Latest Legislation Headlines
All the headlines from our Legislation Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Analysis: Arkansas Health Exchange Faces Steep Odds in 2012
Jul 5 2011 // Arkansas’ top insurance official says he’ll “go down fighting” in favor of the state setting up insurance exchanges under the federal health care overhaul. It’s a fight he’s entering as...
U.S. Wary of Possible Cuba Oil Spill
Jul 5 2011 // With Cuba preparing to explore for oil 60 miles from Florida, the complicated politics of U.S.-Cuba relations are impeding U.S. efforts to get ready in case of a BP-style accident, analysts and oil experts said. The Obama...
Certificates of Insurance Legislation Signed by Texas Governor
Jul 4 2011 // Texas Gov. Rick Perryhas signed into law a measure backed by agents that requires regulatory approval of property and casualty certificate of insurance forms provided to insureds as proof of insurance...
Surplus Lines Sea Change: Calif.’s AB 315
Jul 4 2011 // California is expected to pass surplus lines regulations before July 21, 2011. On that date, the Nonadmitted and Reinsurance Reform Act of 2010 (NRRA) becomes effective, and only the “insured’s home...
New York Deregulates Large Commercial Lines
Jul 4 2011 // New York insurers and insurance agents are applauding lawmakers for giving final approval to a bill that eases regulations on commercial insurance products and rates. The bill exempts insurance policies written for large...
Calif. Homeowners Underinsurance Face Challenges
Jul 4 2011 // A series of new California homeowners regulations aimed at enhancing the standards and training for estimating the replacement value on homeowners’ insurance took effect on June 27. Meanwhile, two insurance trade...
Oklahoma Lawmaker Seeks Study on Day Care Insurance
Jul 4 2011 // Oklahoma state Rep. Mike Shelton has requested a legislative study to determine if the state can enact policies that result in all day care centers having liability insurance. “In recent years, we have made...
Insurance Agents Cheer State Commissioners’ Vote on Medical Loss Ratio
Jul 1 2011 // In a move being applauded by insurance agents, a task force of state insurance regulators has recommended that states support legislation to protect agent and broker commissions from the expense cap imposed on health...
Judge Blocks Sierra Club from Lawsuit Against BP
Jul 1 2011 // A federal magistrate judge has refused to allow the Sierra Club to join a lawsuit filed by the Justice Department against BP and other companies over last year’s disastrous Gulf of Mexico oil spill. Judge Sally...
Illinois Governor Signs Workers’ Compensation Reform
Jun 30 2011 // Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn said companies should see their workers’ compensation premiums drop because of a new law he signed June 28 overhauling the system that takes care of employees injured on the...
Florida Court Hears Challenge to Governor’s Freeze of Regulations
Jun 30 2011 // The Florida Supreme Court heard oral arguments this week in a challenge to Gov. Rick Scott’s suspension of state rulemaking. The case heard Wednesday was filed on behalf of Rosalie Whiley, who is blind. She said the...
Arkansas Insurance Chief to Try Again on Health Insurance Exchange
Jun 29 2011 // Arkansas’ top insurance official said he hopes to win legislative approval next year to begin implementing a key part of the federal health care overhaul. Arkansas Insurance Commissioner Jay Bradford said he plans to...
Texas Windstorm Reform Bill Passes; Sent to Governor
Jun 29 2011 // The Texas Legislature finally worked out a compromise bill of reforms to the state’s insurance provider of last resort for wind and hail for properties along the Texas coast. The House and Senate reached agreement on...
Kentucky Ex-Lawmaker Nunn Pleads Guilty in Insurance Worker Murder
Jun 29 2011 // An attorney for Steve Nunn says the former state lawmaker has pleaded guilty to murdering his ex-fiance and has received a sentence of life without parole. Nunn entered the plea Tuesday morning in Fayette Circuit Court in...
Georgia Law Allows Out-of-State Health Insurance Policies July 1
Jun 29 2011 // State-licensed insurance companies will soon be able to sell health policies offered in other states that provide less coverage than Georgia requires. The new law is one of dozens set to take effect in Georgia on July 1,...
Pennsylvania Governor Signs ‘Fair Share’ Civil Liability Reform
Jun 28 2011 // Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett has signed legislation that is one of his top priorities, a bill that limits the liability for negligence of defendants in some civil court cases. The state House voted 116-83 on the bill on...
How Workers’ Compensation Politics Shut Maine Government 20 Years Ago
Jun 28 2011 // The hallways of Maine’s State House were jammed with irate, screaming protesters, and scores of state workers pitched a tent “union city” in a park across the street. The already cool relations between...
MIssissippi Judge Orders Tear Gas Maker Pay $1 Million in Mom’s Death
Jun 28 2011 // A judge has ruled that the maker of tear gas used in a 2006 Jackson police raid must pay $1.1 million to five children of a woman who died after inhaling the fumes. Hinds County Circuit Judge Winston Kidd ruled that...
Calif. Homeowners Underinsurance Regs Take Effect, Despite Legal Challenges
Jun 28 2011 // A series of new California homeowners regulations aimed at enhancing the standards and training for estimating the replacement value on homeowners’ insurance in the event of a disaster took effect on June 27....
Rhode Island Senate Passes Seat Belt, Cell Phone Driver Bills
Jun 27 2011 // The Rhode Island Senate has advanced two bills on driver safety, one boosting seat belt enforcement and another banning young drivers from using cell phones while behind the wheel. The cell phone proposal would make it...
