Latest Legislation Headlines
All the headlines from our Legislation Topic Page, ordered by recency.
EU Lawmakers Call for Law Regulating Rise of Robots, Including Self-Driving Cars
Feb 24 2017 // European lawmakers on Feb. 16 called for EU-wide legislation to regulate the rise of robots, including an ethical framework for their development and deployment and the establishment of liability for the actions of robots...
Lucky to Be Alive, Calling for a Revolution in Road Safety
Feb 24 2017 // Three weeks ago, I was walking home on a dark, snowy night in Concord, Massachusetts. The next thing I knew, I was in a hospital, hooked up to some kind of machine. I could not lift my legs or even my head. The doctors...
Judge Won’t Toss Bias Claims Over Louisiana Salon Inspections
Feb 23 2017 // A federal judge on has refused to dismiss a lawsuit that accuses Louisiana state regulators of racially discriminating against a group of Vietnamese-American nail salon owners. U.S. District Judge Brian Jackson’s...
Maine Lawmaker Wants to Block Car Insurance Hikes Based on Age
Feb 23 2017 // A Maine state senator is looking to protect senior citizens in the state from having car insurance rates go up because of their ages. Sen. Bill Diamond, a Windham Democrat, says his bill follows up on insurance giant...
With Growth of the Gig Economy, States Rethink How Workers Get Benefits
Feb 23 2017 // As more and more Americans hold nontraditional jobs that don’t have benefits attached — think freelance graphic designers or Uber drivers — cities and states are exploring ways to ensure those workers still have...
China Regulator Puts Brakes on Insurers’ 3-Year, $100-Billion Buying Spree
Feb 23 2017 // A regulatory clampdown on speculation by insurers and new limits on outbound capital flows are causing one of China’s most acquisitive industries to hit the brakes. Chinese insurers, after announcing almost $100...
Federal Appeals Court Rules Florida Doctors Can Ask Patients About Guns
Feb 23 2017 // A federal appeals court has ruled that Florida doctors can talk to patients about gun safety, declaring a law aimed at restricting such discussions a violation of the First Amendment’s right to free speech. The 11th...
Chicago Bears Seeking to Limit Players’ Workers’ Comp Benefits
Feb 22 2017 // Should injured pro athletes be allowed to earn workers’ compensation benefits until they are 67 years old, like other workers, even if their athletic careers normally would have ended more than 30 years earlier? That...
Oklahoma Bill Proposes Rules for Medical Marijuana
Feb 22 2017 // Oklahomans won’t vote until next year on whether to legalize medical marijuana, but a state lawmaker has already introduced legislation that would set the framework if sales of the drug are approved. State Rep. Eric...
Missouri GOP Again Seeking to Limit Liability Lawsuits
Feb 22 2017 // With new Republican Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens’ support, GOP lawmakers this year are pushing a collection of bills to limit liability lawsuits that supporters have praised as pro-business but critics have slammed as...
Bill Protecting Drivers Who Hit Protesters Dies in North Dakota
Feb 21 2017 // A controversial North Dakota bill that sought to shield motorists from liability if they unintentionally hit a protester on a roadway, injuring or killing them failed to garner enough support from lawmakers. House Bill...
Cyber Attacks Remain at Top of List of Business Continuity Worries: Survey
Feb 21 2017 // The threat of cyber attacks and political instability resulting from rising populism are among the biggest worries for businesses around the world, according to a study of companies in 79 countries. The number one issue...
Appeals Court to Rehear Constitutionality of Consumer Protection Bureau Structure
Feb 20 2017 // A U.S. appeals court said on Thursday it will reconsider an October ruling that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s structure is unconstitutional, virtually guaranteeing the battle over an agency borne of the...
Texas Governor Deems Hailstorm Litigation ‘Lawsuit Abuse’
Feb 20 2017 // In his state of the state address, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott gave a boost to the insurance industry’s effort to get legislation passed that would place limits on post-hailstorm litigation. Calling lawsuits against...
Auto Insurers Dispute Consumer Report on Tactics Used in No-Fault Accidents
Feb 20 2017 // A national consumer group has charged that innocent drivers in most states are being forced to pay more for auto insurance for accidents in which they are not at fault. The report from the Consumer Federation of America...
California Lawmaker Proposes Bill to Allow Later Last Call Times
Feb 17 2017 // Closing times at bars in California could go later if proposed legislation there gets passed. The bill proposed by state Sen. Scott Wiener, a Democrat who represents San Francisco, would let municipalities set their own...
New York State Finalizes First-in-Nation Cyber Security Regulation
Feb 17 2017 // New York state announced a final cyber security regulation on Thursday with mandatory standards for banks and insurers to combat the ever-increasing risk of cyber attacks. The regulation, which takes effect March 1,...
Brazil Uber Drivers Are Employees & Entitled to Benefits, Rules Judge
Feb 16 2017 // A Brazilian judge ruled that a driver using the Uber ride-hailing app is an employee of the San Francisco-based company and is entitled to workers’ benefits, adding to the global debate over labor rights for drivers...
Judge Rejects Bid to Dismiss Alabama Water Contamination Lawsuit
Feb 16 2017 // A federal judge in Alabama is refusing to dismiss an environmental group’s lawsuit over alleged chemical contamination in the Tennessee River. The Decatur Daily reports U.S. District Judge Abdul Kallon won’t...
Efforts to Limit Medical Pot Ads Approved by Arkansas House
Feb 15 2017 // The Arkansas House has approved legislation aimed at preventing kid-friendly advertising and packaging of medical marijuana, and may soon consider banning any pot ads altogether. The House approved by an 89-1 vote...
