Latest Legislation Headlines
All the headlines from our Legislation Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Judge Rules Jury to Hear Claims in Starr-AIG Battle
Jun 4 2009 // A jury should hear the claims in litigation between American International Group Inc. and Starr International Co. Inc. controlled by the troubled insurance giant’s former chief executive, Maurice “Hank”...
Obama Administration Steps Up Financial Reform Drive
Jun 4 2009 // The Obama administration stepped up its push for tougher bank and financial firm rules Thursday, scheduling a briefing for lobbyists, with a focus on insurance oversight, and sending a top regulator to a Senate hearing to...
Florida Workers’ Compensation Rates Cut to Reflect Lawyer Fee Cap Law
Jun 3 2009 // Florida’s insurance regulator has approved a rollback of workers’ compensation insurance rates from April 1 rates to the lower rates that were in effect on Jan. 1. The order by Florida Insurance Commissioner...
Georgia Court Rules Insurer Not Liable for Voluntary Settlement
Jun 2 2009 // An insured who voluntarily agrees to pay a settlement that is not dictated by a jury verdict cannot sue its insurance company for bad faith failure to defend, even if the settlement is within the policy limits, the Georgia...
Florida Surplus Lines Insurance Regulation Bill Awaits Gov.’s Signature
Jun 2 2009 // Legislation intended to clarify the regulation of the surplus lines insurance industry in Florida has reached the desk of Gov. Charlie Crist. Crist has until June 16 to sign the bill (HB 853), which the industry hopes and...
Insurance Department in Limbo as Texas Legislature Adjourns
Jun 2 2009 // While the Texas Legislature managed to pass a long sought bill, HB4409, that addresses funding for the state’s insurer of last resort for wind and hail along the Texas coast, lawmakers failed to decide on other...
Declarations
Jun 1 2009 // An Increasing Problem “This is increasingly becoming a problem on our lakes and waterways, and it was important that the Legislature step forward with a strong response.” —Oklahoma Sen. Bill Brown, author of...
Quality and Protectionism in the Insurance Market
Jun 1 2009 // Why Market Blocking Is Not Best for the Consumer or the Industry The insurance business needs to lose a vestige of the insurance marketplace of the last century. Let’s become more friendly to competition and the free...
Oklahoma Gov. Signs Compromise Tort Reform Legislation
Jun 1 2009 // Oklahoma Gov. Brad Henry has signed into law long-sought tort reform legislation aimed at curbing frivolous lawsuits and reducing costs associated with the justice system. Henry said House Bill 1603 by Rep. Dan Sullivan...
Declarations
Jun 1 2009 // National Producer Licensing Need “Throughout the current financial crisis, the state insurance regulatory system continues to show how well it protects both individual consumers and businesses. Although the system...
Another Go-Round for Surplus Lines Regulation Reform
Jun 1 2009 // Federal lawmakers once again are preparing to tackle the issue of how states can more effectively regulate the surplus lines insurance market. It’s been tried before, but legislation was recently reintroduced in the...
Judge Tosses Most Supermarket Data Breach Claims
Jun 1 2009 // Only those customers who weren’t reimbursed for fraudulent charges may sue the Hannaford Bros. supermarket chain over a data breach that exposed 4.2 million credit and debit card numbers to computer hackers, a...
Texas House Sends Windstorm Reforms to Conference
Jun 1 2009 // The Texas House approved a conference committee report on Saturday to hammer out windstorm insurance reform legislation with senators. House lawmakers sent the measure — which could cause lawmakers to be called back...
Surplus Lines Regulation Reform Legislation Reintroduced
Jun 1 2009 // Legislation aimed at making access to the surplus lines market more efficient and help standardize state insurance regulation has been introduced again in the U.S. House of Representatives. Reps. Dennis Moore, D-Kan., and...
Panama Moving Slowly on Making Tax Haven Law Changes
Jun 1 2009 // Panama’s ruling party is unlikely to pass tighter tax legislation seen as key for the signing of a U.S. free-trade deal before President Martin Torrijos steps down on July 1, legislators said this week. A bilateral...
Home Defect Bill Divides Nevada Lawmakers
Jun 1 2009 // Members of the Nevada legislature are battling over a construction defect bill that has turned into one of the most contentious issues of the 2009 legislative session. Senators voted 19-1 in mid-April for SB349, which...
Texas Legislators Pass Windstorm Insurance Bill
Jun 1 2009 // On the first day of the official hurricane season for 2009, and on the last day of the Texas legislative session, Texas lawmakers passed a bill that would recapitalize the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association...
Revisiting Surplus Lines Regulation Reform
Jun 1 2009 // Federal lawmakers once again are preparing to tackle the issue of how states can more effectively regulate the surplus lines insurance market. It’s been tried before, but legislation was recently reintroduced in the...
National Insurance Producer Licensing Bill Reintroduced in Congress
Jun 1 2009 // Federal legislation designed to streamline licensing for insurance agents and brokers operating in multiple states has been reintroduced in Congress. The legislation, HR 2554, the National Association of Registered Agents...
Texas Anti-Fraud Bill Goes to Governor
Jun 1 2009 // Texas lawmakers passed HB 148, legislation aimed at telemarketers who contact crash victims by purchasing accident reports from local police departments. The bill now on its way to Governor Perry for his signature makes it...
