Latest Legislation Headlines

All the headlines from our Legislation Topic Page, ordered by recency.

Judge in Chicago Tosses Ex-NHL Player’s Parents’ Wrongful Death Lawsuit

Jun 8 2017 // A federal judge in Chicago has dismissed a wrongful death lawsuit filed by former NHL player Derek Boogard’s parents, who blamed the league for their son’s brain damage and addiction to prescription...

Flood Program Reauthorization: Why Congress Must Act

Jun 8 2017 // As the clock ticks down toward expiration of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), the task ahead is clear. Congress must pass an on-time, multi-year reauthorization bill that simplifies the overly complicated NFIP,...

Congress May Override State Rules on Self-Driving Vehicle Testing

Jun 8 2017 // Congress is working on national self-driving vehicle legislation that could replace state-by state rules and make it easier for automakers to test and deploy the technology, senior U.S. House and Senate lawmakers told...

Florida’s Chief Fraud Fighter Moves On: Atwater Recalls Successes, Frustrations With Industry

Jun 8 2017 // Lifelong Florida resident, long-time Florida politician, and head of the Florida Department of Financial Services (DFS), Jeff Atwater shocked the state when he announced in February he would step down as chief financial...

Why Insurance Lawyer Grounded FAA’s Drone Registry

Jun 7 2017 // John Taylor didn’t like the idea of being forced by the Federal Aviation Administration to register his drones. The requirement was “authoritarian,” the Maryland attorney said, and wouldn’t deter...

Georgia High Court Rules Six Flags to Pay $35M to Man Beaten Near Park

Jun 7 2017 // The Georgia Supreme Court says a man who was severely beaten while leaving Six Flags Over Georgia a decade ago can collect $35 million in legal damages from the amusement park and his attackers. The ruling by...

Missouri Lawmakers Eliminate Funding for Sobriety Checkpoints

Jun 6 2017 // Missouri lawmakers effectively eliminated funding for sobriety checkpoints for the fiscal year that begins in July, a move by a core group of critical conservative Republicans that officials say could hinder or end the...

Automakers Seek Changes to Federal Autonomous Vehicle Guidelines

Jun 6 2017 // President Donald Trump’s administration will unveil revised self-driving guidelines within the next few months, the head of the U.S. Transportation Department said on Monday, responding to automakers’ calls for...

Georgia Lawmaker Panel to Study Distracted Driving

Jun 6 2017 // A panel of Georgia lawmakers plans to study the effect of drivers who are distracted by cell phones and other technology. House Speaker David Ralston appointed 7 Republicans and 3 Democrats to a study committee on the...

Connecticut Governor Says State Senate Bill Ignores Insurance Industry Concerns

Jun 5 2017 // Connecticut Governor Dannel P. Malloy sharply criticized the Connecticut Senate for unanimously passing legislation early Friday that creates a new mandate for health insurers, arguing the bill shows a “lack of...

Lawmakers Ask Supreme Court to Weigh Veterans’ vs. Employers’ Rights in Workplace

Jun 5 2017 // Nineteen lawmakers are testing their luck at the Supreme Court, asking the justices to take up a case on whether military reservists’ unfair dismissal claims can be forced into arbitration by their civilian...

Texas Lawmakers Pass ‘Hailstorm’ Litigation Bill

Jun 5 2017 // Legislation backed by the insurance industry and some Texas business groups that curtails the ability of policyholders to sue insurance companies over property claims following extreme weather events passed the state...

California Governor Looking Around World for Climate Changes Allies

Jun 2 2017 // Looking for allies in the fight against climate change, California Gov. Jerry Brown headed to China this week in a push to build foreign support for carbon-cutting efforts that have found resistance in...

Statewide Ride-Hailing Regulation Bill Signed by Texas Governor

Jun 1 2017 // A bill that preempts local regulations for ride-hailing companies in Texas and replaces them statewide standards has been signed by Gov. Greg Abbott. HB 100, sponsored in the Senate by Georgetown Sen. Charles Schwertner,...

Uber, Lyft Statewide Regulation Bill Deemed Dead in Louisiana

Jun 1 2017 // Louisiana won’t join 44 other states in regulating ride-hailing services such as Uber and Lyft after a proposal to standardize rules and expand access to smaller cities was blocked by New Orleans lawmakers, the...

California Lawmakers May Allow Consumers to Sue Banks Instead of Arbitration

Jun 1 2017 // California lawmakers are making headway on legislation to allow state residents to sue financial institutions for fraud, rather than letting banks force customers to settle disputes in arbitration. The state Senate passed...

12 States Have Advanced Tougher Distracted Driving Bills This Year

Jun 1 2017 // As auto accidents and fatalities increase on America’s roads, a dozen states have taken legislative action this year to further combat distracted driving. According to an analysis by the Property Casualty Insurers...

China Initiates Tough Cyber Law, Despite Resistance from Foreign Businesses

Jun 1 2017 // China ushered in a tough new cyber security law on Thursday, following years of fierce debate around the controversial legislation that many foreign business groups fear will hit their ability to operate in the...

Japan Readies Strategy for Drones, Autonomous Vehicles

May 30 2017 // Japan aims to finalize on June 9 plans to allow package delivery by drone sometime from 2020 and the commercialization of self-driving trucks by 2022, as it scrambles to breathe new life into its corporate sector, sources...

Flood Insurance Looks Like One Area of Bipartisan Agreement

May 30 2017 // Democrats and Republicans, who have agreed on little this year, have found common ground on plans to give private insurers greater access to the $5 billion flood insurance program and to offer more buyouts for homeowners...