Latest Legislation Headlines
All the headlines from our Legislation Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Countersignature Laws Now History in 50 States After S.D. Court Ruling
Nov 30 2005 // A federal district court judge in South Dakota ruled this week that the state’s countersignature law is unconstitutional. The ruling means that 50 states have taken action to eliminate the countersignature...
National Atlantic Obtains Regulatory Approval to Assume N.J. Agency Home Business from The Hartford
Nov 30 2005 // National Atlantic Holdings Corp., a provider of specialized property/casualty insurance products and related insurance services in New Jersey, announced that the replacement carrier transaction agreement between its...
Miss. Motorists Can Expect Auto Rate Hike After Jan. 1
Nov 28 2005 // Thousands of drivers in Mississippi can expect their auto insurance rates to increase dramatically after Jan. 1, when the minimum required coverage in the state will double, increasing costs for even those who have less...
PIA Names Eppstein as Director of State Affairs
Nov 25 2005 // The National Association of Professional Insurance Agents (PIA) has named David M. Eppstein Director of State Affairs. In his new position, he will be working with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners...
Florida’s CFO Gallagher Backs National Catastrophe Fund
Nov 25 2005 // A National Catastrophe Fund that would provide assistance for insurance claims in Florida has been endorsed by Tom Gallagher, Florida’s CFO. The CFO’s recommendations came after officials, including Florida...
Executive Life Judge has Final Ruling; Confirms Some $900M in Total Verdicts, Settlements
Nov 23 2005 // California Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi on Tuesday praised a Los Angeles Federal judge’s ruling that the Artemis company, reportedly a main conspirator in the fraudulent purchase of the Executive Life...
Judge to Consider Change of Venue for Former Okla. Commissioner
Nov 23 2005 // An Oklahoma County judge has set a Dec. 19 hearing to decide whether former Insurance Commissioner Carroll Fisher’s pending trial should be moved out of the county, the Associated Press reported. District Judge Susan...
PCI Urges La. Governor to Sign Building Codes Legislation
Nov 23 2005 // The Property Casualty Insurers Association of America (PCI) announced it is urging Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco to sign SB 44, legislation that would create a mandatory and uniform statewide building code. The bill is on...
Insurers Cool to N.Y. Proposal to Freeze Access to Consumer Credit
Nov 22 2005 // Insurance company lobbyists urged New York lawmakers in Albany this week to refrain from blocking insurers’ access to consumer credit information as part of their efforts to protect consumers from identity theft. The...
Legislators Adopt Aftermarket Crash Parts Resolution
Nov 22 2005 // Concluding a 10-year debate regarding aftermarket crash parts, the National Conference of Insurance Legislators (NCOIL) unanimously adopted at its Annual Meeting in San Diego last weekend a Resolution Regarding Motor...
NAMIC Urges La. Legislature to Enact a Statewide Building Code
Nov 22 2005 // The National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies (NAMIC) has voiced its strong support for the passage of building code legislation during the final days of the Louisiana Legislature’s special session. Central...
Indiana High Court Rules Against Dimunition of Value
Nov 21 2005 // The Indiana Supreme Court last month ruled that insurance policies are not obligated to compensate damaged property for decline in value of the property after adequate repairs have been made. The insurance industry views...
LAWMAKERS PASS KIDS’ HEALTH PLAN:
Nov 21 2005 // The Illinois House passed H.B. 806, Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s “All Kids” health insurance program on a 79-28 vote, following Senate approval on a 32-23 vote. The program is aimed at parents who earn too much...
LAWMAKERS PASS MED-MAL CAP BILL:
Nov 21 2005 // The Wisconsin legislature passed Assembly Bill 766, which restores caps on non-economic damages in medical malpractice cases. However, supporters are concerned that Gov. Jim Doyle will veto the measure. A.B. 766 was...
Case Law Watch
Nov 21 2005 // Eaton v. Continental Casualty Co. (California Court of Appeals, 2nd District, Sept. 15, 2005) Ruling: The court held that the insured’s suit against an excess insurer was not barred by the four-year statute of...
California Commissioner Drops Broker Regulations
Nov 21 2005 // California Insurance Commis-sioner John Garamendi has announced that he will halt efforts to adopt new regulations imposing fiduciary duties and mandatory disclosure regulations on insurance agents and brokers. “We...
The Truth About Ethics in Business
Nov 20 2005 // Many insurance companies are discovering a basic truth. Integrity in business is more than just a good thing to have-it is critical to success in an increasingly complex and dynamic marketplace. When I look at where we are...
ILLINOIS
Nov 20 2005 // Lawmakers Pass Kids’ Health Plan: The Illinois House passed H.B. 806, Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s “All Kids” health insurance program on a 79-28 vote, following Senate approval on a 32-23 vote. The...
Indiana High Court Rules Against Diminution of Value
Nov 20 2005 // The Indiana Supreme Court last month ruled that insurance policies are not obligated to compensate damaged property for decline in value of the property after adequate repairs have been made. The insurance industry views...
Torts Drive Commercial Auto in Heartland, Elsewhere
Nov 20 2005 // Insurers like writing commercial auto business, and most lines of business, in the Midwestern states because of market stability and a favorable legislative and regulatory climate. But even in this typically stable line of...
