Latest Legislation Headlines
All the headlines from our Legislation Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Obama Gives Proponents Hope for Medical Malpractice Reform
Sep 14 2009 // Following President Barack Obama’s offer of compromise on an issue that has long divided Washington, congressional health care negotiators are considering proposals to foster alternatives to medical malpractice...
California Court Rules for Surplus Lines Insurers on Taxes
Sep 11 2009 // A Los Angeles court has ruled that surplus lines insurers need not pay California’s 2.3 percent of gross premiums tax that admitted insurers pay, as well as the 3 percent surplus lines-premiums tax the state...
Missouri Judge Blocks Firing of 3 Workers’ Comp Judges
Sep 11 2009 // A Missouri judge has blocked the firing of three administrative law judges who decide workers’ compensation cases, saying the state could not eliminate their jobs as part of budget cuts. Cole County Judge Jon Beetem...
California Issues Regulations for Pay-As-You-Drive Insurance
Sep 10 2009 // California’s insurance commissioner, Steven Poizner, has issued final pay-as-you-drive regulations, which will enable insurers to offer consumers rates that are based on actual miles driven as opposed to estimated...
House Passes Surplus Lines Reform Legislation
Sep 9 2009 // The House of Representatives passed HR 2571, the Non-Admitted and Reinsurance Reform Act of 2009 on Wednesday. The bill, authored by Reps. Dennis Moore, D-Kan., and Scott Garrett, R-N.J, will simplify the tax remittance...
New Law Boosts Penalties for Drunk Driving in Oklahoma
Sep 9 2009 // A new state law in Oklahoma provides greater protection for children endangered by drunk drivers. Senate Bill 1139, by state Sen. Mary Easley and state Rep. Jeannie McDaniel, allows drunk drivers to face felony...
Insurance Regulators Vow to Examine Role of Credit Rating Agencies
Sep 9 2009 // The nation’s insurance regulators are looking into the role that credit rating agencies play in the insurance regulatory system. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) said it will hold a public...
White House Calls for ‘Urgency’ on Financial Regulation Reform
Sep 8 2009 // The Obama administration’s ambitious plan to overhaul U.S. financial regulation was bogged down in Congress as it returned from a long recess Tuesday. With no clear path forward in the Senate, analysts and lobbyists...
Alabama Uncertain If Small Business Tax Break Is Boosting Health Insurance
Sep 8 2009 // Craig Bacheler is able to offer the employees at his small Alabama IT firm health benefits because of a new state law, but some who helped push for the law say it is too early to measure its benefits. Small companies,...
Federal Judge Rules Michigan College Coach Immune to Player Suit
Sep 8 2009 // A federal judge has dismissed parts of a lawsuit against Central Michigan University and its women’s basketball coach, who is accused of dropping a scholarship partly because a player isn’t a lesbian. U.S....
Colorado Officials Defend Pinnacol Actions
Sep 8 2009 // Executives from Colorado’s state-chartered workers’ compensation insurance company defended themselves against accusations of lavish spending and excess profits on Friday and they told lawmakers it would be...
Oklahoma Considers Privatizing State-backed Workers’ Comp Insurer
Sep 8 2009 // In a recent meeting of a task force considering privatizing Oklahoma’s state-backed workers’ compensation insurer, CompSource Oklahoma, Nevada insurance executives said workers’ comp rates have dropped in...
States Give a ‘Thumbs Up’ to Fingerprinting Insurance Producers
Sep 7 2009 // Regulators Say Fingerprinting Keeps Criminals Out of the Business Don’t be alarmed, but there are convicted criminals roaming around the country acting as insurance producers. They could be robbers, forgers, possibly...
Small Businesses Confront Big Cyber Risks
Sep 7 2009 // Larger Firms Tend to Have More Data Security Resources The theft of personal and private data — from credit card information, to Social Security numbers, to health information, is a thriving global crime — and it is...
Small Businesses Confront Big Cyber Risks
Sep 7 2009 // Larger Firms Tend to Have More Data Security Resources The theft of personal and private data — from credit card information, to Social Security numbers, to health information, is a thriving global crime — and it is...
Colorado’s Pinnacol Under Scrutiny
Sep 7 2009 // Colorado’s dominant workers compensation insurer is defending its spending on travel and entertainment for its agents, telling Colorado lawmakers it’s good for morale and helps lower costs in the long...
Michigan High Court to Reconsider Auto Accident Victims’ Right to Sue
Sep 7 2009 // The Michigan Supreme Court has set the stage for reversing a 2004 precedent that restricts when people injured in auto accidents can sue for pain and suffering. In a 4-3 order, the court decided to reconsider the case of...
North Carolina Beach Plan Insurance Reforms Become Law
Sep 7 2009 // North Carolina Governor Bev Perdue has signed into law legislation to shore-up the state’s backup coastal insurer and reduce the liability of private insurers should a major catastrophe strike the state. House Bill...
California Bill Calls for Green Insurance
Sep 4 2009 // A bill just introduced in California could encourage more ecologically friendly insurance policy products, putting the state again at the fore of pushing, and leading, for greener public policies. The bill, which has been...
Judge Says Rating Agencies Not Shielded by Free Speech Defense
Sep 3 2009 // Credit rating agencies may find it harder to argue that their opinions deserve free speech protection after a judge rejected efforts by Moody’s Investors Service and Standard & Poor’s to dismiss a fraud...
