Latest Legislation Headlines
All the headlines from our Legislation Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Trump’s EPA Institutes Curb on ‘Secret’ Science Used in Formulating Regulations
Jan 5 2021 // The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) chief said on Monday he has finalized a rule to limit what scientific research the agency can use to formulate regulations, in a concession to big business weeks before...
Tyson not Shielded by Order Keeping Meatpackers Open, Iowa Judge Rules
Jan 4 2021 // A federal judge has rejected an argument by Tyson Foods that is not liable in the death of a worker in Iowa because it was following federal guidance when it kept meatpacking plants open during the coronavirus...
Judge Throws Out Apple Copyright Claims Against Security Software Startup Corellium
Dec 30 2020 // A federal judge in Florida on Tuesday dismissed Apple Inc.’s copyright infringement claims against a Florida startup whose software helps security researchers find vulnerabilities in Apple products including the...
Judge: Government Must Pay Lower Missouri River Landowners for Flood Damage
Dec 23 2020 // The federal government must pay some landowners along the lower Missouri River for flooding damage caused by changes the Army Corps of Engineers made to the river to protect endangered species, a judge has ruled. The...
Indiana Lawmakers to Push for Coronavirus Liability Shield
Dec 23 2020 // Indiana’s governor and legislative leaders are lining up in favor of giving a legal shield to businesses from COVID-19 lawsuits when the General Assembly returns to action next month. Supporters argue the liability...
Judge Dismisses Excessive Ticketing Lawsuit Against Georgia City
Dec 22 2020 // A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit claiming that an Atlanta suburb improperly relied on fines and fees to finance its budget. U.S. District Judge Richard Story last week dismissed a case brought against the city of...
Judge Gives Oklahoma Bars, Restaurants Temporary Curfew Reprieve
Dec 21 2020 // Oklahoma bars and restaurants have effectively won a temporary reprieve from a curfew that has been forcing them to close early since November to minimize the spread of the coronavirus. A state judge sided with a group of...
Oregon Judge Allows Suit Filed by 29 Women to Proceed Against Ex-Doctor
Dec 18 2020 // A judge has denied a request by a former suburban Portland, Ore. doctor to put a two-year hold on a civil case filed against him by 29 patients who allege he sexually abused them. Multnomah County Circuit Judge Melvin...
S. African Insurer Guardrisk Will Not Challenge Court Ruling on COVID-19 Claims
Dec 18 2020 // JOHANNESBURG – South African insurer Guardrisk will not further challenge a court process that has found it liable to pay clients’ rejected coronavirus-related claims, it said late on Thursday. Guardrisk, the...
9 Appeals Court Judges Recuse Themselves in Louisiana Church Sex Abuse Suit
Dec 17 2020 // All nine judges in Louisiana’s Second Circuit Court of Appeal have recused themselves from a sexual abuse lawsuit against the Catholic Diocese of Shreveport and a late priest. Following the full court recusal, the...
Lawmakers: Insurance Disputes, Slow Response Hinder Louisiana Storm Recovery
Dec 17 2020 // Southwest Louisiana lawmakers on Dec. 16 criticized the insurance industry’s handling of claims from Hurricanes Laura and Delta, describing slow responses, low-balled damage estimates and drones used to assess...
Judge OKs Plan for Settling Hurricane Damage Lawsuits Against Insurers in Louisiana
Dec 15 2020 // A federal judge in western Louisiana has approved a plan on how to settle thousands of lawsuits expected to be filed against insurance companies over damage from a pair of hurricanes that hit the region six weeks...
Nevada Judge Says Gig Workers Must Get Pandemic Benefits
Dec 8 2020 // A state court judge held the Nevada unemployment office in contempt and gave it until the end of the month to comply with his July court order to resume paying pandemic relief benefits to almost 9,500 out-of-work gig...
Lawmaker Calls FCC’s Spectrum Auction Danger to Aviation Band
Dec 8 2020 // A senior U.S. House lawmaker on Monday urged the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to delay the auction of portions of a key spectrum band, warning it could impact a nearby aviation frequency band. House Committee on...
Tennessee Lawmakers Explore Limiting Executive Authority During Health Crises
Dec 4 2020 // Tennessee lawmakers who have often been critical of government restrictions to curb COVID-19’s spread are suggesting ways to give themselves the power to limit or overturn emergency orders from the governor during...
Insuring Cannabis Summit: Insurance Expert Unpacks Green Wave Election
Dec 4 2020 // Powered by InsuranceJournal.tv Editor’s note: This is part of a series of articles based on panels and presentations during Insurance Journal’s 2020 Insuring Cannabis Summit on Nov. 19. One election takeaway...
Judge Won’t Block Ban on Michigan Indoor Dining
Dec 3 2020 // Bars and restaurants on Dec. 2 lost a challenge to Michigan’s ban on indoor dining and immediately warned about business failures and deep job losses if the restriction linked to the coronavirus is extended past next...
Automakers Unveil Steps for U.S. to Speed Up Self-Driving Vehicle Deployment
Dec 3 2020 // A group representing major automakers is unveiling a detailed proposal Wednesday aimed at making it easier to deploy thousands of self-driving vehicles in the coming years, according to a document seen by Reuters. The...
China Renews OK of Oceanwide’s Stalled $2.7 Billion Purchase of Genworth
Dec 2 2020 // U.S.-based Genworth Financial Inc. reported that Chinese officials have renewed their approval of China Oceanwide Holdings Group’s acquisition of Genworth’s Delaware-domiciled insurer, allowing the deal to...
Pennsylvania Governor Strikes Down Bill That Would Have Limited COVID-19 Lawsuits
Dec 2 2020 // Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf has vetoed a bill that would have expanded liability protection against COVID-19-related lawsuits for various businesses and entities in the state as they continue to grapple with coronavirus...