Latest Legislation Headlines
All the headlines from our Legislation Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Workers’ Compensation Bill Sent to Missouri Governor
Mar 9 2012 // Lawmakers gave final approval on March 7 to legislation that would expand the type of ailments covered by the state workers’ compensation system, a move that supporters hope will make Missouri more attractive to...
Judge Denies Claim Mississippi DUI Law Is Unconstitutional
Mar 9 2012 // Harrison County Circuit Judge Larry Bourgeois has declined to throw out the indictment in a DUI death case and dismissed a defense attorney’s claim that the Mississippi law is unconstitutional. The ruling was sought...
Captives Bring Premium Dollars and Jobs to Missouri
Mar 9 2012 // When it comes to the captive insurance industry, slow and steady growth is just fine with the state of Missouri. But it’s not like the state is reluctant to encourage captives to form or relocate there. Far from...
Florida House, Senate Differ on PIP Reform; Special Session Possible
Mar 8 2012 // The Florida Senate has rewritten the House’s bill aimed at reforming the state’s no-fault auto law, adding numerous provisions that are opposed by House lawmakers. As a result, there is a chance that the issue...
Ban on Texting While Driving in Pennsylvania Goes Into Effect
Mar 8 2012 // A new state law requiring Pennsylvania drivers to pull over and stop if they want to use text-based communications went into effect at midnight Thursday, although it remains legal to use a hand-held cellphone behind the...
Lawmaker Halts Effort to Ease West Virginia Motorcycle Helmet Law
Mar 8 2012 // Efforts to ease West Virginia’s motorcycle helmet law have been stopped short by the bill’s advocate, who pledged to fight for legislation making helmets optional next year. The Senate Transportation committee...
West Virginia Lawmakers Pass Mine Safety Measure
Mar 8 2012 // West Virginia will update its mine safety laws in the wake of the worst U.S. coal mining disaster in four decades. The House of Delegates sent the measure to Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin. Delegates approved several changes made...
Minnesota Gov. Dayton Vetoes Deadly Force Bill
Mar 8 2012 // Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton has vetoed a bill that would have expanded the cases in which people could use deadly force, siding with objections from law enforcement who said it could legalize murder in some cases. In his...
Judge Urges Los Angeles Dodgers, Beaten Fan to Reach Settlement
Mar 7 2012 // The Los Angeles Dodgers and the family of a baseball fan who was badly beaten at a game last year were encouraged by a bankruptcy judge to discuss a settlement of a negligence lawsuit. The family of Bryan Stow wanted U.S....
Florida House OKs 3 Victim Compensation Measures Worth Millions
Mar 7 2012 // Three high-profile claims bills that would let victims of governmental negligence receive millions in compensation cleared the Florida House on Monday. The bills now go to the Senate. One bill (SB 4) would require that an...
SEC Weighs Exempting Insurance Companies from Volcker Rule
Mar 7 2012 // The top U.S. securities regulator said on Tuesday her agency is exploring whether insurance companies can qualify for a coveted exemption in the proposed Volcker rule that would protect them from having to scale back their...
New Hampshire Bill Addresses Landowners’ Liability for Recreational Use
Mar 6 2012 // A lawsuit by a hunter seriously injured when a tree stand he was using collapsed has again prompted legislation to protect New Hampshire landowners from similar suits. The House could vote this week on a bill that says any...
Oklahoma House Panel Votes to Close Daycare Insurance Loophole
Mar 5 2012 // An Oklahoma House of Representatives committee has voted to close a loophole in state law, ensuring that all daycare facilities have liability insurance. House Bill 1848, by state Rep. Mike Shelton, eliminates an exemption...
Florida House Passes PIP Fraud Bill
Mar 5 2012 // A bill aimed at cracking down on rampant fraud in the state’s personal injury protection insurance was passed Friday in the Florida House of Representatives. The bill (HB 119) was approved largely along party lines...
Sharing Economy Calls For Insurance Innovation
Mar 5 2012 // How Insurance Helped Getaround Get Going Can technology positively impact a billion people in just 10 years? Possibly, if insurance is available. Consider taking a low-use personal automobile — which might sit idle most...
No Damages for Dog Death, North Carolina Court Rules
Mar 5 2012 // The North Carolina Court of Appeals has waded into a legal tussle over the wrongful death of a Jack Russell terrier. Nancy and Herb Shera sued North Carolina State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine in 2009,...
Captives Bring Premium Dollars and Jobs to Missouri
Mar 5 2012 // The State Is Serious About Encouraging Captive Growth When it comes to the captive insurance industry, slow and steady growth is just fine with the state of Missouri. But it’s not like the state is reluctant to...
Nevada Approves Regulations for Self-Driving Cars
Mar 5 2012 // Nevada is becoming the first of the U.S. states to regulate self-driving vehicles on its roadways. The state’s legislative commission has approved regulations that were vetted by car manufacturers, insurance...
Judge: BP, Anadarko, Transocean May Be Liable for Oil Pollution Claims
Mar 5 2012 // BP Plc and Anadarko Petroleum Corp. are liable and Transocean Ltd. may be liable for civil damages under federal pollution laws over the catastrophic 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill, a U.S. judge ruled. The decision by U.S....
Alaska’s Hall Saying Farewell to Director Post
Mar 5 2012 // Linda Hall started as director of Alaska’s Division of Insurance on March 3, 2003, and nine-years later she’s calling it a day as the top authority on insurance in the land of the midnight sun. The state has...
