Latest Legislation Headlines
All the headlines from our Legislation Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Exemption protection
Jul 3 2006 // The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee last month received testimony on whether to continue the insurance antitrust exemption contained in the 1945 McCarran-Ferguson Act. This law placed responsibility for insurance...
N.Y. JUDGE DENIES PATIENT SURGEON’S MEDICAL RECORDS FOR HER MALPRACTICE SUIT
Jul 3 2006 // A woman who says her facelift was botched by a surgeon with physical problems may not see the doctor’s personal medical records as evidence for her lawsuit, a Manhattan judge has ruled. Geraldine Brower says she...
Michigan helmet repeal legislation nixed by governor
Jul 3 2006 // Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm vetoed a bill on June 23 that would have repealed the state of Michigan’s 37-year-old mandatory helmet law. The proposed law change pitted safety and insurance organizations against...
Rising tide of lawsuits–EPLI
Jul 3 2006 // The reality of today’s workplace is that a wide variety of employee grievances may escalate, almost without warning, into costly lawsuits. Any time an employee objects to a company employment practice that is...
Congress Raises Penalties for Oil Spills on Waterways
Jun 30 2006 // The Delaware River and other waterways around the nation will be better protected from oil spills under legislation approved Tuesday by Congress, according to one of the measure’s co-sponsors. The Coast Guard and...
House Advances Federal Flood Bill
Jun 29 2006 // The federal flood insurance program, still reeling from historic losses from Hurricane Katrina, may get a helping hand from Congress. The House voted 416-4 Tuesday to phase out subsidies on some vacation homes and...
TSLA Supports Surplus Lines Reform; Urges Members to Act
Jun 27 2006 // The Texas Surplus Lines Association announced their support of House Bill 5637, a new federal bill to reform surplus lines regulation. The bill, sponsored by Ginny Brown-Waite, R-Fla. and Dennis Moore D-Kan., and...
Florida Agents Told: Major Changes Essential to Entice Carriers
Jun 26 2006 // Carriers and insurers look at Florida as a heavy-handed, intrusive, oppressive regulatory regime and it would require a major shift in how government and legislators approach this market to encourage companies to come into...
Mich. Lawmakers Consider New Alcohol Limit Law for Boaters
Jun 26 2006 // The Michigan Legislature wants to toughen the law regarding alochol limits for boaters. Alcohol typically plays a role in about a third of reported boating deaths each year, according to the Michigan Association of...
Gov. Bush Signs Florida Auto Insurance Fraud Legislation
Jun 26 2006 // Anti-fraud legislation that cracks down on and reins in auto insurance fraud was signed June 26 by Gov. Jeb Bush. The action applauded by Tom Gallagher, Florida CFO, who oversees law enforcement agencies involved in...
Insurer Group Sets Policy on Natural Disaster Issues
Jun 26 2006 // The National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies (NAMIC) has adopted a statement on natural disasters that asserts a flexible regulatory environment in which insurers are free to price coverage based on risk will...
R.I. Governor Denounces Bill to Curb His Control Over Beacon Mutual
Jun 23 2006 // Rhode Island Governor Donald L. Carcieri is expressing strong opposition to legislation (Senate bill 2882) that would subject his appointments to the Beacon Mutual Insurance Company board of directors to Senate advice and...
Michigan Governor Vetos Helmet Repeal Legislation
Jun 23 2006 // Gov. Jennifer Granholm vetoed a bill on Friday, June 23rd that would have repealed the state of Michigan’s 37-year-old mandatory helmet law. “Repealing the requirement that motorcyclists wear helmets would be...
Fla. Gov. Signs Long-Term Care Legislation
Jun 23 2006 // Legislation to provide new protections for long-term care insurance policyholders has been signed into law today by Florida’s Gov. Jeb Bush. The measure prevents insurers from contesting policies years after selling...
Federal Insurance Antitrust Exemption: Insurer, Consumer Friend or Foe?
Jun 22 2006 // Congress opened a fresh debate on the insurance industry’s exemption from federal antitrust laws this week, with some larger insurers indicating a willingness to relinquish the exemption in exchange for regulatory...
Bill to Regulate R.I. Contractors Filed
Jun 22 2006 // House Speaker Tempore Charlene M. Lima (D-Dist. 14, Cranston) has introduced legislation to regulate the registration of contractors in Rhode Island. The legislation (2006-H 8245) would amend the contractors’...
Market Still Fragile as La. Legislature Adjourns, Insurer Group Says
Jun 22 2006 // In the wake of hurricanes Katrina and Rita the 2006 Louisiana legislative session was very contentious; however, lawmakers rejected the proposals that would have been detrimental for consumers and the insurance...
Mich. AAA, Coalition Host Press Conference Urging Veto of Helmet Bill
Jun 22 2006 // AAA Michigan today urged Governor Jennifer Granholm to veto legislation that would repeal Michigan’s 37-year-old mandatory motorcycle helmet law, saying that the new law would recklessly endanger Michigan...
Okla. Gov. Names Harkey as Workers’ Comp Judge
Jun 20 2006 // Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry appointed Michael J. Harkey as a Workers’ Compensation Court judge for a term ending July 1, 2008. He succeeds Richard G. Mason, who resigned in January. The governor praised...
Workplace Bullies May Be Next On Insurers’ Watchlist, Insurance Journal Reports
Jun 20 2006 // From the playground to the classroom to the office — bullies can be found in all walks of life, but new anti-harassment legislation in some states could put an end to bullying in the workplace that can be costly for...
