Latest Legislation Headlines
All the headlines from our Legislation Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Judge: Delaware’s Aggressive Abandoned Property Practices Violate Due Process
Jun 30 2016 // A federal judge this week blasted Delaware’s practice of collecting abandoned property, issuing a ruling that could have dire budget consequences for the state. U.S. District Court Judge Gregory Sleet said...
Legal Expert Assesses 4 Scenarios to Put Brakes on Brexit
Jun 30 2016 // As continental powers pressure a nervous Britain to formally apply to exit the European Union, die-hard “remain” supporters are taking on the mission to put the brakes on the so-called Brexit. The challenge is...
Missouri Governor Vetoes Bill Expanding Gun Rights
Jun 28 2016 // Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon has vetoed a gun measure that would allow the concealed carry of firearms without a permit and expand residents’ rights to stand and fight against perceived threats — a move that could set...
QBE Weighs Brexit-Effect; Marsh Considers Some Brexit Scenarios
Jun 28 2016 // QBE Insurance Group announced this week that it will be reviewing its UK-based operations in light of last week’s vote in the UK to leave the European Union. “The referendum outcome may require a revised...
Wisconsin Lawmaker Wants to Make Businesses Liable for Gun Injuries
Jun 27 2016 // A Republican state lawmaker wants Wisconsin businesses to be held liable for any gun-related injuries that may occur on their premises. State Rep. Bob Gannon, of Slinger, says he plans to introduce the bill for the...
Judge Dismisses Group of Lawsuits against Colorado Theater
Jun 27 2016 // A federal judge has dismissed a consolidated group of lawsuits brought against the owner of the Colorado movie theater where a gunman killed 12 people and wounded 70 others. Judge R. Brooke Jackson dismissed the lawsuits...
Judge in California Approves Lyft’s $27M Driver Settlement Deal
Jun 27 2016 // A U.S. judge granted preliminary approval to ride service Lyft’s $27 million settlement of a class action lawsuit brought by California drivers who claimed they should be deemed employees instead of independent...
New Hampshire Ridesharing Law Goes Into Effect
Jun 27 2016 // A state law requiring criminal background checks on drivers of ride-hailing companies took effect this week with Democratic Gov. Maggie Hassan’s signature. The law also requires ride-hailing companies like Uber and...
Judge Dismisses Distillery’s Trademark Case Against University of Kentucky
Jun 27 2016 // A federal judge has dismissed an Appalachian distillery’s lawsuit in a trademark dispute with the University of Kentucky, but the moonshine maker vowed to fight on. The case pits the state’s flagship university...
Rhode Island Gets New Chief and Associate Workers’ Compensation Judges
Jun 24 2016 // Rhode Island Governor Gina M. Raimondo this week hosted official swearing-in ceremonies for a new chief judge and an associate judge of the state Workers’ Compensation Court. Judge Robert Ferrieri is the new chief...
Authors, Backers of Dodd-Frank Criticize Court for Cutting MetLife ‘Too-Big-To-Fail’ Tag
Jun 24 2016 // A federal court’s striking down of the government’s designation of insurer MetLife Inc as “too-big-to-fail” could undermine efforts to head off another financial crisis, authors of the landmark...
Louisiana Bill Lowers Citizens Insurance Assessment Tax Break
Jun 23 2016 // Legislation awaiting the signature of Louisiana’s governor would significantly lower the amount of rebate property insurance policyholders would receive for assessments to cover the debts of the state’s...
Judge Allows Bulk of Starbucks Suit in California over Lattes to Proceed
Jun 23 2016 // A federal judge is allowing the bulk of a lawsuit accusing Starbucks of systematically under-filling lattes to move forward. Two California residents are suing the Seattle-based coffee chain, claiming that Starbucks lattes...
Democratic Senators Oppose Health Insurer Mergers
Jun 23 2016 // Seven Democratic senators urged the U.S. Justice Department on Wednesday to block two mergers of major health insurance companies, saying that the proposed deals would mean higher premiums and lower-quality healthcare for...
Rhode Island Lawmakers Pass Ridesharing, Drone Bills
Jun 23 2016 // Rhode Island’s legislature has passed a bill to legalize and regulate ride-hailing app companies such as Uber. The legislation was among hundreds of bills passed during an all-night session that ended Saturday. It...
Florida’s Citizens Says AOB Abuse to Blame for Statewide Rate Increase of 6.8%
Jun 23 2016 // Citizens Board of Governors has approved recommended rates for 2017 that equal an average rate increase of nearly 7 percent statewide. The company said the increase is a necessary response to rising non-weather water...
New U.S. Rules Seen ‘Major Step’ for Drone Industry; Rules on Deliveries Still to Come
Jun 22 2016 // The Obama administration is opening U.S. skies to more commercial drones with long-awaited regulations that the government hopes will spawn new businesses inspecting bridges, monitoring crops and taking aerial...
U.S. Issues Final Commercial Drone Regulations
Jun 22 2016 // The Federal Aviation Administration has finalized the first operational rules for routine commercial use of small unmanned aircraft systems or drones opening pathways towards fully integrating UAS into the nation’s...
Supreme Court Muddies Healthcare Liability Waters
Jun 21 2016 // The Supreme Court is supposed to take appellate cases to make the law clearer. Last week’s opinion on healthcare fraud had the opposite effect. Instead of spelling out exactly when a misrepresentation in healthcare...
Prosecutor: In Cost Cutting, Pacific Gas Ignored Safety Regulations
Jun 20 2016 // Pacific Gas & Electric Co. ignored pipeline safety regulations to cut costs and tried to cover up its illegal practices by misleading federal officials investigating a deadly explosion of one of its natural gas...
