Jimmy Harris has nearly 25 years of experience in the insurance industry, including roles as compliance director and examiner with the Arkansas Insurance Department, as well as work as a licensed agent. He serves on committees, task forces and working groups with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.
A lifelong Arkansan, he holds a bachelor’s degree in insurance and risk management from the University of Central Arkansas in Conway.
Harris served as deputy commissioner for market regulation before being appointed as commissioner by Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders in November.
What are your priorities for the Insurance Department in your first year as commissioner?
My top priority as commissioner is protecting Arkansas consumers and ensuring a fair, stable insurance marketplace. We are exploring ways to deliver our services to consumers, insurance agents and companies more effectively and efficiently by modernizing our systems, breaking down internal silos, and leveraging additional technology in our licensing and complaint handling processes. We will also take steps to support property insurance markets by enhancing mitigation and resilience efforts through the implementation of the Strengthen Arkansas Homes Program. This is a program designed to make homes more resistant to wind and hail damage by helping homeowners retrofit or build homes to meet Fortified Home construction standards. Act 427 also ensures Arkansans receive a discount on their homeowner’s insurance policy if they build or retrofit their home to meet these standards. Finally, we will continue to focus on an evolving insurance market that is increasingly using artificial intelligence technology in underwriting and claims handling. Most insurance laws, written many decades ago, did not contemplate how AI fits into unfair claims practices, rating laws and claims handling. We will continue to encourage innovation, but we must ensure responsible data management practices, strengthen transparency and disclosure requirements, and safeguard against systems that may produce unfairly discriminatory outcomes.
What are the most common complaints the Insurance Department receives?
The most common complaints arise when consumers disagree with their insurer’s determination on a claim, most often involving the amount paid or the timeliness of the payment. Other frequent reasons for complaints include poor communication, billing problems such as premium notices or refunds, delays or lack of response from the insurer, and confusion regarding coverage or policy terms. However, not all calls are complaints. The department fields several inquiries a day from Arkansans who have questions about their policy or what it covers. We encourage any Arkansan who has a question or concern about their policy to reach out, and we will do our best to assist them.
What worries you the most about the insurance landscape in Arkansas?
Arkansas has a robust insurance marketplace, so we are not overly concerned about any single issue. However, the greatest risk to the property insurance landscape across the South continues to be severe weather, particularly hail and severe convective storms here in Arkansas. We must shift our focus toward building stronger homes with more durable, resilient roofing systems. Doing so will not only help mitigate damage but also enhance long-term sustainability and reduce future costs.
Arkansas has seen significant property insurance rate increases recently, and some carriers are considering whether to underwrite in the state at all. What’s driving this, and does your office have any tools to help balance carrier stability with affordability?
A higher frequency and severity of severe convective storm losses led to extremely high pure loss ratios for property insurers in 2022 and 2023 in Arkansas. Insurers accounted for these factors through higher premiums, adjusted deductibles, tougher underwriting guidelines, and specific policy provisions to manage and distribute the associated financial risks. With better underwriting experience over the last couple of years, we remain cautiously optimistic regarding property insurance rates stabilizing heading into 2026.
What are your favorite aspects of the job?
People typically rely on their insurance policies during times of crisis, distress or significant loss. When they reach out to us for help, they are often frustrated and confused. By serving as a resource for restoration and stability in the aftermath of a crisis, we have the opportunity to serve Arkansans in an especially meaningful and rewarding way.
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