Small Business Health Fairness Act of 2005

Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S4173)

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Feb 16, 2005

Small Business Health Fairness Act of 2005 - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to provide for establishment and governance of association health plans (AHPs), which are group health plans whose sponsors are trade, industry, professional, chamber of commerce, or similar business associations, and which meet certain ERISA certification requirements. (Thus, through ERISA preemption of State laws, certified AHPs are exempted from State regulation of health insurance providers, including State consumer protection laws and State requirements for health care benefits to be offered by such entities, with certain exceptions.)

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Sen. Snowe, Olympia J. [R-ME] · R–ME

Committees

Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee

15 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

May 9, 2006
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S4173)
Apr 21, 2005
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 109-120.
Feb 16, 2005
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text of measure as introduced: CR S1542-1549)
Feb 16, 2005
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1541-1542)
Feb 16, 2005
Introduced in Senate

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in Senate · Feb 16, 2005 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

HR 525 · Small Business Health Fairness Act of 2005

Source last updated: Dec 5, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

AI Conversation Starters

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Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze S.406 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

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Discuss S.406, 109th Congress: Small Business Health Fairness Act of 2005

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/109th-congress/senate-bill/406

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2005-02-16.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/109/bills/s406/BILLS-109s406is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-12-05T13:30:30Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze S.406 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine S.406 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

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Discuss S.406, 109th Congress: Small Business Health Fairness Act of 2005

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/109th-congress/senate-bill/406

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2005-02-16.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/109/bills/s406/BILLS-109s406is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-12-05T13:30:30Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.406 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine S.406 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

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Discuss S.406, 109th Congress: Small Business Health Fairness Act of 2005

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/109th-congress/senate-bill/406

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2005-02-16.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/109/bills/s406/BILLS-109s406is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-12-05T13:30:30Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.406 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine S.406 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.406, 109th Congress: Small Business Health Fairness Act of 2005

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/109th-congress/senate-bill/406

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2005-02-16.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/109/bills/s406/BILLS-109s406is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-12-05T13:30:30Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.406 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.