Olathe man has been sentenced for violation of securities injunction.
Oct 5	Health plan rates for 2024 now available 2024 rates for individual and small group health insurance plans have been finalized
Sep 27	Consumer Connection Life Insurance Awareness Month: Check for unclaimed benefits
Sep 15	Kansas woman sentenced for fraud A Kansas woman has been sentenced for insurance fraud.
Sep 7	Group-Funded Pools Commissioner eliminates fees and returns dollars to group-funded pools
Sep 1	20 years of Stock Market Game 2023 marks 20th year of Stock Market Game for Kansas students
Aug 23	Guidance to Consumers on Insurance Company Liquidation Commissioner Schmidt released a new FAQ following the order of liquidation of MutualAid eXchange (MAX)
Jul 28	(Anti) Fraud Friday Test your fraud awareness with SmartInvestKS.com
Jul 19	Consumer Connection After the Storm
Jul 14	(Anti) Fraud Friday Protect your ride
Jul 7	Consumer Connection Rise of the robo-adviser
Jun 19	Kansas firefighters receive annual distribution Kansas Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt announced that the Department has made its annual distribution to local Firefighter Relief Associations.
Jun 8	Reduced Securities Act fees by $8.25 million Kansas Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt announced that the assessment of fees for securities will be reduced by $8.25 million beginning in fiscal year 2024.
Jun 1	No Work Comp Assessment Kansas Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt announced no Workers Compensation Assessment for FY 2024.
Jun 1	Mobile office hours in Ford County Kansas Insurance Department to hold mobile office hours in Ford County.
May 26	(Anti) Fraud Friday Don’t fall prey to pig butchering scams
May 24	Consumer Connection Shopping for health insurance? Start here!
May 23	Scholarships awarded Kansas Insurance Department awards scholarships to finalists of financial literacy essay contest.
May 12	Junior Achievement students receive scholarships Junior Achievement students receive financial literacy scholarships from the Kansas Insurance Department.
May 10	Arizona man sentenced for securities violations Arizona man has been sentenced for three violations of the Kansas Uniform Securities Act.
May 5	(Anti) Fraud Friday Protect yourself from health insurance scams
May 3	Winners of financial literacy essay scholarship contest Chaparral High School students receive financial literacy scholarship
Apr 17	Consumer Connection Spring clean your investments this Financial Literacy Month
Apr 3	Ins Department to hold Mobile office hours in Geary County Kansas Insurance Department to hold mobile office hours in Geary County.
Mar 31	(Anti) Fraud Friday Watch out for fraud with Self-Directed IRAs.
Mar 24	Kansas joins settlement Kansas joins multistate settlement against cryptocurrency platform.
Mar 22	JAG-K students receive scholarships Three JAG-K participants receive financial literacy scholarships.
Mar 9	Livescan fingerprinting now available Livescan fingerprinting is now available at Kansas Insurance Department.
Mar 6	Consumer Connection Make sure you are covered for severe weather damage
Mar 3	Update to EHB open for comments Update to Kansas Essential Health Benefits Benchmark Plan open for public comment
Feb 24	(Anti) Fraud Friday Have an accident and no insurance? Don’t try to “past-post”.
Feb 20	Consumer Connection What to know about cryptocurrency and securities
Feb 10	Ins Department to hold Mobile office hours in Morris County Kansas Insurance Department to hold mobile office hours in Morris County.
Jan 30	Consumer Connection Don’t be left in the cold over winter weather insurance claims.
Jan 13	Ins Department recovers millions for policyholders Insurance Department recovers 7.6 million for Kansas policyholders.
Jan 9	Schmidt sworn in as Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt is sworn in for second term as Kansas Insurance Commissioner.
Jan 6	Arizona man pleads guilty to securities fraud Commissioner Schmidt announces Arizona man ordered to pay and serve time in prison.
Jan 4	New Public Affairs Manager Commissioner Schmidt names new Public Affairs Manager.

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Consumer Connections

Date Posted	2025 Consumer Connections
June 4	Consumer Connection Summer shopping for home insurance
May 16	Consumer Connection Prepare your home this Wildfire Awareness Month
Mar 21	Consumer Connection Be prepared for storm season
Feb 18	Consumer Connection Break the ice with steps to combat winter weather
Date Posted	2024 Consumer Connections
Dec 18	Consumer Connection Ask about defensive driver discounts
Aug 7	Consumer Connection Add insurance to your back-to-school checklist
Jul 3	Consumer Connection Practice grill safety this Fourth of July
Jun 24	Consumer Connection National Insurance Awareness Day
May 2	Consumer Connection Life Insurance Awareness Day
Mar 8	Consumer Connection Check insurance as storm season arrives.