Latest Legislation Headlines
All the headlines from our Legislation Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Update: Central Florida Commuter Rail Stopped Dead in its Tracks
May 5 2008 // A deal to bring commuter rail to central Florida failed to win approval from the Legislature on May 2 and isn’t expected to move ahead any time soon with federal dollars for the project likely to dry up. Under the...
Kansas Governor Says Health Care Legislation Falls Short
May 5 2008 // Legislators sent Gov. Kathleen Sebelius a health care bill that supporters say provides greater access to health care for many Kansans and saves them money on insurance. But Sebelius doesn’t think it goes far...
Auto Exempted From Colorado Fair Accountable Insurance Rates Act
May 5 2008 // After much testimony and deliberation on Colorado House Bill 1389, the House Business Affairs and Labor Committee has amended a controversial bill that insurance associations said would have imposed a prior approval...
Time to Expand Risk Retention Law to Property
May 5 2008 // The Liability Risk Retention Act of 1986 (LRRA) was enacted for the specific purpose of providing options to businesses and nonprofit organizations that were having trouble finding commercial liability insurance that...
California Aims to Improve Insurance Rate Approval Process
May 5 2008 // California Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner has issued emergency regulations that he believes will clarify and streamline the prior approval rate system for insurance. However, a consumer advocacy group said the...
Consumer Federation Says Prior Approval Works, Industry Says Not True
May 5 2008 // A nationwide consumer study of automobile insurance regulation says rates have risen more slowly in the 15 states that require insurers to receive advance approval of rate increases from the state in the past two...
Rep. Kanjorski: Federal Government Must Learn About Insurance Before Regulating It
May 5 2008 // A key Congressman involved in insurance regulation issues says that Washington does not have the knowledge of the insurance industry it needs to regulate the business and he has proposed a new federal insurance information...
Risk Retention Groups Could Add Property Coverage Under Bill in Congress
May 5 2008 // Legislation designed to modernize the federal Liability Risk Retention Act (LRRA) of 1986 was introduced into Congress on April 15. HR 5792, or the “Increasing Insurance Coverage Options for Consumers Act of...
Industry Douses Consumer Group Praise for Prior Approval of Auto Rates
May 5 2008 // A nationwide consumer study of automobile insurance regulation says that rates have risen more slowly over the past two decades in the 15 states that require insurers to receive advance approval of rate increases from the...
Declarations
May 5 2008 // Bad Faith Blues “It is good for consumers … it will help them get what they paid for, which is our goal. But it also recognizes the industry’s needs. It gives them some ability to have some understanding...
Consumer Group Alleges New Rules Will Raise Insurance Rates in Calif.
May 2 2008 // A consumer group this week accused California Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner of adopting emergency regulations that would lead to higher rates for auto, homeowner and most other types of insurance coverage. In a...
State Officials Praise Florida Public Adjuster Legislation
May 2 2008 // The Florida Senate passed a public adjuster reforms bill that will limit the contingency fees charged by adjusters and prohibit intrusive solicitation practices. Florida Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink and interim...
South Carolina House Approves Bill Calling for Fire-Safe Cigarettes
May 1 2008 // Tobacco companies would have to ensure cigarettes meet fire safety standards under legislation that has won key approval in the South Carolina House. Such cigarettes use slow-burning paper and go out when they aren’t...
Excessive Speed, Stunts, Could Mean Prison Time for Florida Motorcyclists
May 1 2008 // Florida motorcycle riders would face increased fines and could end up in prison for excessive speeding and stunt riding under a bill that will now head to the governor’s desk. The purpose of the bill is to stop the...
Insurance- ‘Green’ Coalition Opposes Expanding Government Catastrophe Bailouts
Apr 30 2008 // An unusual alliance of insurance and environmental groups is urging lawmakers to focus on policies that encourage property mitigation and environmental protection in catastrophe-prone areas, rather than expanding the...
Mississippi Lawmakers Expand Public Safety ‘One Call’ Law
Apr 30 2008 // A bill pending before the governor would require all private and public companies that run underground lines to join Mississippi’s “One Call” network. Gov. Haley Barbour has until May 12 to act on the...
Texas Lawmakers Hear Testimony on Injured Worker Ruling
Apr 30 2008 // Relatives of those killed in a 2005 BP plant explosion and other industrial accident victims are urging the Legislature to undo a Texas Supreme Court ruling in a high-profile workplace injury case. “If no one is held...
New York Agents’ Group Gets New Lobbyist
Apr 30 2008 // Jill R. Muratori has joined Albany-based Barrett Associates as its new vice president and counsel, and will serve as a lobbyist for the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of New York. It will be familiar ground for...
Michigan Auto Insurance Bill Would Give Motorists Choice in Med Coverage
Apr 30 2008 // A bill being considered by the Michigan legislature would let motorists save up to 16 percent on their auto insurance by choosing less medical coverage. Michigan is the only state to require unlimited personal injury...
West Virginia Lawmaker Says State Should Pay Firefighters’ Workers’ Comp
Apr 29 2008 // With the prospect of rising insurance premiums, some of West Virginia’s 424 volunteer fire departments say they’re worried about staying in the black. That’s why Delegate Margaret Staggers, D-Fayette,...
