Latest Legislation Headlines
All the headlines from our Legislation Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Insurance Journal’s Top 10 East Region Stories of 2019
Jan 2 2020 // A new year is a time of reflection for some, and last year, the city of Boston began 2019 by reflecting on an important piece of the city’s history: the 100-year anniversary of The Great Molasses Flood. The flood,...
Insurance Journal’s Top 10 Midwest Region Stories of 2019
Jan 2 2020 // The expanding legalization of marijuana in Midwest states captured the attention of Insurance Journal readers last year. Illinois became the 11th state to legalize recreational cannabis when Gov. J.B. Pritzker in June 2019...
Insurance Journal’s Top 10 South Central Region Stories of 2019
Jan 2 2020 // It almost seemed like there was a major fire or explosion per month at one petrochemical facility or another in the South Central region last year. That’s not really the case, but there were a number of high-profile...
Judge Temporarily Blocks California Gig Worker Law for Truckers
Jan 2 2020 // A federal judge has temporarily blocked a California labor law meant to take effect Jan. 1 from impacting over 70,000 independent truckers by granting a ‘temporary restraining order.’ U.S. District Judge Roger...
Insurance Journal’s Top 10 Southeast Region Stories of 2019
Jan 2 2020 // It was a relatively quiet year for the Southeast in terms of major catastrophes compared with 2018 when Hurricane’s Michael and Florence caused major damage in the region. This year, Hurricane Dorian sideswiped the...
In Midwest, Legal Marijuana Sales May Spark Interstate Tension
Dec 31 2019 // Retailers legally selling marijuana for the past month in Michigan say they have drawn customers from surrounding Midwestern states where the drug remains illegal and, as Illinois prepares to joins the recreational market...
Diet Dr Pepper Is Not Promising Weight Loss, Court Rules
Dec 31 2019 // A U.S. federal appeals court on Monday said the maker of Diet Dr Pepper did not deceive consumers into thinking the soft drink promoted weight loss by including “diet” in its name, a decision that could doom a...
Puff, Puff, Passed: 2019 Marijuana Laws in Review and 2020 Projections
Dec 31 2019 // With 2019 nearly rolled up, it is time to exhale and recap the latest dose of marijuana laws affecting the workplace. In the last twelve months, Illinois became the eleventh state to legalize recreational marijuana use by...
Judge Overturns $15M Award to Ex-LA Times Columnist
Dec 30 2019 // A judge has overturned a jury’s award of nearly $15.5 million to a former sports columnist for the Los Angeles Times who said he was forced out of his job because of age and health discrimination. Superior Court...
Texas’ New Surprise Medical Bill Law Goes into Effect on Jan. 1
Dec 27 2019 // Some Texans will have new consumer protections against surprise medical bills when a new law becomes effective on Jan. 1, the Texas Department of Insurance reported. Patients get surprise medical bills when they get care...
California Man Choked Unconscious Can Sue Police, Court Rules
Dec 27 2019 // A California man can proceed to trial with a lawsuit against a police officer who choked him unconscious at a Las Vegas nightclub, a federal appeals court ruled this week. “It has long been clear that a police...
Texas House Committee Hearing on Windstorm Insurance Legislation Set for Jan. 15
Dec 27 2019 // The insurance committee in the Texas House of Representatives will hold a hearing on Jan. 15 to consider the state of rulemaking and other governmental actions with regard to legislation passed in 2019 affecting...
Long-Awaited U.S. Drone Safety Rules Call for Extensive Tracking Network
Dec 26 2019 // All but the smallest civilian drones would have to broadcast radio tracking data to ensure greater safety and prevent terrorism under a sweeping proposal unveiled by U.S. regulators Thursday. The long-awaited draft rules...
Notre Dame Fire Reveals Global Safety Lapse Over Dangers of Lead Dust
Dec 23 2019 // PARIS (AP) — It took a blaze that nearly destroyed Paris’ most famous cathedral to reveal a gap in global safety regulations for lead, a toxic building material found across many historic cities. After the Notre...
California Proposes Major Change on Auto Insurance Group Discounts
Dec 23 2019 // The California Department of Insurance on Monday released proposed regulations to reform how insurance companies offer group discounts based on occupation, education, and other arbitrary factors. If adopted, this would be...
City of London’s Unity Begins Cracking over Brexit Trade Deal: Opinion
Dec 23 2019 // Boris Johnson’s triumphant U.K. election victory makes Brexit a near certainty next month. For the City of London, Britain’s split from its biggest trading partner is a huge leap into the unknown; one that will...
Bipartisan Internet Privacy Proposal Calls for User OK to Share Data But Is Mum on Suits
Dec 23 2019 // A top House panel unveiled long-awaited draft privacy legislation that calls for limits on sharing consumers’ information and would allow users to correct their personal data. The draft, which also calls for the...
DuPont Asks Delaware Judge to Toss Chemours Environmental Liabilities Suit
Dec 23 2019 // The DuPont Co. is asking a Delaware judge to dismiss a lawsuit claiming that it massively downplayed the cost of environmental liabilities that Chemours would be saddled with when DuPont spun off its former performance...
U.S. E-Cigarette Regulation Has Been Delayed for Years
Dec 23 2019 // As the Federal Drug Administration pressures e-cigarette firms to stamp out youth vaping, the agency faces criticism itself for failing to rein in the fast-growing industry after years of bureaucratic delays dating back to...
Spending Bills with Flood, Terrorism Insurance Renewals Go to President Trump
Dec 20 2019 // The Senate yesterday went along with House measures that fund the military and rest of the federal government through next September. The government funding measure includes two provisions of particular interest to the...
