Latest Legislation Headlines
All the headlines from our Legislation Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Okla. Lawmakers Examine State Preparations for Pandemic
Dec 4 2007 // Lawmakers in Oklahoma questioned whether the state would be prepared in the event of an influenza pandemic during a legislative study conducted by state Rep. Lee Denney. Lawmakers and other officials recently met at the...
Fla. Insurance Regulator Names New Property And Casualty Director
Dec 4 2007 // Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty promoted Robin Westcott to director of property and casualty financial oversight with the Office of Insurance Regulation effective Nov. 28. Westcott will report to Deputy...
Iowa Counties Urge Lawmakers to Consider Bicycle Exemption
Dec 4 2007 // Iowa’s county supervisors have informally agreed to pressure the Iowa Legislature for an exemption from any future court cases involving bicycles on county roads. The supervisors’ decision follows a $350,000...
Regulators Honor Nebraska with Esprit de Corps Award
Dec 3 2007 // The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) today bestowed its Esprit de Corps Award to the Nebraska Department of Insurance. This is the second time the NAIC has given the award. Nebraska Insurance Director...
A Nod to Dodd
Dec 2 2007 // Sen. Trent Lott, R- Miss., appears to have quieted down since his Hurricane Katrina claim has been settled, so perhaps people will start listening to other senators in Washington on property insurance and natural disaster...
Conn. Consumers to Get ‘Mints on Pillows’ Treatment
Dec 2 2007 // Commissioner Sullivan vows departmental changes; also contends private coastal insurance market is working Connecticut consumers dealing with the state’s insurance regulatory agency should be left feeling they were...
Hawaii County Looks to Stem Flood Hazards, Meets National Flood Insurance Program Deadline
Dec 2 2007 // Hawaii County has met a deadline to save Big Island residents’ federal flood insurance coverage, but at least one County Council member is not satisfied. The council voted unanimously to approve a bill that puts the...
A Nod to Dodd
Dec 2 2007 // Sen. Trent Lott, R- Miss., appears to have quieted down since his Hurricane Katrina claim has been settled, so perhaps people will start listening to other senators in Washington on property insurance and natural disaster...
Proponents Ring Alarm After Court Ruling Strikes Down Ill. Tort Reform Law
Dec 2 2007 // A Cook County, Ill., Circuit Court ruling in late November struck down the state’s much touted 2005 medical liability reform law, calling the caps on non-economic damages for medical malpractice lawsuits...
Federal Legislation to Offer States Incentives for Stronger Building Codes
Dec 2 2007 // States that already have a mandatory statewide building code and have enforcement measures in place would be eligible for an additional 4 percent of federal disaster relief funds under recently introduced federal...
Illinois Tort Reform Efforts Struck Down
Dec 2 2007 // If anyone is betting on what organization is running the show in Illinois, my money is on the Illinois Trial Bar Association. Put a check mark in the “win” column recently for the Trial Bar as the 2005 tort...
16 Judges Step Aside From Scruggs Contempt Case
Dec 2 2007 // Every eligible federal judge in north Alabama has stepped aside from presiding in the criminal contempt case of Mississippi trial lawyer Richard Scruggs, who is accused of disobeying an order by failing to turn over...
Georgia Closes Contractors’ Liability Loophole
Dec 2 2007 // General contractors in Georgia are no longer able to use subcontractors as a broad shield against bodily injury and property damage claims at construction sites under a new law. The new statute went into effect July 1. The...
From Insurance Consumer to Commissioner
Dec 2 2007 // While the position of California Insurance Commissioner is elected and there are already rumblings that he’d make a good gubernatorial candidate in 2010, current California Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner says...
Kipper to Lead Oregon Insurance Division
Dec 2 2007 // The Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services has named Scott Kipper administrator of its Insurance Division, DCBS Director Cory Streisinger announced. Kipper replaces Joel Ario, who left in July to become...
Senate Approves Terrorism Insurance Backstop Extension
Dec 2 2007 // The Senate passed the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program Reauthorization Act (TRIPRA) of 2007, its version of legislation that will extend the federal terrorism insurance backstop. The current federal terrorism reinsurance...
Framing the Issues
Dec 2 2007 // PCI’s new CEO plans to ‘scan the horizon’ for insurer members facing terrorism insurance, regulation concerns, politics and more The Property Casualty Insurers Association of America (PCI) represents...
Effectively Navigating Environmental Liability Risk
Dec 2 2007 // Those involved in commercial real estate transactions are often confronted with environmental issues before and after the purchase of a site. Environmental issues can range from exposures associated with lead paint or...
Fla. Insurance Regulators Get Public Input on New Reinsurance Rules
Nov 29 2007 // Florida Insurance Regulators held a workshop Monday to seek public input on a draft rule that would implement new legislation which gives the insurance commissioner discretion in allowing unaccredited reinsurance companies...
Mass. Auto Insurers Pressed to Lower 2008 Rates Even More
Nov 28 2007 // Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley is pressing auto insurers in the state to lower their 2008 rates, arguing that their initial filings last week included more than $200 million in extra profits and payments to...
