Latest Legislation Headlines
All the headlines from our Legislation Topic Page, ordered by recency.
P/C Insurance Analysts’ Expectations Climbing: Accenture
Dec 18 2012 // Although returns-on-equity for the property/casualty insurance industry are lagging in the mid-to-upper single-digit range, equity analysts expect companies they recommend with “Buy” ratings to garner returns...
Crop Insurance Juicy Target in ‘Fiscal Cliff’ Deal
Dec 17 2012 // Rural lawmakers worry that $9 billion in annual federal crop insurance subsidies are an easy target for spending cuts in a “fiscal cliff” deal so they’re shopping around for a late compromise on a farm...
Prospects for Insurance Regulation in 2013
Dec 17 2012 // Progress in making insurance regulatory changes has been slow, and there’s nothing to indicate that this situation will change in the future. The United States has, however, made relevant changes. Although it has 50...
Fallin Appoints Taylor as New Oklahoma Worker’s Comp Judge
Dec 14 2012 // Gov. Mary Fallin has appointed a Tulsa judge as the new presiding judge of the Oklahoma Workers’ Compensation Court. Fallin announced that Judge L. Brad Taylor will replace Judge Michael Harkey as the presiding judge...
Illinois Judge Rejects Bid to Revive Cigarette Lawsuit
Dec 14 2012 // An Illinois judge has refused to reopen a class-action lawsuit that produced a $10.1 billion verdict against cigarette-maker Philip Morris, handing the plaintiffs their latest setback in legal action now more than a decade...
Beebe: Arkansas to Stick With Partnership Exchange
Dec 14 2012 // Gov. Mike Beebe said Arkansas will move forward on a partnership with the federal government for an online insurance marketplace required under President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul, though he believes the...
Senate Deals Blow to Bank Deposit Insurance
Dec 14 2012 // Efforts by small banks to protect a financial crisis-era deposit insurance program suffered a significant setback on Thursday when a bill to extend the program failed to survive a procedural vote in the U.S. Senate. The...
Judge Denies Some Medical Providers’ Plea to Block Florida PIP Law
Dec 13 2012 // A federal court judge has denied a motion brought forward by some medical providers who claimed that Florida’s new no-fault auto law unfairly prevented them from making a living, on the basis it is unlikely they will...
Florida Cabinet Approves PIP Benefit Rule Sought by Insurers
Dec 13 2012 // Florida officials have approved an emergency rule that will allow auto insurers providing no-fault coverage to use a form informing accident victims of their benefits under the state’s revised personal injury...
States Plan to Sue EPA Over Greenhouse Gas Regulations
Dec 12 2012 // A coalition of seven eastern states led by New York plans to sue the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for failing to issue new guidelines to curb methane emissions, a greenhouse gas that may be linked to climate...
Senate Debates Renewal of Federal Deposit Insurance But House May Balk
Dec 11 2012 // The U.S. Senate voted on Tuesday to begin debating a bill that would keep a financial crisis-era deposit insurance program in place for two more years, but it will likely face strong opposition from the...
High-Profile CEOs Push for Compromise on ‘Fiscal Cliff’
Dec 11 2012 // A group of high-profile chief executives urged President Barack Obama and Republican congressional leaders on Tuesday to strike a deal to avert the “fiscal cliff” that could include raising tax rates on the...
Swiss Re Study Sees Economy Improving in 2013; Casualty Lines Recover
Dec 11 2012 // Swiss Re’s latest study, “Global re/insurance review 2012 and outlook 2013/14” provides a somewhat optimistic forecast of the future state of the global economy and the insurance markets. Swiss Re said:...
Geneva Association Analysis Compares 28 Banks’, Insurers’ Systemic Risk
Dec 11 2012 // International insurance think tank, The Geneva Association has published a cross-industry analysis comparing the named 28 Global Systemically Important Banks (G-SIBs) to 28 of the world’s largest insurers on...
Critics Call for More Cuts in Farm Bill, Crop Insurance
Dec 10 2012 // Congress should slash at least $100 billion in costs from the U.S. farm bill – three or four times more than cuts currently proposed – and resist calls for a hurry-up vote this week, a dozen anti-deficit and...
Ohio Auto Salvage Bill Pits Industry Against Insurers
Dec 10 2012 // Ohio’s salvage industry says proposed state legislation that would open the auto salvage auction market to unlicensed buyers could cost up to 2,500 salvage jobs and eliminate consumer protection. Opponents of Senate...
Texas Legislator: Extend Tax Break for Small Businesses
Dec 7 2012 // Texas state Rep. Harvey Hilderbran, of Kerrville, has filed legislation to promote small business development in Texas by permanently extending a tax exemption for companies that earn less than $1 million a year. In 2009,...
Time Running Out for Senate on Farm, Crop Insurance Bill
Dec 7 2012 // With a week left to act, agricultural leaders in Congress are still deadlocked on two major issues for a new U.S. farm bill, cuts in crop subsidies and reductions in food stamps, said two of the four key negotiators on...
Judge Names Lead Plaintiffs in Facebook IPO Claim
Dec 7 2012 // A group of investors including state pension funds in North Carolina and Arkansas will be the lead plaintiffs in securities lawsuits arising out of Facebook Inc.’s $16 billion initial public offering, a U.S. judge...
US Senate OK’s Russia Trade w/ Human Rights Bill; Angry Russian Reaction
Dec 7 2012 // The U.S. Senate on Thursday approved legislation to punish Russian human rights violators as part of a broader bill to expand U.S. trade with Washington’s former Cold War enemy. Passage of the bill, by a 92-4 vote,...
