Connecticut Senate Confirms Josh Hershman as 34th Insurance Commissioner

The article reports that Josh Hershman has been confirmed by the Connecticut Senate as the state’s 34th insurance commissioner. This finalizes a transition that started when he was appointed interim leader in December 2025.

It outlines his diverse background in regulation, insurance leadership, and data-driven innovation. The piece also touches on the tradeoffs and priorities shaping Connecticut’s insurance market—from affordability and availability to climate resilience and AI governance.

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The story places his confirmation in the context of a robust Connecticut market. This market stretches across major cities and towns, from Hartford to Greenwich and beyond.

Hershman’s confirmation signals continuity and a data-driven regulatory approach

The Senate voted unanimously to formalize Hershman’s role after Senate Resolution 8 on April 8, 2026. He’ll continue the Connecticut Insurance Department’s consumer‑focused stance and put more emphasis on technology and data to modernize supervision.

The CID keeps its NAIC‑accredited duties under his watch, covering solvency, market conduct, rate and form review, consumer protection, and licensing. Hershman now leads the agency with these responsibilities front and center.

A profile of the new commissioner

Key experiences and leadership roles shape how Hershman approaches state insurance policy. He’s built a mix of regulatory, carrier-management, and data‑innovation expertise over the years.

He served as CEO of the Immigrant Life Insurance Company of America and as executive director of openIDL. From 2019 to 2022, he worked as deputy commissioner and COO of the CID, where he led initiatives in AI, big data, and operational modernization.

Deputy Commissioner and COO at the Connecticut Insurance Department (CID), 2019–2022
Led AI, big data, and modernization projects to streamline regulatory processes
Experience in regulator‑industry collaboration and data governance
Former CEO roles in innovative life-insurance ventures

Regulatory priorities and consumer focus

Hershman plans to put more scrutiny on pricing, underwriting practices, and data use. He’s also expected to champion technology‑driven products that offer real benefits to consumers.

Connecticut’s top priorities with him at the helm include health insurance affordability, property insurance availability, and climate resilience. There’s also a focus on technology and data‑driven market changes.

What this means for Connecticut’s cities and insurers

Connecticut’s insurance market is big and influential, with more than 1,500 insurers licensed in the state as of late 2025. The Hartford region alone brings in over $16 billion each year in insurance‑sector output.

That’s a huge deal for communities all over the state, from the coast to interior towns. Hershman’s leadership points to continued, consumer‑focused oversight, along with a push for data governance, AI oversight, and more modern supervisory tools across Connecticut’s diverse markets.

Regional implications across Connecticut communities

As Connecticut’s insurance landscape shifts under Hershman, folks in all sorts of towns will be watching. They want to know what’ll happen with costs, coverage options, and efforts to boost resilience.

Here are a handful of communities where these changes might hit home first:

Hartford
New Haven
Bridgeport
Stamford
Waterbury
Norwalk
Danbury
Greenwich
Middletown
New Britain
Bristol
Milford
Norwich

In cities like Hartford and New Haven, policymakers and insurers are keeping a close eye on pricing, coverage access, and consumer protections. Climate risks keep rising, and new technology is changing how companies decide who gets insured and at what price.

Coastal and southern spots have their own headaches with property risks. Meanwhile, inland towns such as Danbury and Stamford could see some upside from new data-driven insurance products that might help with affordability and resilience.

The CID’s work connects with economic development in places like Bridgeport, Norwalk, and East Hartford. Insurers are trying to balance what regulators want with a market that just keeps shifting.

Here is the source article for this story: Connecticut Senate confirms Josh Hershman as state’s 34th insurance commissioner

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