Latest Legislation Headlines
All the headlines from our Legislation Topic Page, ordered by recency.
County Commissioners Say Minnesota Bill Gives Lawyers a ‘Pay Raise’
Apr 28 2009 // A coalition of county commissioners from across Minnesota have formally voiced their opposition to a bill in the legislature that they claim would grant wealthy trial lawyers a pay raise at the expense of the state’s...
Louisiana Lawmakers OK $133M in Stimulus Spending
Apr 28 2009 // Four more highway projects, including the widening of Interstate 10 in Baton Rouge, will be funded with Louisiana’s share of the federal stimulus package after receiving quick approval Monday from lawmakers. The $133...
Florida Rep. Proctor Challenges Commissioner McCarty’s Insurance View
Apr 28 2009 // In my opinion, Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty’s assertions that our state has “one of the most” competitive property insurance markets in the country and that easing rate regulation will not...
Rep. Frank: House Panel to Examine Federal Regulation Option for Insurance
Apr 28 2009 // A congressional panel will examine whether an optional federal charter for insurance companies is needed, the chairman of the U.S. House Financial Services Committee said Tuesday. The committee’s panel on insurance...
Florida House Approves Property Insurance Measure
Apr 27 2009 // The Florida House has approved property insurance legislation that promises to reduce the exposure of the state’s backup hurricane insurance fund and gradually raise rates for policyholders insured in state-backed...
AIG, Congress and Law of Unintended Consequences
Apr 27 2009 // When corporations want to borrow large sums of money they usually rely on selling bonds. Introductory college finance courses always include a chapter covering interest rates and bonds. So, much of the information I...
Louisiana Legislative Session Begins; More than 1,100 Bills Pre-filed
Apr 27 2009 // David Tatman of the Tatman Group and lobbyist for the Louisiana Surplus Lines Association, has outlined some of the legislation that group will be following during Louisiana’s legislative session, which opens...
World’s Financial Sector Facing ‘Hornet’s Nest’ of Political Risk
Apr 24 2009 // Oh, for the days when a little irrational exuberance was the biggest problem facing the world’s bankers and financiers. It is way beyond that now. With the financial world mired in a stubborn credit crisis and the...
Florida’s Property Insurance Market: An Overview by Commissioner McCarty
Apr 24 2009 // It is always interesting, and frequently amusing, to read various “research” pieces on the Florida property insurance market. While I, like every other insurance regulator, industry professional and observer in...
FDIC Head Favors Interagency Panel to Oversee Systemic Risk
Apr 24 2009 // The head of the U.S. Federal Deposit Insurance Corp said Friday that she favors a council of regulators over one entity to oversee systemic risk in the financial system. “If there was a (interagency) council for...
Addressing Systemic Risk Without More Bureaucracy
Apr 24 2009 // America’s market-based economic system once created the largest economic engine in the world and gave this country one of the highest standards of living in history. However, that system now faces a credibility...
Europe Votes to Adopt New Solvency Rules for Insurance by 2012
Apr 23 2009 // The European Parliament voted this week for new regulation of insurers that aims to cut costs by giving one national regulator the lead role in monitoring insurance companies operating across several EU nations. EU...
Oklahoma Consumer Group Blasts Lawmakers, Health Insurers
Apr 23 2009 // An advocacy group criticized Oklahoma legislative leaders on April 21 for what it described as a host of bills that help the health insurance industry at the expense of consumers. Dr. Rene McNall Knapp, who specializes in...
Lawmakers OK Maine Helmet Law Change
Apr 22 2009 // A bill to increase the age for mandatory motorcycle helmet use in Maine has been given final approval by the Legislature and sent to Gov. John Baldacci for his signature. The bill, sponsored by Democratic Rep. Emily Cain...
Florida Bills to Clarify Regulation of Surplus Lines Insurance Advance
Apr 22 2009 // Florida’s surplus lines insurance brokers and carriers are encouraged that legislation to clarify the surplus lines industry’s regulatory status in the state has survived several committee hurdles and appears...
Motorists Insurance Offers Tools to Address ID Theft, ‘Red Flag’ Rules
Apr 22 2009 // Columbus, Ohio-based Motorists Mutual Insurance Co. announced it is offering educational resources to commercial lines policyholders to help them comply with new federal regulations concerning data security and identity...
Pediatricians Fight Georgia Ruling on Vaccine Liability
Apr 21 2009 // Pediatricians and other medical professionals are trying to block a Georgia Supreme Court ruling they fear could encourage lawsuits and harm production of vaccines. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), which...
Texas Senate OK’s Bill to Lower Standard of Proof in Asbestos Lawsuits
Apr 21 2009 // Handing a rare victory to personal injury trial lawyers, the Texas Senate recently passed legislation that would make it easier for certain people to recover damages after being exposed to asbestos. The bill, which passed...
Texas Senate Approves Insurance Department ‘Sunset’ Bill
Apr 21 2009 // The Texas Senate has approved a measure that allows the continued operation of the Texas Department of Insurance, but would slightly reform its operations, according to a Senate new release. The bill’s author Senator...
We’re in Good Hands With State Regulators
Apr 21 2009 // Editor’s Note: The following commentary originally was addressed to Thomas Feyer with New York Times in response to an opinion expressed by Tom Wilson, CEO of Allstate, advocating federal regulation of...
