Latest Legislation Headlines

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

U.S. Report on BP Oil Spill Imminent

Sep 14 2011 // A U.S. government team investigating last year’s massive Gulf of Mexico oil spill will blame BP and its contractors for mistakes that led to the disaster in a report expected out as early as Wednesday, according to...

Federal Judge Rejects Health Insurance Mandate in Latest Case

Sep 14 2011 // A federal judge in Pennsylvania said the insurance-buying mandate in President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul is unconstitutional, the latest ruling over an issue likely to be taken up by the U.S. Supreme...

Keep Properties Open, Lawmakers Urge New Hampshire Landowners

Sep 13 2011 // New Hampshire lawmakers are urging nervous landowners to leave their properties open to recreation while they work to improve their liability protections. State Rep. Gene Chandler, a Bartlett Republican, and state Sen....

Michigan Begins Debate Over Personal Injury Auto Insurance Benefits

Sep 12 2011 // The state Legislature is preparing to begin debate on possible changes to Michigan’s unique auto insurance coverage for people injured in accidents. Michigan now is the only state in the nation that mandates...

Judge Orders Insurers to Pay in Delaware Diocese Bankruptcy

Sep 12 2011 // A Delaware bankruptcy judge on Friday ordered insurance companies to pay their share of a settlement with priest sex abuse victims that is the foundation of the Catholic Diocese of Wilmington’s reorganization plan,...

Senate Committee Passes Federal Flood Insurance Reform Legislation

Sep 8 2011 // As many property owners continue to recover from hurricane and tropical storms Irene and Lee and new storms form offshore, the U.S. Senate is taking steps to renew the federal flood insurance program. Today, the Senate...

Mass. Court Rules on Joint Employers’ Responsibilty for Workers’ Comp

Sep 8 2011 // Two employers can be held jointly responsible for workers’ compensation benefits for an injured worker whom they both classified as an independent contractor, a Massachusetts appeals court has ruled. The...

White House Requests $5.2B in New Disaster Funds

Sep 7 2011 // The White House told Congress last week there’s a need for more than $5 billion in additional disaster relief money, not even counting the billions that probably will be called for to help East Coast states hit by...

Washington Court Rules in Single-Car, Underinsured Motorist Case

Sep 5 2011 // A Washington State couple has lost their appeal of a ruling that allowed Farmers Insurance to deny their uninsured motorist claim following a single-car accident, which they said was caused by another driver who...

Pinnacol Stops Administering Colorado State Claims

Sep 5 2011 // A Colorado-chartered workers’ compensation insurer will no longer administer the claims of state employees following disagreements with state officials over lavish trips, compensation and golden parachutes for...

Legislative Changes Aim to Limit Texas Windstorm Lawsuits

Sep 5 2011 // Legislative changes to the operation of Texas’ primary property insurer in coastal areas that go into effect Sept. 28, 2011, include an increased focus on mediation and arbitration of disputed windstorm claims and a...

California Supreme Court Rules on Workers’ Compensation Payment Increases

Sep 5 2011 // The California Supreme Court has ruled that cost of living adjustments in total permanent disability cases are to be calculated starting the Jan. 1 after the injured worker started collecting his or her payments. The...

Contractors Acting As Public Insurance Adjusters Irk States

Sep 5 2011 // Public adjusting activity is not welcome or licensed in all states and even in some where it is, the practice is coming under close scrutiny. In particular, states are cracking down on roofing and other contractors who...

Irene’s Legacy

Sep 5 2011 // In some towns, Hurricane Irene turned out to be less destructive than initially feared, although that is small consolation to those along the Eastern Seaboard who did feel her force, lost loved ones, were flooded out of...

First Responder Fees Claims Becoming Routine for Insurers

Sep 5 2011 // While fee recovery by fire departments is nothing new, an increasing number of local municipalities have begun to charge for first responder, primarily fire department, services. Though the types of fees and rates vary...

Irene’s Legacy

Sep 5 2011 // In some towns, Hurricane Irene turned out to be less destructive than initially feared, although that is small consolation to those along the Eastern Seaboard who did feel her force, lost loved ones or suffered property...

Irene’s Legacy

Sep 5 2011 // In some towns, Hurricane Irene turned out to be less destructive than initially feared, although that is small consolation to those along the Eastern Seaboard who did feel her force, lost loved ones or suffered property...

Irene’s Legacy

Sep 5 2011 // In some towns, Hurricane Irene turned out to be less destructive than initially feared, although that is small consolation to those along the Eastern Seaboard who did feel her force, lost loved ones, were flooded out of...

Irene’s Legacy

Sep 5 2011 // In some towns, Hurricane Irene turned out to be less destructive than initially feared, although that is small consolation to those along the Eastern Seaboard who did feel her force, lost loved ones or suffered property...

Minnesota Seeks to Bolster Insurance Regulation with Commerce Dept. Changes

Sep 5 2011 // A reorganized Minnesota Department of Commerce includes a new Division of Insurance aimed at unifying and strengthening insurance regulation in that state. The Minnesota Division of Insurance houses the commerce...