Latest Rhode Island Headlines

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

Rhode Island to Create Uninsured Motorists Identification Database

Aug 27 2013 // Rhode Island recently enacted legislation that will allow the division of motor vehicles to hire a third-party contractor to develop an uninsured motorist identification database — and send warning notices to...

OceanPoint Insurance Appoints Account Executive in R.I.

Aug 26 2013 // Middletown, R.I.-based OceanPoint Insurance Agency announced the addition of Douglas Guilbert as a new account executive. He will be based in the agency’s Barrington, R.I., office.Douglas GuilbertIn his new role,...

R.I. Dept. of Transportation Getting Grant to Combat Distracted Driving

Aug 16 2013 // Rhode Island is one of seven states receiving a grant from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to help reduce distracted driving. The state Department of Transportation will use the $459,000 grant to develop...

R.I. Enacts Auto Body Repair Bill

Aug 5 2013 // Rhode Island Gov. Lincoln Chafee recently signed into law a bill (HB 5263/SB 465) that would prevent insurers from declaring a vehicle a total loss if the vehicle can be restored to its pre-accident condition at a cost...

HUD OKs First Part of Rhode Island’s Sandy Recovery Plan

Aug 2 2013 // The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has approved the first stage of Rhode Island’s disaster recovery plan following Superstorm Sandy. The initial plan, funded through HUD’s community...

Commentary: R.I. Court’s Ruling on Self-Insured Retentions in Med-Mal Policies

Jul 23 2013 // In a surprising decision, the Rhode Island Supreme Court held that a self-insured retention (SIR) endorsement in a nursing facility’s professional liability policy was void. However, the Court’s ruling is broad...

R.I. Enacts Auto Body Repair Bill; Industry Group Expresses Disappointment

Jul 22 2013 // Rhode Island Gov. Lincoln Chafee recently signed into law a bill (HB 5263/SB 465) that would prevent insurers from declaring a vehicle a total loss if the vehicle can be restored to its pre-accident condition at a cost...

Firm Running R.I. Health Exchange’s Call Center an Affiliate of Health Insurer

Jul 22 2013 // The company that was awarded a $24 million contract to operate the Rhode Island health benefits exchange’s customer service center is an affiliate of one selling plans on the exchange, but state officials say there...

R.I. to Keep Assessment Rate for Workers’ Comp Insurers at 6.75%

Jul 15 2013 // The Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training said it is keeping the assessment rate for workers’ compensation insurers unchanged at 6.75 percent for the coming year. The department said this assessment rate has...

Rhode Island Plans Crackdown on Uninsured Drivers

Jul 12 2013 // Rhode Island officials are planning a crackdown on drivers whose vehicles aren’t insured. Lawmakers have sent a bill to Gov. Lincoln Chafee that would create a system of warnings and fines for uninsured...

Rhode Island Approves 7.4% Workers’ Comp Loss Cost Increase

Jul 10 2013 // The Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation approved this month a 7.4 percent overall voluntary loss cost increase for new and renewal workers’ compensation policies. The change will take effect in August. The...

Insurers’ Group Urges R.I. Governor to Veto Auto Body Legislation

Jul 8 2013 // The Rhode Island Legislature passed legislation before adjournment on July 3 that could impact the pockets of Rhode Islanders when they have to pay for auto body repairs, according to the Property Casualty Insurers...

In R.I., Debate Continues Over 38 Studios Bonds as Insurers Await

Jun 26 2013 // This week, Rhode Island lawmakers are negotiating the final details of the state’s $8.2 billion budget. One controversial part of the discussion has been what Rhode Island should do with the state’s failed...

FEMA: Federal Support for Rhode Island Sandy Recovery Exceeds $39M

Jun 13 2013 // The Federal Emergency Management Agency said Tuesday that more than $39.4 million in support from four federal disaster relief programs is helping Rhode Island recover from Superstorm Sandy’s effects. FEMA said the...

New Position to Target Workers’ Comp Fraud in Rhode Island

Jun 6 2013 // Officials in Rhode Island are creating a new position to prosecute fraud in the state’s unemployment and workers’ compensation program. The state’s Department of Labor and Training announced the new...

R.I. GOP Chair: Default on 38 Studios Bonds, Insurers Will Pay Bondholders

Jun 5 2013 // Rhode Island’s Republican Party chairman has joined the call for the state to default on the money it owes for its failed investment in former Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling’s bankrupt video game company. Mark...

Protesters Urge R.I. to Default on 38 Studios Debt

Jun 4 2013 // Protesters unhappy with Rhode Island’s failed investment in former Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling’s video game company urged state leaders last week to default on the money the state owes for the...

R.I. Nightclub Owners Say They Didn’t Know Part-Timers Needed WC Coverage

May 23 2013 // The owners of the Station nightclub say they didn’t know they needed to buy workers’ compensation insurance for the club’s part-time employees. Michael and Jeffrey Derderian are asking Rhode...

R.I. Officials Ask Court Not to Delay WC Fine Against Former Nightclub Owners

May 17 2013 // Rhode Island labor officials have asked the state Supreme Court not to review the $1 million fine levied against the former owners of the Station nightclub. Michael and Jeffrey Derderian are appealing the fine, levied for...

R.I. Bill Considers Allowing Driver’s Licenses for Illegal Immigrants

May 9 2013 // Rhode Island lawmakers reviewed legislation Tuesday that would allow immigrants to obtain driver’s licenses regardless of their legal status — but the controversial idea has already run into opposition from law...