Latest Legislation Headlines
All the headlines from our Legislation Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Vicarious Liability Ruling May Impact Education Insureds in California
Mar 14 2012 // The California Supreme Court ruled that a public school district may be vicariously liable for the negligent hiring, retention and supervision of a guidance counselor who allegedly sexually abused a student. And that...
Idaho House: Private Insurers Should Set Up Exchange
Mar 14 2012 // Idaho House members voted 49-13 to encourage private insurers to establish their own health insurance exchange, rather than having federal or state governments set one up as envisioned by the 2010 federal health care...
Michigan Agency Plans Workplace Safety Rules Changes
Mar 14 2012 // A state office is making hundreds of recommendations to eliminate Michigan workplace safety regulations that exceed federal standards. The report released by the Office of Regulatory Reinvention aims to eliminate what the...
West Virginia Passes Ban on Texting While Driving
Mar 13 2012 // West Virginia lawmakers ended their 60-day legislative session over the weekend by passing agreements on fighting methamphetamine labs and targeting distracted drivers. A unanimous Senate vote and an 80-8 vote in the House...
Administration Issues Rules for State-Run Health Insurance Exchanges
Mar 12 2012 // The Obama administration on Monday released broad new operating rules for state-run health insurance exchanges, which form a key part of the 2010 federal healthcare reform law that will face landmark Supreme Court hearings...
Oklahoma Leaders Shelve Plan for Insurance Exchange
Mar 12 2012 // Oklahoma legislative leaders said on March 8 they are shelving a plan to comply with the new federal health care law by setting up a state health insurance exchange. In a joint statement, House Speaker Kris Steele and...
Missouri Senate Passes Workplace Discrimination Measure
Mar 12 2012 // The Missouri Senate has given final approval to legislation aimed at changing the state’s rules for lawsuits that deal with workplace discrimination. Senators backed the bill in a 23-8 vote along party lines, sending...
Florida’s Citizens Assessment Rate to Change Under New Law
Mar 12 2012 // Florida lawmakers have approved a bill that reduces the assessment rate of the state-run property insurer to give policyholders more time to retire deficits. The bill would also reduce the financial pressure on the...
Judge: NYC Could Owe Over $128M in FDNY Lawsuit
Mar 12 2012 // A federal judge said last Thursday the amount of back wages owed minorities affected by discrimination in the city’s firefighter entrance exams could be more than $128 million. In a decision, U.S. District Judge...
Florida Passes PIP Reform Bill
Mar 12 2012 // Gov. Rick Scott got the legislation he wanted to reform Florida’s mandatory motor vehicle no-fault law and crack down on the abuses in personal injury protection cases that have led to skyrocketing increases for...
Judge Combines West Virginia Slurry Pollution Cases
Mar 12 2012 // The claims of hundreds of Boone County residents who blame coal companies for contaminating their water supplies will be heard in a single trial, a judge ruled last week. Circuit Judge William Thompson issued an order...
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....
