Latest Legislation Headlines
All the headlines from our Legislation Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Congress Clears Wage Bill for First Obama Signature
Jan 28 2009 // The Democratic-led U.S. Congress Tuesday gave final approval to what may be the first bill signed into law by President Barack Obama — a measure to reverse a 2007 U.S. Supreme Court decision that made it tougher to...
S&P Report on Qatar Finds ‘Long-term Strengths, Short-term Weakness’
Jan 27 2009 // Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services has published an article examining the Qatari Insurance Sector In 2009. Entitled “Short-Term Weaknesses Offset By Long-Term Strengths,” it notes that “when...
ACE Europe Launches Insurance, Risk Management for Mid-size Firms
Jan 27 2009 // ACE Europe has announced the launch of “ACE Evolve,” which it describes as a “coordinated insurance and risk management solution for mid-sized companies with overseas subsidiaries or assets. ACE Evolve...
Insurers Oppose North Dakota Bill to Ban Use of Credit Scoring
Jan 27 2009 // Property/casualty insuerrs are urging North Dakota lawmakers to defeat a bill that would preclude their use of credit scoring in calculating insurance premiums. The North Dakota Senate Industry, Business & Labor...
State Farm Pulling Out of Florida Property Insurance Market
Jan 27 2009 // Florida is losing its largest property insurance company. State Farm Florida Insurance announced today it is beginning the process that will allow it to non-renew policies and halt all sales of homeowners or other...
Texas Lawmaker Proposes More Tax Exemptions for Small Businesses
Jan 27 2009 // Texas State Rep. Brandon Creighton has filed HB 720 to give more small businesses an exemption from the state business tax. Current law exempts businesses with revenue under $300,000 and gives discounts to those who make...
Alabama Judge Upholds Chemist’s $192 Million Award in Patent Theft Case
Jan 26 2009 // Global chemical giant Ineos Phenol, stung by a $192 million jury verdict, has denied stealing a hazardous waste recycling idea from a Mobile chemist and said it would appeal a judge’s order upholding the...
Lobbyist, Committee Consultant Joins California Insurance Association Staff
Jan 26 2009 // Mark Sektnan, a veteran Sacramento, Calif., lobbyist and committee consultant, joined The Association of California Insurance Companies’ (ACIC) staff as vice president with primary responsibility for advocacy of...
Retired Pennsylvania Judge Wants Fraud Conviction Dismissed
Jan 26 2009 // A retired Pennsylvania Superior Court judge wants a federal judge to reverse his conviction or entirely dismiss insurance fraud charges stemming from $440,000 he collected in an August 2001 traffic accident. Attorneys for...
Lawmakers May Intervene in La. Insurance Department Audit Dispute
Jan 26 2009 // An ongoing dispute between the Louisiana’s legislative auditor and insurance commissioner is marring Louisiana’s ability to certify its year-end financial statements. Lawmakers on the joint House and Senate...
Florida Signals 6.4% Workers’ Comp Rate Hike to Pay For Court Ruling
Jan 26 2009 // Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty said that he would approve a rate filing to increase Florida’s workers’ compensation insurance rates by 6.4 percent to be effective April 1 for new and renewal...
North Dakota Could Back Tougher Teen Driving Laws
Jan 25 2009 // North Dakota lawmakers strongly support toughening state laws that govern teenage drivers, and many favor raising the state’s 14-year-old minimum driving age, an Associated Press survey shows. Insurance Commissioner...
Change and Protect
Jan 25 2009 // Change is coming to Washington and to the NAIC but hopefully it’s change that will largely protect the status quo when it comes to insurance regulation. Last spring, we took it upon ourselves to urge the National...
Declarations
Jan 25 2009 // Name Change “While this name change reflects our vision for today and the future, it also brings into focus our long and rich history in this state.” —The Springfield-based Professional Independent Insurance...
Louisiana Ranks Highly in Highway Safety Report
Jan 25 2009 // A report recently released by the Washington, D.C.-based Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety included Louisiana in list of 15 states to have made progress in enacting key highway safety laws. Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas...
They’re Baaaaack!
Jan 25 2009 // The lawmakers are back, at least in Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas. Louisiana has to wait until April for the pleasure. For now, though, bars and restaurants in Little Rock, Oklahoma City and Austin will rejoice in the...
Declarations
Jan 25 2009 // Political Citizens “We probably would have hoped they would have gone further than they did but these are very substantive recommendations and given the politics, these are tough issues.” —Sam Miller, chief...
Montana Lawmakers Look at Limiting Recreational Liability
Jan 25 2009 // Montana’s recreation businesses said they need better protection from lawsuits because of high insurance costs. The House Judiciary Committee is considering a bill that would limit the liability of the businesses and...
New Fines for Minor Insurance Code Violations
Jan 25 2009 // A new bill that took effect in January allows the California Department of Insurance to issue monetary citations against insurance brokers and agents for minor Insurance Code violations. Existing Law Under the existing...
Continuing Financial Crisis Leads to Vacant Properties, Vulnerable to Vandalism, Metal Theft
Jan 25 2009 // Brooklyn, N.Y. — Thieves who broke the locks on an unoccupied apartment building stripped the entire building of its copper piping, valued at more than $30,000. Las Vegas — The entire electrical system,...
