NAIC Sets 2026 Priorities on Capital, Data, and AI

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) has adopted its 2026 strategic priorities, outlining a regulatory agenda focused on capital standards, data modernization, catastrophe resilience, and oversight of emerging technologies.

The organization said the priorities reflect changes in the insurance marketplace and broader risk environment. NAIC President Scott A. White, Virginia insurance commissioner, pointed to the association's structure and history as central to its approach.

"At the NAIC, a deep bench of 56 members representing each US state and five territories brings expert skills, backgrounds, and perspectives to today's challenges and opportunities," Mr. White said. "For more than 150 years, our state-based system has led amid change. Our 2026 strategic priorities continue that tradition, reinforced, as always, by our fundamental commitment to working together to regulate the insurance industry and protect consumers."

Among the top initiatives is enhancing capital and investment frameworks. As regulators move to finalize and implement a new investment and capital regime, the NAIC said it will work to ensure reforms are well vetted, balanced, feasible, and harmonized across states. The effort is intended to strengthen regulatory oversight and help ensure insurers can meet obligations to policyholders in a shifting investment environment.

The NAIC also plans to expand its data architecture and analytical capabilities. In 2026, the association will seek to deepen its role as a data aggregator and analytics provider, strengthening early warning monitoring and supporting more proactive regulatory oversight, risk identification, peer review, and policy development.

Catastrophe risk and climate-related exposures remain a focus. The NAIC said it will continue efforts to close protection gaps and support preparedness and recovery as policyholders and insurers face escalating natural disaster risks. Planned actions include additional guidance, encouraging resilience measures; regulatory guidance on catastrophe modeling, exposures, stress testing, and climate disclosures; and coordination with federal and state officials to align insurance regulation with broader resilience initiatives.

Emerging technology oversight rounds out the 2026 agenda. The NAIC said it will advance frameworks addressing cyber security threats and insurers' use of technology and data, pilot an artificial intelligence (AI) evaluation tool, and expand regulator expertise through education and training. The association said the state-based system is positioned to oversee innovation while safeguarding policyholders.

The 2026 priorities signal continued emphasis on coordinated state regulation as insurers navigate capital markets volatility, climate risk, and accelerating technological change.