Latest Legislation Headlines
All the headlines from our Legislation Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Insurer Group Says More Workers’ Comp Reform Needed in Illinois
Jun 3 2011 // Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn plans to sign a major overhaul of Illinois workers’ compensation system that he said will mean “significant saving” for the state, but at least one insurance carrier trade group...
Judge: No Reduction in Fine, Restitution in Louisiana Man’s Death
Jun 3 2011 // A federal judge has declined to reduce the $1 million fine and $2 million in restitution he ordered paid by a Colorado company that admitted partial responsibility for the death of a Baton Rouge plant worker. Chief U.S....
Insurer Groups Say Windstorm Issue Must be Addressed in Texas
Jun 2 2011 // The Texas Legislature, which adjourned its regular session on May 30, passed a number of bills of interest to the property and casualty insurance industry, including tort reform legislation and a measure requiring that...
Pinnacol Audit Finds No Impropriety
Jun 2 2011 // An audit committee has found no evidence of impropriety in Pinnacol Assurance’s incentive, expense and pay policies, but nevertheless recommended the Colorado-based workers’ compensation insurer “maintain...
Supreme Court Rules Former AG Ashcroft Not Liable for Damages
Jun 2 2011 // The Supreme Court this week threw out damage claims against former Attorney General John Ashcroft over an American Muslim’s arrest, but four justices said the case raises serious questions about post-9/11 detentions...
Reversing Itself, Illinois House Passes Workers’ Comp Legislation
Jun 1 2011 // In a reversal, the Illinois House of Representatives has passed a measure that aims to reform the state’s workers’ compensation system just days after it rejected a previous version of the legislation. The...
North Carolina House Passes Workers’ Compensation Changes
Jun 1 2011 // The North Carolina House of Representatives has approved changes to rules governing workers’ compensation claims. The House chamber voted Tuesday in support of a consensus bill whose chief sponsor said came together...
Senate-Approved Workers’ Comp Overhaul Rejected by Illinois House
May 31 2011 // A major overhaul of the state’s costly workers compensation system failed in the Illinois House on May 29, raising the possibility that lawmakers would push to entirely abolish a system that handles tens of thousands...
Alabama Lawmakers Advance Bills Curbing Lawsuits
May 31 2011 // The Alabama Legislature has taken another step toward erasing the state’s one-time reputation for juries returning big cash lawsuit verdicts. The Alabama House gave final approval last week to three bills aimed at...
Workers’ Comp Reform Approved in Illinois Senate
May 31 2011 // A plan to overhaul workers’ compensation to cut business costs and curb corruption emerged May 28 and was approved by the Illinois Senate. The measure, which came after six months of negotiations and now heads to the...
Texas Windstorm Insurance Legislation Advances
May 25 2011 // The Texas Senate unanimously approved its version of a bill to revamp the state’s windstorm fund that insures coastal properties against hurricane damage. The Texas Windstorm Insurance Association reform measure,...
Lawsky Confirmed as Head of New York Regulatory Agency
May 25 2011 // The New York Senate has confirmed Benjamin M. Lawsky as superintendent of the Department of Financial Services (DFS), the combined agency overseeing insurance, financial services and related industries in the Empire...
Tennessee Approves Caps on Lawsuit Damages
May 25 2011 // Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam is praising lawmakers for giving final approval to a plan to cap non-economic and economic damages stemming from lawsuits. The Tennessee General Assembly approved HB 2008 that places a cap of...
Marsh Appoints Judge to Lead St. Louis Office
May 24 2011 // Insurance broker Marsh has appointed Marleen Judge to lead its St. Louis office. Judge brings more than 20 years of corporate risk management experience to the role. She will be responsible for client relationships and...
Opinion: Financial Regulation Reform Risks Overkill in Emerging Markets
May 24 2011 // There is no doubt that some of the busiest people since the financial crisis are at the Financial Stability Board. The G20 recommendations have been wide ranging, from private sector practices such as compensation schemes...
Texas Senate Votes to Keep Texas Insurance Department
May 23 2011 // The Texas Senate has voted to renew the state Department of Insurance and give it stronger enforcement penalties when companies lose challenges to their rates. Lawmakers are considering competing bills to extend the life...
Montana State Fund Cuts Rates 20%
May 23 2011 // The board of Montana State Fund, the state’s largest workers’ compensation insurer, cut its rates by 20 percent, in a move that some hope will help the business community and encourage more job creation and...
N.Y. Agents Appealing Compensation Disclosure Ruling
May 20 2011 // The Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of New York (IIABNY) says it is moving forward with a legal appeal of a court ruling that forced agents in the state to reveal their commissions to clients. The group plans to...
Wash. Lawmakers Continue to Struggle on Workers’ Comp Deal
May 20 2011 // Leading Washington lawmakers are struggling to find a compromise that would alter the state’s workers’ compensation system and help seal a budget agreement. Negotiators emerged from a 45-minute, closed-door...
Oklahoma Senate Approves Massive Late-Session Work Comp Bill
May 19 2011 // The Oklahoma Senate has approved a more than 200-page bill that completely overhauls Oklahoma’s workers’ compensation laws. The proposal emerged in the Oklahoma House just three days before lawmakers are...
