Latest Legislation Headlines
All the headlines from our Legislation Topic Page, ordered by recency.
EnPro’s Garlock Wins Trial on Asbestos Liability; Judge Hits Claimants’ Lawyers
Jan 13 2014 // Garlock Sealing Technologies LLC, a unit of EnPro Industries Inc., emerged victorious after a trial with official representatives of asbestos personal injury claimants. Adopting the company’s estimate, U.S....
Flood Maps Still Wrong, Oregon Homeowners Still Paying
Jan 13 2014 // Months after Carol Justice was wrongly told her home needs flood insurance, the Cornelius resident is still paying up – even though a surveyor has since determined her house is not in the flood zone. Justice is one of...
Failing to Make the Case for Rate Regulation
Jan 13 2014 // In 1988 California voters enacted Proposition 103, in one stroke changing the state’s law regulating insurance rates from one of the least restrictive to one of the most restrictive in the nation. In the 25 years...
Transportation Network Companies, Uber Gap Worries Insurers
Jan 10 2014 // The tragedy of a young girl who was killed on New Year’s Eve by a motorist on contract with a cellphone app-based ridesharing service has at least one insurance group speaking up even louder to drive home a point...
Penn. Court: Caregiver Mother Stabbed by Son Deserves Workers’ Comp
Jan 10 2014 // A state appeals court ruled on Jan. 8 that a western Pennsylvania woman who was paid to help care for her disabled adult son in her home deserves workers’ compensation after he tried to kill her by slashing her...
Delaware Judge Weighs D&O Insurer’s Obligation in Oracle Settlement
Jan 10 2014 // Attorneys for Oracle Corp. are asking a Delaware judge to order an insurer to pay $20 million to cover attorney fees related to the proposed settlement of a shareholder lawsuit. The lawsuit challenged Oracle’s 2011...
Bill Giving White House ‘Fast Track’ Trade Pact Authority Filed But Passage Uncertain
Jan 10 2014 // U.S. lawmakers on Thursday proposed a bill to give the White House power to fast-track international trade agreements as the United States gears up for a hectic year of trade negotiations. The bill would let the...
Pressure Mounts to Improve Oil-Rail Safety; Older Tank Cars in Canada Crash
Jan 10 2014 // Political pressure to quickly improve the safety of crude oil rail shipments intensified in Washington on Thursday, while Canadian officials said two of the cars involved in the latest fiery derailment were of an older...
Insurance M&A Trends That May Lead to ‘Perfect Storm’ in 2014
Jan 9 2014 // Encouraged by a vigorous period of insurance M&A activity in the second half of 2012, many in the industry had high expectations of robustness in 2013. It’s clear now that 2013 M&A activity did not reach the...
Groups Urge Congress to Target Flood Insurance Fix to Help Needy, Not Wealthy
Jan 9 2014 // Opponents of delaying Biggert-Waters flood insurance reforms and stopping the resulting premium hikes say the negative effects are being exaggerated and instead of gutting all of the reforms, Congress should target its...
Delaware Chancery Court’s Strine Nominated to Lead State’s Supreme Court
Jan 9 2014 // Leo Strine, the outspoken chief judge of Delaware’s nationally important business court, has been nominated to lead the state’s Supreme Court, Delaware Governor Jack Markell said on Wednesday. The move, if...
Top 3 Trends for P/C Insurers: Deloitte
Jan 9 2014 // Property/casualty insurers should be thinking about transforming how they do business and how they can better deploy technology if they want to pursue long-term growth, according to the Deloitte Center for Financial...
Legislation Filed in Illinois Would Nix Workers’ Comp for Non-Work Accidents
Jan 8 2014 // Illinois lawmakers will consider legislation this spring that aims to clarify who is responsible for injuries sustained in a traffic accident on the way to work. Lee Enterprises Newspapers in Illinois reported that Sen....
West Virginia Mine Regulators Urge More Safety Reforms
Jan 8 2014 // West Virginia mining regulators are calling for more reforms to protect coal miners’ health and safety. A report from the Office of Miners’ Health, Safety and Training recommends tougher state standards to...
Senate Bill Seeks More Disclosure of Government Settlements with Firms
Jan 8 2014 // Two U.S. lawmakers on Wednesday unveiled a new bill that would force enforcement agencies to provide more details about deals to resolve corporate misconduct by U.S. companies. Senators Elizabeth Warren, the Massachusetts...
Texas Health Advisers Blast New Proposed Navigator Rules
Jan 7 2014 // During a public hearing on Jan. 5, counselors who help Texas residents up for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act criticized proposed state rules that would require them to undergo additional training and pay...
Key Senate Vote on Flood Insurance Rate Delay Pushed to Next Week
Jan 7 2014 // The U.S. Senate is expected to take a key vote soon on a bill that would delay some of the flood insurance rate hikes triggered by the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012. The procedural vote will determine...
Texting While Driving Ban Again in New Mexico Lawmaker’s Sights
Jan 7 2014 // Another attempt is being made at the New Mexico Legislature to prohibit texting while driving. Democratic Sen. Peter Wirth of Santa Fe has pre-filed a bill, marking the fifth time a version of a texting-while-driving ban...
Obama Administration Considers Rules on Use of Explosive Chemicals
Jan 7 2014 // Farmers and oil drillers may be required to report their use of explosive chemicals under measures the Obama administration is considering to avoid disasters such as a Texas blast that killed 14 people last year. Policy...
Qualitas Aided by Pena Nieto Car Insurance Law: Corporate Mexico
Jan 7 2014 // Mexico’s President Enrique Pena Nieto is giving the car insurance market a boost with a plan to mandate policies on federal highways in the country, where almost three in four drivers lack coverage. Congress approved...
