Latest Legislation Headlines
All the headlines from our Legislation Topic Page, ordered by recency.
21%, 91%, 51% Rate Hikes Requested; S. Fla. Hearings Scheduled
May 3 2006 // The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation has scheduled rate hearings in May for three carriers, Hartford Insurance Co. of the Midwest, Florida Peninsula Insurance Company, and United Property and Casualty. Hartford...
N.H. Safety Officials Looking for Ways to Curb Motorcycle Deaths
May 3 2006 // The last couple of years haven’t been very safe for motorcycle riders in New Hampshire, so with bikes already out of winter storage and even more expected on the road this summer because of high gasoline prices,...
R.I. Governor Carcieri Urges Medical Malpractice Reform
May 3 2006 // Rhode Island Governor Donald L. Carcieri is urging lawmakers to support his Health Care Tort Reform Act of 2006 which he says would bring balance to the state’s current tort system. “Our current tort system...
Judges Step Aside From Jefferson Parish, La., Flood Suits
May 3 2006 // All 16 state district judges in Jefferson Parish, La., have disqualified themselves from hearing class-action lawsuits filed by property owners who blame parish government for post-Hurricane Katrina flooding that damaged...
N.H. Gov. Joins Foes of Association Health Plan Bill
May 3 2006 // New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch has joined a chorus of state leaders opposing a bill in the U.S. Senate that would let small businesses buy health insurance policies exempt from state coverage requirements. Senate Bill 1955...
Okla. Lawmakers Fight Easier Access to Candidate Information
May 2 2006 // The Oklahoma Ethics Commission is ready to go with a new computer system that would give the public instant Internet access to information about who donates what to political candidates this year. But to the exasperation...
Conn. Legislature Passes Flex-Rating for Personal Lines
May 2 2006 // The Connecticut House has passed a bill providing flex-rating for personal lines insurance with a six percent flex band. The measure, Senate Bill 410, also includes new requirements governing access to...
Citizens Rate Request Disapproved in Monroe County
May 2 2006 // The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation in Tallahassee has disapproved rates contained in a Citizens Property Insurance Co. rate filing that are based on the highest average rate of the top 20 insurance companies as...
Arizona Lawmakers Pass Security Breach Legislation
May 1 2006 // The Arizona legislature has passed security breach legislation late that would provide notice to consumers when there has been an unauthorized breach of their personal information. This bill was sponsored by Sen....
Okla. House Once Again Passes Civil Justice Legislation
May 1 2006 // For the second time this year, the Oklahoma House passed legislation recently that would change Oklahoma’s civil justice system to help stop frivolous lawsuits and lower medical malpractice insurance rates. House...
Industry Group Airs New Ads to Support Auto Reforms in Mass.
May 1 2006 // The insurance industry-backed advocacy group, Fairness for Good Drivers, has released new television and radio ads focusing on what the group says is a lack of fairness and choice in the Massachusetts auto insurance system...
Gallagher Calls On Lawmakers to Make Insurance Reforms
May 1 2006 // As state lawmakers enter the home stretch of the 2006 legislative session, Tom Gallagher, Florida’s CFO, renewed his call for immediate rate-relief, improved access to property coverage and reforms to help strengthen...
Fla. Approves 12-Day Hurricane Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday
Apr 28 2006 // Governor Jeb Bush has signed legislation authorizing Florida’s second annual 12-day sales tax holiday for hurricane preparedness. The Hurricane Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday is an important component of Governor...
La. Recovery Authority Sheds Income Limits in Housing Plan
Apr 28 2006 // Lawmakers in Louisiana next week are expected to vote on Gov. Kathleen Blanco’s $7.5 billion housing plans, after several provisions were altered to make the post-hurricane rebuilding and buyout program more...
Mich. House Okays Ethics-related Health Insurance Bills
Apr 28 2006 // Michigan insurance companies and HMOs would not have to provide health care benefits that conflict with the organization’s moral or religious mission under legislation passed this week by the state House. The...
California Auto Bill Passes Assembly Insurance Committee
Apr 27 2006 // California Assembly Bill 2840, co-authored by a bipartisan group of lawmakers including Assemblymembers John J. Benoit, R-Palm Desert; Joe Canciamilla, D-Pittsburg; Nicole Parra, D-Hanford; Doug LaMalfa, R-Richvale; and...
California Releases New Regulations Governing Pricing of Auto Insurance
Apr 27 2006 // California Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi has unveiled enhancements to his proposed regulations that will follow through on the promise voters sought when they approved Proposition 103 in 1988 – namely, that...
Gov. Bush Signs Important Fla. Tort Reform Legislation
Apr 27 2006 // Florida Gov. Jeb Bush has signed legislation (HB 145) that insurance companies say will bring greater equity to the civil justice system by repealing the doctrine of joint and several liability, according to the Property...
Texas Fraud Committee Warns of Accident ‘Runners’
Apr 27 2006 // You’re involved in a minor traffic accident where there was little damage to either vehicle, no one was hurt, but police were called and a traffic accident report was filled out. Much to your surprise, someone...
Fla. Insurance Council Describes Pending Legislation
Apr 27 2006 // The Florida House Insurance Committee and the House Fiscal Council have approved CS/CS/HB 7225, and according to the Florida Insurance Council, the next stop is the full House. FIC released a side-by-side comparison of...