Latest Legislation Headlines
All the headlines from our Legislation Topic Page, ordered by recency.
New Mexico Court Rules Prison Firm Can Be Held Liable for Rapes
Mar 16 2016 // The New Mexico Supreme Court affirmed this week that a private prison operator may be held liable to pay damages to three female inmates who were raped by a guard. The opinion could influence the final outcome of an appeal...
AIA Applauds Mass. Gov. Baker’s Signing of Opioid Abuse Legislation
Mar 16 2016 // The American Insurance Association (AIA) lauded Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker for signing comprehensive opioid abuse legislation (H 4046) Monday. Opioids are synthetic versions of opium-derived drugs, many of which were...
Driverless Car Supporters Urge National Laws to Override State, Local
Mar 16 2016 // A patchwork of state laws governing the operation of self-driving cars threatens to stall their development, supporters told lawmakers as U.S. senators began consideration of a national standard for robotic...
Vermont Fines 2 Insurers for Non-Compliance
Mar 15 2016 // Vermont Department of Financial Regulation (DFR) Commissioner Susan L. Donegan announced that Travelers Insurance Co. and Liberty Mutual Insurance Co. have paid Vermont $154,000 in fines and repaid consumers another...
Court Rules ‘Bond King’ Gross Can Pursue $200M Lawsuit Against Allianz’ PIMCO
Mar 15 2016 // Bond manager Bill Gross will be able to pursue his lawsuit to recoup at least $200 million he claims that Pacific Investment Management Co. owes him in the wake of his 2014 ouster from the firm he co-founded. California...
Judge: BP not Required to Pay Moratorium-Related Oil Industry Losses
Mar 14 2016 // A federal judge in Louisiana ruled that BP does not have to pay for economic losses other businesses suffered when the federal government shut down deep-water drilling in the wake of BP’s catastrophic 2010 oil spill...
After Mass. House OK, Senate Takes Up Uber Regulations
Mar 14 2016 // It seems likely based on recent legislative developments that Massachusetts will adopt regulations for ride-hailing services like Uber and Lyft, but it’s still far too early to assume what the final rules might...
Washington Commissioner Fines Insurance Professionals $17K
Mar 14 2016 // Wasington Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler took enforcement action and issued fines totaling $17,675 last month against insurance companies and producers who he says violated state insurance regulations. Here’s...
California Ridesharing Bills Stalled in Committee Where Chair Has Taxi Ties
Mar 14 2016 // Two California bills to ease regulation of Uber and other ridesharing companies have been bottled up for nearly a year in a committee chaired by a lawmaker whose brothers own a San Diego taxi company. But state Sen. Ben...
Regulations Create Roadblock for Automated Cars Without Human Controls
Mar 14 2016 // Existing U.S. laws pose few barriers to adoption of autonomous vehicle technology so long as cars and trucks stick with existing designs allowing humans to take control, the agency overseeing traffic safety said...
Berkshire Hathaway Balks at Reporting on Climate Change Risks
Mar 13 2016 // Warren Buffett’s compensation for running Berkshire Hathaway Inc. edged up 1 percent last year to $470,244, reflecting an increase in the cost of keeping the billionaire safe. Buffett’s salary remained at...
By a Big Margin, Oklahoma House Passes Insurance Mandate for Autism Coverage
Mar 11 2016 // Legislation that would require health insurers to cover autism treatment for children has been overwhelmingly approved by the Oklahoma House. By a vote of 76-20, House members passed House Bill 2962 following an emotional...
New Mexico Governor Signs Ridesharing Bill
Mar 11 2016 // New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez arrived this week in her first Uber ride and signed a bill allowing ridesharing companies Uber and Lyft to operate in the state. The Republican governor said the measure ends the confusion...
Federal Judge Rules BP Absolved from U.S. Lawsuits Over Drilling Ban
Mar 11 2016 // BP Plc does not have to face U.S. lawsuits by energy and drilling companies over losses they suffered from an offshore drilling ban imposed soon after the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill, a federal judge ruled. U.S. District...
Old Mutual to Split into 4 Units as CEO Works to Reverse Flagging Returns
Mar 11 2016 // Old Mutual Plc plans to split into four units as Chief Executive Officer Bruce Hemphill breaks up the U.K. financial services company to reverse years of flagging returns. The insurer will spin off its controlling stake in...
Senate Bill Would Require Testing Drone Operators on Rules of the Sky
Mar 10 2016 // All U.S. drone operators would for the first time have to prove they understand aviation regulations under broad legislation introduced Wednesday in the Senate. A bill setting policy for the Federal Aviation Administration...
Comprehensive Medical Marijuana Plan Rejected by Utah Lawmakers
Mar 9 2016 // A proposal that would have made edible marijuana products legal in Utah for those with chronic pain has died, concluding a more than yearlong effort that was severely stunted after the Mormon church came out in opposition...
Lawmakers Seek Audit of Mine Cleanup Insurance Program
Mar 9 2016 // Federal auditors should examine a program that has allowed leading coal companies to lower cleanup insurance costs and could leave taxpayers on the hook if the miners declare bankruptcy, Democratic lawmakers said on...
Florida Passes Expanded Medical Marijuana Legislation, Bill Heads to Governor
Mar 9 2016 // Florida’s contentious medical marijuana legislation is headed to Gov. Rick Scott. After 21/2 hours of debate on Monday, the Senate approved a House version of a bill (HB 307) that would expand the so-called...
Florida Assignment of Benefits, Ridesharing Bills Approaching Dead End
Mar 8 2016 // It’s looking like Florida lawmakers will not provide resolution for two controversial issues currently facing the Florida insurance industry, this year at least. With just three days left in the 2016 Florida Session,...
