Latest Legislation Headlines
All the headlines from our Legislation Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Judge Extends Deadline for BP Oil Spill Settlement
Apr 16 2012 // A federal judge has given BP Plc and lawyers for individuals and businesses who claimed they were harmed by the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill more time to file details of their proposed settlements. U.S. District Judge...
Vermont Licensed 8 New Captives in 2012 Q1; Strongest Start Since 2005
Apr 16 2012 // Vermont officials said its captive insurance industry is off to a strong start in 2012, with the state having licensed eight new captives during the first quarter. “We had a great first quarter with the licensing of...
Fed Chairman Bernanke Defends AIG, Bear Stearns Bailouts
Apr 16 2012 // Chairman Ben Bernanke said Friday that the Federal Reserve was left with few good options when it stepped in to shore up the largest U.S. financial institutions during the 2008 crisis. Bernanke defended the central...
North Carolina Auto Insurance Reform Postponed Until Next Year
Apr 16 2012 // North Carolina lawmakers have decided to postpone any major effort to reform the state’s automobile insurance market until next year citing the complexity of the subject and a lack of time due to a shorten...
Insurance Premiums Climb to a Record $30B in Missouri in 2011
Apr 16 2012 // Missouri experienced a number of insurance industry “firsts” in 2011, including a record number of premium sales dollars, the largest-ever amount in claims paid for a single event in the state, and an...
Workers’ Comp Scofflaws in North Carolina Under Scrutiny
Apr 16 2012 // Officials in North Carolina said they will review their efforts to ensure that employers are purchasing workers’ compensation coverage after facing criticism they have done little to make sure that employers comply...
Idaho, Arizona Governors Sign Electronic Proof of Coverage Law
Apr 16 2012 // Idaho became the first state in the nation in late March to enact legislation to allow motorists to use a smart phone to demonstrate proof of insurance coverage. Not to be outdone, Arizona enacted similar legislation a few...
Vicarious Liability Ruling May Impact Education Insureds in California
Apr 16 2012 // The California Supreme Court ruled that a public school district may be vicariously liable for the negligent hiring, retention and supervision of a guidance counselor who allegedly sexually abused a student. And that...
New York State Senate Passes Auto Insurance Fraud Measures
Apr 16 2012 // New York lawmakers want to slam the brakes on the auto insurance fraud. Late last month, the state’s Senate passed three bills to fight auto insurance fraud. These measures are now in the state Assembly for...
Agents Urge Caution on Changes to Missouri Work Comp Insurer
Apr 16 2012 // Some insurance agents are urging caution as Missouri lawmakers consider changes to a state-created workers’ compensation firm that has been criticized by the state auditor for taking advantage of a federal tax...
Replacement Costs Battle on the Road to Somewhere
Apr 13 2012 // Steve Young was somewhat upbeat when he was asked what he thought about the outcome of a long-brewing legal battle between three insurance associations and the California Department of Insurance. That upbeat attitude is...
Oklahoma Bill Limits Liability for Public Facilities Used as Shelters
Apr 13 2012 // A bill to protect public buildings used as shelters during natural disasters from liability claims has been signed into law. Senate Bill 1316, by Sen. Ron Justice and Rep. Fred Jordan, modifies the Governmental Tort Claims...
Cap on Subsidy of Crop Insurance Premiums Would Save $1 Billion: GAO
Apr 13 2012 // A cap on crop insurance premium subsidies could save the federal government up to $1 billion a year, according to a government report. If a limit of $40,000 had been applied to individual farmers’ crop insurance...
West Virginia Permits Access to Driver’s Insurance Information Before Lawsuit
Apr 13 2012 // Individuals in West Virginia involved in a traffic accident will soon be able to access the other driver’s insurance coverage before filing a lawsuit under a new disclosure law. Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin signed into law...
Insurance Industry Group Hosts Online Political Summit Friday
Apr 12 2012 // An industry association is holding an online political summit to bring brokers and agents up to speed on political activities and new laws, along with lessons on lobbying, on Friday. IBA West is hosting a “Virtual...
Workers’ Class Action Against Brinker Can Proceed, In Part
Apr 12 2012 // Part of a class-action lawsuit against Brinker International Inc. can proceed, the California Supreme Court ruled on Thursday, in a closely watched case about employee meal and rest breaks at the company’s...
Oklahoma Gov. Signs Bill Limiting Liability at Gun Ranges, Shops, Clubs
Apr 12 2012 // Legislation signed by Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin would limit the liability of owners, employees and customers for injuries that take place on gun ranges, gun shops and gun clubs. Senate Bill 875, by state Sen. Anthony Sykes...
Iowa Lawmaker Seeks Punitive Damages in Libel, Slander Case
Apr 12 2012 // Both sides intend to appeal an Iowa jury’s decision that a television campaign ad by Democrats libeled and slandered Sioux City Republican Sen. Rick Bertrand during the 2010 campaign, The Des Moines Register...
N.Y. Court Ruling May Open Door for More Asbestos Suits Against Pfizer
Apr 11 2012 // A New York federal appellate court ruling yesterday could allow more asbestos liability suits to proceed against pharmaceutical giant Pfizer. The appellate court’s decision affirms the previous ruling last year from...
Missouri House Panel to Again Consider Workplace Discrimination
Apr 11 2012 // Missouri lawmakers appear poised to take up discrimination in the workplace again, in a possible attempt to get around a veto issued by Gov. Jay Nixon. Nixon, a Democrat, vetoed a measure in March that would have required...
