Latest Legislation Headlines

All the headlines from our Legislation Topic Page, ordered by recency.

Insurers Say Florida Backsliding on Insurance Scores

Jun 14 2007 // Property/ casualty insurers are contending that the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation is “off the mark” in developing rules implementing a law passed in 2003 addressing insurers’ use of credit...

W. Va. Judge Seals Records in Medical Malpractice Case

Jun 13 2007 // Legal documents in the numerous lawsuits filed against a former Putnam County General Hospital osteopath have been placed off limits by a West Virginia judge overseeing the cases. Putnam County Circuit Judge O.C. Spaulding...

White Named Insurer Regulation Director at Delaware Department

Jun 13 2007 // Steve White has been named director of the Bureau of Company Examination, Regulation and Guaranty (BERG) in the Delaware Department of Insurance, Insurance Commissioner Matt Denn announced. A 13-year employee of the...

S.C. Passes Workers’ Comp Anti-Fraud, Injury Reporting Bill

Jun 12 2007 // Employers who lie about what their workers do to save money on insurance premiums would face fines and prison time under an agreement South Carolina legislators reached to overhaul the state’s workers’...

Fla. Eases Eligibilty for Workers’ Comp Benefits for Police, Fire

Jun 12 2007 // Florida police, firefighters, paramedics and other first responders would have an easier time becoming eligible for workers compensation benefits, and would get a better package of benefits under legislation Gov. Charlie...

Texas Mid-Year Property/Casualty Symposium Set for July 12

Jun 12 2007 // The Insurance Council of Texas (ICT) and the Association of Fire and Casualty Companies in Texas (AFACT) will present the 15th Annual 2007 Mid-Year Property & Casualty Insurance Symposium on July 12, in Austin,...

FBI, IRS Probing Pa. Judge’s Car Insurance Claim Payment

Jun 12 2007 // The FBI and the Internal Revenue Service are investigating hefty insurance payments made to a Pennsylvania Superior Court judge. Judge Michael Joyce received $440,000 in insurance money in 2002 for injuries he said he...

Lawmakers’ Driving Claims Cost California Taxpayers

Jun 11 2007 // Lawmakers using state-issued vehicles filed auto insurance claims at a far higher rate than the general public, costing California taxpayers nearly $90,000 the past two years, according to records obtained by The...

Workers’ Comp Judge Put on Leave for Alleged Comment

Jun 11 2007 // A judge with the New Mexico Workers’ Compensation Administration has been placed on paid leave while the agency investigates an allegation that he made an inappropriate sexual proposal to an injured worker while...

Fla. and La. Taking Different Paths on Insurance Woes

Jun 11 2007 // Florida and Louisiana are hurricane-prone states with similar property insurance problems, but their governors are taking wildly different approaches to fixing the insurance headaches. Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, a...

La. Judge: Fed. Prosecutors Should Get Involved in Whistle-Blower Case

Jun 11 2007 // The judge in New Orleans who unsealed a federal whistle-blower case accusing insurance companies of overbilling the National Flood Insurance Program says the U.S. Department of Justice should get involved or explain why...

N.C. House Panel OKs Standard for ‘Fire-Safe’ Cigarettes

Jun 8 2007 // With the cautious support of North Carolina’s tobacco manufacturers, a House committee approved a bill Tuesday that would require the companies to make and sell cigarettes that burn out if left unattended. The...

Maine Gov. Baldacci Expected to Sign Bill Blocking Real ID

Jun 8 2007 // Gov. John Baldacci is expected to sign a bill prohibiting Maine from implementing Real ID, the national identity card system that’s been vilified by critics as unworkable and too expensive, a spokesman said...

N.Y. Boat Safety Bill Advances

Jun 8 2007 // The New York State Senate has passed legislation its backers promise will strengthen New York’s navigation laws to improve public boating safety. The measure, (S.4242), sponsored by Senator Betty Little...

S.C. Insurance Director Proud of Hurricane Legislation

Jun 8 2007 // On Wednesday the South Carolina House of Representatives agreed to Senate changes to coastal omnibus hurricane legislation, which included extending the notice for homeowners whose insurance would be canceled to 90 days...

R.I. Lawmakers Again OK Grace Period for Auto Insurance Cardholders

Jun 8 2007 // Legislation to give motorists a one-business-day grace period to produce their auto insurance card if asked to do so by a police officer has been approved by the Rhode Island Senate and House of Representatives and is...

S.C. Governor Expected to Sign Hurricane Mitigation Bill

Jun 7 2007 // The South Carolina House has concurred with the Senate on the so-called coastal property omnibus bill and forwarded it to the governor who is expected to sign the legislation. HB 3820 includes a limited expansion of the...

WIAA Appoints Leader for Legislative and Regulatory Advocacy Program

Jun 7 2007 // Ken Nigohosian, the executive vice president for Western Insurance Agents Association will be assuming additional duties to spearhead the association’s legislative and regulatory affairs. Nigohosian joined WIAA eight...

Hawaii $151 Million Unemployment Tax Cut Package Becomes Law

Jun 7 2007 // A package passed by Hawaii lawmakers that would save businesses an estimated $151 million over the next three years has become law. The new law, which takes effect Jan. 1, 2008, will drastically cut the taxable wage base...

Conn. Budget Impasse Could Halt Health Care Measure

Jun 7 2007 // Connecticut lawmakers moved closer Wednesday toward providing health insurance to more of Connecticut’s estimated 370,000 people without coverage, but the legislation was threatened by a budget impasse at the...