Latest Legislation Headlines
All the headlines from our Legislation Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Calif. Senators Introduce National Earthquake Legislation
Mar 18 2011 // U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer, both D-Calif., have introduced legislation to lower the cost of earthquake insurance for Californians and individuals who purchase coverage from a non-profit, state-run...
FERMA Calls for Withdrawal of New Brazilian Reinsurance Regulations
Mar 18 2011 // The Federation of European Risk Management Associations (FERMA) has called on the Brazilian government to withdraw two new reinsurance regulations due to enter into force on March 31st, “because they threaten to...
Florida Senate Moves to Curb Liability Suits Against Car Makers
Mar 17 2011 // The Florida Senate has approved a bill that would change the apportionment of damages in product liability cases so that a judge or jury must consider the fault of all parties. The bill is designed to shield or limit the...
Missouri Senate Endorses Workers’ Comp Changes
Mar 17 2011 // Missouri senators have given first-round approval to legislation that restricts employees from suing co-workers over injuries incurred on the job. The legislation also expressly states that occupational diseases, such as...
Kentucky to Penalize Lawyers Who Solicit Auto Accident Victims
Mar 16 2011 // Nearing the close of its regular legislative session, Kentucky lawmakers enacted bills designed to crack down on fraudulent auto personal insurance claims and bring the state in line with new federal tax requirements for...
Oklahoma Lawmaker Wants Study of Possible Dual Workers’ Comp Systems
Mar 16 2011 // Oklahoma State Rep. Joe Dorman wants to study an idea brought to him by a constituent that the lawmaker said could lead to significant workers’ compensation reform and help boost business growth and economic...
Best Report Notes Growth in Panama Insurance Market
Mar 16 2011 // A new report from A.M. Best notes that Panama’s insurance market is the largest in Central America, and is expected to continue to produce significant premium growth in the next few years. Best noted that the...
Bills Filed in Texas Would Create ‘Loser Pays’ Tort System
Mar 15 2011 // Legislation filed in Texas would create a “loser pays” legal system that Texas Gov. Rick Perry says would provide stronger protections against frivolous lawsuits. House Bill 274 and Senate Bill 13, sponsored by...
No-Fault Claims Top New York Insurance Fraud List
Mar 15 2011 // Almost nine in 10 suspected health care fraud cases in New York last year came from no-fault auto injury claims, a cottage industry so rife with abuse that the state Insurance Department wants to tighten...
Republicans Target Dodd-Frank Reforms, Rating Firms’ Liability
Mar 15 2011 // Congressional Republicans on Wednesday will stage their first outright challenge to 2010’s Dodd-Frank financial regulation reforms with a fistful of bills favoring private equity firms, derivatives end-users and...
FEMA Shifts Course on Flood Map Modeling in Illinois
Mar 14 2011 // The Federal Emergency Management Agency is offering a reprieve to property owners in southwestern Illinois and other areas guarded by aging levees that it had considered decertifying, staving off fears that some could have...
Utah Legislature Approves Legislation Restricting Accident Response Fees
Mar 11 2011 // Taking a proactive stance against “crash taxes,” Utah legislators have approving a measure to restrict emergency response organizations such as fire and police from charging fees to motorist or insurers for...
Judge Tosses $20M Suit Against Police in Pennsylvania Pursuit Death
Mar 11 2011 // A federal judge has tossed a New Jersey man’s suit against a Pennsylvania police department over the 2008 death of his wife in a head-on crash with a suspect being pursued by officers. U.S. District Judge Lawrence...
Panel Recommends New Business-Only Court in West Virginia
Mar 11 2011 // The West Virginia Supreme Court is being encouraged to create a new system to consider all business-related lawsuits. The recommendation comes from a six-member committee the court appointed last year in response to...
California to Extend Low-Cost Auto Program to Same Sex Spouses
Mar 10 2011 // California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones has filed regulations to add the category of “spouse” to the application form for the state’s Low Cost Auto Insurance Program. “The definition of...
Lawmaker Files Texas Windstorm Insurance Association Reform Bill
Mar 10 2011 // Texas State Rep. Larry Taylor, R-Friendswood, has introduced House Bill 2818, a comprehensive reform effort intended to address many of the problems confronting the Texas Windstorm Insurance Agency (TWIA). In announcing...
Georgia Court Rules Commercial Liability Policy Covers Faulty Work
Mar 10 2011 // A general contractor can recover from its subcontractor’s insurers for the cost of repairs for damage to surrounding property resulting from the subcontractor’s faulty workmanship, the Georgia Supreme Court has...
BP Oil Spill Claims Chief Feinberg to Face Florida Lawmakers
Mar 10 2011 // The man in charge of paying BP claims for the Gulf oil spill will soon face a Florida legislative committee to answer questions about how the compensation scheme is going. Kenneth Feinberg, the lawyer who is overseeing the...
Ex-AIG CEO Greenberg: Judge in New York AG Case Biased
Mar 10 2011 // Maurice “Hank” Greenberg, the former American International Group Inc. chief executive, said the judge overseeing a New York attorney general lawsuit against him should be removed from the case because he is...
Texas Lawmakers Want to End Driver Surcharges
Mar 9 2011 // Texas lawmakers are considering eliminating a program that requires those charged with offenses including driving while intoxicated and failure to have insurance to pay state surcharges. Nearly 60 percent of those with the...
