The Arkansas Insurance Department has confirmed that Commissioner Alan McClain (pictured above) will step down from his position at the end of August to return to the private sector.
McClain was appointed to the role on April 3, 2020, by then-Gov. Asa Hutchinson and continued to serve under Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders.
His service spanned a period of significant market shifts, including insurer withdrawals from certain coverage areas and evolving consumer protection priorities.
Hutchinson appointed McClain to the role in 2020 following the resignation of former commissioner Allen Kerr, who also left for a private sector position. His current term was scheduled to run through 2027.
According to Ballotpedia, McClain holds a bachelor’s degree from Hendrix College and a master of public administration from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. As commissioner, he led an office with a fiscal year 2025 budget of approximately $194.8 million.
His role carried a state salary of $158,400 and oversight responsibilities that included regulating insurers, managing the state workers’ compensation system, and ensuring compliance with state insurance laws.
McClain began his career in state government in 1992 when he joined the Arkansas Insurance Department after working at Sedgwick Insurance Group. He later spent 13 years with the Arkansas Workers’ Compensation Commission, including nine years as chief executive officer.
He also served as commissioner for Arkansas Rehabilitation Services, overseeing programs for residents with disabilities and the state’s administration of the federal Vocational Rehabilitation Act.
McClain’s professional service includes positions on the Arkansas Workforce Development Board and the Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities. He has also held leadership roles as president of the International Association of Industrial Accident Boards & Commissions and the Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation.
Elsewhere in the state, a recent regulatory development means that licensed home inspectors in Arkansas will now need to carry more specialized insurance coverage following the enactment of House Bill 1625, now designated Act 974.
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