Latest Legislation Headlines
All the headlines from our Legislation Topic Page, ordered by recency.
House Passes Bill to Create National Registry of Convicted Arsonists
Dec 7 2007 // Two House lawmakers from fire-struck California won approval this week for legislation to set up a national registry to track convicted arsonists. The bill, which was passed by voice vote, requires convicted arsonists to...
California Court Rules on Age Discrimination in Workers’ Comp Claim
Dec 7 2007 // The California Court of Appeals in Sacramento has, in an unanimous decision, ruled that a disabled employee’s age cannot be used to reduce workers’ compensation benefits. In January 2003, while working as a...
Pa. Gov. Vows to Hold Up Medical-Malpractice Aid
Dec 5 2007 // Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell is threatening to withhold state aid to help doctors and other health care providers pay for their medical malpractice insurance unless lawmakers also act on his proposal to expand state health...
Workers’ Comp Hits Rocky Patch in W. Va. on Road to Full Privatization
Dec 5 2007 // The latest power struggle between W. Va. Gov. Joe Manchin’s administration and lawmakers spilled out into the open last week, and those who attended the final meeting of the monthly interim session got a front-row...
Alabama Senator: English Only Driver Test Will Improve Highway Safety
Dec 5 2007 // An Alabama state senator who is vice chairman of a panel studying immigration issues in Alabama said Monday he will introduce legislation to require the state driver’s license exam be given in English only. The...
Okla. Lawmakers Examine State Preparations for Pandemic
Dec 4 2007 // Lawmakers in Oklahoma questioned whether the state would be prepared in the event of an influenza pandemic during a legislative study conducted by state Rep. Lee Denney. Lawmakers and other officials recently met at the...
Fla. Insurance Regulator Names New Property And Casualty Director
Dec 4 2007 // Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty promoted Robin Westcott to director of property and casualty financial oversight with the Office of Insurance Regulation effective Nov. 28. Westcott will report to Deputy...
Iowa Counties Urge Lawmakers to Consider Bicycle Exemption
Dec 4 2007 // Iowa’s county supervisors have informally agreed to pressure the Iowa Legislature for an exemption from any future court cases involving bicycles on county roads. The supervisors’ decision follows a $350,000...
Regulators Honor Nebraska with Esprit de Corps Award
Dec 3 2007 // The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) today bestowed its Esprit de Corps Award to the Nebraska Department of Insurance. This is the second time the NAIC has given the award. Nebraska Insurance Director...
A Nod to Dodd
Dec 2 2007 // Sen. Trent Lott, R- Miss., appears to have quieted down since his Hurricane Katrina claim has been settled, so perhaps people will start listening to other senators in Washington on property insurance and natural disaster...
Conn. Consumers to Get ‘Mints on Pillows’ Treatment
Dec 2 2007 // Commissioner Sullivan vows departmental changes; also contends private coastal insurance market is working Connecticut consumers dealing with the state’s insurance regulatory agency should be left feeling they were...
Hawaii County Looks to Stem Flood Hazards, Meets National Flood Insurance Program Deadline
Dec 2 2007 // Hawaii County has met a deadline to save Big Island residents’ federal flood insurance coverage, but at least one County Council member is not satisfied. The council voted unanimously to approve a bill that puts the...
A Nod to Dodd
Dec 2 2007 // Sen. Trent Lott, R- Miss., appears to have quieted down since his Hurricane Katrina claim has been settled, so perhaps people will start listening to other senators in Washington on property insurance and natural disaster...
Proponents Ring Alarm After Court Ruling Strikes Down Ill. Tort Reform Law
Dec 2 2007 // A Cook County, Ill., Circuit Court ruling in late November struck down the state’s much touted 2005 medical liability reform law, calling the caps on non-economic damages for medical malpractice lawsuits...
Federal Legislation to Offer States Incentives for Stronger Building Codes
Dec 2 2007 // States that already have a mandatory statewide building code and have enforcement measures in place would be eligible for an additional 4 percent of federal disaster relief funds under recently introduced federal...
Illinois Tort Reform Efforts Struck Down
Dec 2 2007 // If anyone is betting on what organization is running the show in Illinois, my money is on the Illinois Trial Bar Association. Put a check mark in the “win” column recently for the Trial Bar as the 2005 tort...
16 Judges Step Aside From Scruggs Contempt Case
Dec 2 2007 // Every eligible federal judge in north Alabama has stepped aside from presiding in the criminal contempt case of Mississippi trial lawyer Richard Scruggs, who is accused of disobeying an order by failing to turn over...
Georgia Closes Contractors’ Liability Loophole
Dec 2 2007 // General contractors in Georgia are no longer able to use subcontractors as a broad shield against bodily injury and property damage claims at construction sites under a new law. The new statute went into effect July 1. The...
From Insurance Consumer to Commissioner
Dec 2 2007 // While the position of California Insurance Commissioner is elected and there are already rumblings that he’d make a good gubernatorial candidate in 2010, current California Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner says...
Kipper to Lead Oregon Insurance Division
Dec 2 2007 // The Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services has named Scott Kipper administrator of its Insurance Division, DCBS Director Cory Streisinger announced. Kipper replaces Joel Ario, who left in July to become...
