Latest Legislation Headlines

All the headlines from our Legislation Topic Page, ordered by recency.

By Charles E. Boyle

Aug 21 2008 // From Novelty to Necessity: Bermuda’s Insurance Market 2008 Bermuda’s insurance industry has grown steadily since it began 50 years ago. It is now a mature market, and, in certain sectors – natural...

House Subcommittee Moves Key Federal Insurance Regulation Bills

Aug 21 2008 // By Andrea Wells In a busy month for insurance issues on Capitol Hill, the U.S. House Financial Services Subcommittee on Capital Markets, Insurance and Government Sponsored Enterprises marked up bills creating a federal...

Iowa Insurance Division Rescinds Rebate Bulletin

Aug 19 2008 // A national insurance trade group is praising the Iowa Insurance Division over its decision to rescind a bulletin that would restrict gifts and other small items under the heading of charities or advertising. The Property...

U.S. Doctors Say Lawsuits Help Guarantee Drug Safety

Aug 18 2008 // Top doctors who run one of the most influential U.S. medical journals are giving the U.S. Supreme Court some unsolicited legal advice about a major case. Lawsuits can serve as “a vital deterrent” and protect...

Judge: Caesars Atlantic City Discriminated against Men

Aug 15 2008 // Hiring practices to staff the Toga Bar at Caesars Atlantic City casino hotel get a thumbs down from a judge. The judge says Caesars discriminated against male bartenders when they were passed over in favor of young women...

Florida Insurance Commissioner and Allstate Resolve Pending Litigation

Aug 15 2008 // Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty announced that the Office of Insurance Regulation reached a limited agreement with the Allstate Companies. The agreement includes a $5 million fine to resolve the ongoing issues...

Mass. Considering Traffic Flaggers Instead of Police at Construction Sites

Aug 14 2008 // Civilian flaggers dressed in orange safety vests could replace police officers at some roadside construction projects as early as October under regulations set to be unveiled by the Patrick administration Wednesday. Police...

Insurance Group Seeks Rebate Resolution in Iowa

Aug 12 2008 // Iowa’s law on insurance rebates is clear, and the Des Plaines, Ill.-based the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America (PCI). The national group is urging the Insurance Commissioner Susan Voss to work with...

Bermuda Monetary Authority Sets New Solvency II Compliant Rules

Aug 11 2008 // The Bermuda Monetary Authority (BMA – www.bma.bm) has announced what it describes “significant enhancements to Bermuda’s solvency and disclosure regulations for insurance.” Specifically the BMA said...

California Senate Committee Passes Pay-As-You-Drive Legislation

Aug 8 2008 // Legislation that would allow insurers to more accurately base auto insurance premiums exactly on how many miles a motorist drives passed the California Senate Appropriations Committee. Proposition 103 requires insurers to...

Aon Urges Early Preparation for Solvency II

Aug 6 2008 // Aon has issued a bulletin urging European Union insurers to “learn from the work undertaken by their banking colleagues in implementing the Basel II accord and start preparing for Solvency II now.” The...

West Virginia Officials Rip Proposed Shelter Regulations

Aug 5 2008 // Officials in West Virginia, the country’s largest underground coal-producing state, lashed out against proposed federal regulations that would mandate airtight emergency refuges in more than 600 underground coal...

Iowa Lawmakers Say More Disaster Funding Expected

Aug 5 2008 // Three members of Iowa’s congressional delegation say House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has assured them that Congress will provide more disaster-related funding. Reps. Leonard Boswell, Bruce Braley and Dave Loebsack, all...

Contingent Commissions Legal, N.Y. Court Rules

Aug 4 2008 // In a twist to a scandal that has rocked the insurance industry in the past several years, a New York appeals court recently ruled that contingent commissions paid out by Boston-based Liberty Mutual Group Inc. are not...

Missouri Judge Dismisses $7 Million in Fines Against Allstate

Aug 4 2008 // A Jackson County, Mo., judge agreed on July 23, 2008, to throw out a contempt order against Allstate Insurance after determining the company had finally complied with his directions to release confidential documents. The...

Washington To Host Public Hearings on Crane Safety Regulations

Aug 3 2008 // Washington’s Department of Labor & Industries has scheduled five public hearings on proposed rules implementing legislation that requires higher standards for construction cranes and crane operators. The...

Kentucky Insurance Legislation Affects Compensation and Investments

Jul 31 2008 // Kentucky lawmakers adopted insurance legislation during the 2008 regular legislative session that will affect agents and carriers working in the state. The Insurance Producer Modernization bill (HB 334) allows an agent to...

Senate Banking Committee Urged to Back Federal Insurance Regulation

Jul 30 2008 // The U.S. regulatory structure for the insurance industry puts companies at a disadvantage overseas and stifles innovation and competition for consumers, the industry told U.S. lawmakers Tuesday. At a Senate Banking...

New York Governor Signs Late-Notice Reform Bill

Jul 29 2008 // New York Gov. David A. Paterson has signed into law legislation that makes it more difficult for insurers to deny claims based on “late notice” provisions. The legislation requires insurers to clearly...

Nev. Court Rules Workers’ Comp OK in Some Suicide Cases

Jul 28 2008 // In a precedent-setting case, the Nevada Supreme Court held last Thursday that worker comp benefits can go to families of people who kill themselves if an industrial accident broke down their “rational mental...