Latest Legislation Headlines
All the headlines from our Legislation Topic Page, ordered by recency.
COVID-19 Business Immunity Proposal Flounders in Tennessee
Jul 7 2020 // Just a few weeks ago, Tennessee looked like a sure bet to become the latest state to protect businesses and other organizations from lawsuits by people impacted by the coronavirus in the push to reopen the economy....
Hawaii’s Quarantine is Reasonable During Pandemic, Judge Says
Jul 6 2020 // A U.S. judge will not stop Hawaii from enforcing a quarantine on arriving travelers, saying in a ruling that the emergency mandate is reasonable during the public health crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic. A group...
Judge Sanctions Mountaire in Delaware Wastewater Lawsuit
Jul 6 2020 // A Superior Court judge has ordered an Arkansas poultry processing company and two Delaware subsidiaries to pay more than $28,000 in sanctions for repeatedly refusing to provide information to plaintiffs suing the company...
New Florida Laws Address Climate Issues, Require Sea Level Study for Construction
Jul 2 2020 // Republican Florida Ron DeSantis signed a slew of environmental bills in less than 24 hours that address issues ranging from sea level rise to blue-green algae blooms – and even given the state authority to use drones...
Maryland Insurance Commissioner Birrane Sees State as Leader in Tech Innovation
Jul 2 2020 // Maryland Insurance Commissioner Kathleen Birrane has been in her new role for nearly two months, and she already has big plans for the state to establish itself as a leader in the tech space. “I’d like to see...
R Street Lauds Louisiana Lawmakers for Passing Auto Insurance Reform Bill
Jul 1 2020 // The R Street Institute, a non-profit public policy research organization based in Washington, D.C., says the Louisiana Legislature’s passage of a bill aimed at lowering high auto insurance costs represents a positive...
Boeing Withheld Facts on Flight-Control System Blamed for 2 Fatal Crashes: Probe
Jul 1 2020 // Boeing Co. provided only “limited information” on the flight-control software later implicated in two fatal crashes on the 737 Max as it was being approved by federal regulators, a government watchdog report...
Georgia Lawmakers Approve Home Delivery of Alcohol
Jun 29 2020 // The state House gave final approval to legislation Thursday allowing packaged goods retailers to make home deliveries of beer, wine and liquor. House members approved of the bill 114-45. Under the bill, only alcohol in...
Mississippi Lawmakers Seek to Limit COVID-19 Liability to Businesses
Jun 26 2020 // The Mississippi Senate is working to limit lawsuits by customers who say they were exposed to the new coronavirus at businesses or medical offices. Senate Bill 3049 would shield businesses, health care providers, religious...
Iowa Lawmakers Dispute Finding of No Violations at Tyson Plant Despite Deaths
Jun 25 2020 // Iowa’s workplace safety agency says an inspection did not uncover any violations at Tyson Foods’ largest pork processing plant, where several employees died after contracting the coronavirus. The Iowa...
Senators Propose ‘Scalpel, Rather Than Jackhammer’ to Reform Internet Liability
Jun 25 2020 // Two U.S. senators on Wednesday introduced legislation to reform part of a federal law that largely exempts tech platforms such as Facebook and Twitter from legal liability for the material their users post. The...
California Wants Judge to Force Uber, Lyft to Classify Drivers as Employees
Jun 25 2020 // California plans to ask a state court judge to force Uber Technologies Inc. and Lyft Inc. to classify their ride-hail drivers as employees rather than contractors, ratcheting up the tension over a new gig worker...
100s of Virus Deaths Draw Focus on Missouri Nursing Home Industry
Jun 24 2020 // After years of failed attempts, advocates for nursing home residents this year won approval of legislation that allows families to install surveillance cameras in residents’ rooms. The measure, backers say, will help...
Treasurer: Louisiana Small Business Grant Program to Begin in July
Jun 24 2020 // Some small businesses harmed by the coronavirus pandemic should start seeing grants from a $300 million federally financed program as soon as next month, Louisiana’s state treasurer said. The money is part of $1.8...
Judge to Schedule Trial in Delaware Day Care Death Lawsuit
Jun 24 2020 // A Delaware couple who filed a wrongful death lawsuit after their infant son died at a home day care center has lost a bid to have a judge rule in their favor without a trial. Carlita and Charles Laws argued that they were...
Judge Sides with Trump Over Hospitals on Price Disclosure Rule
Jun 24 2020 // A federal judge on Tuesday dismissed a challenge by hospital groups to a federal rule requiring them to disclose prices they quietly negotiate with insurers, in a victory for White House efforts to make healthcare pricing...
Millions of Abandoned Oil and Gas Wells Pose Environmental, Health Risks
Jun 23 2020 // In May 2012, Hanson and Michael Rowe noticed an overpowering smell, like rotten eggs, seeping from an abandoned gas well on their land in Kentucky. The fumes made the retired couple feel nauseous, dizzy, and short of...
LGBTQ Employees Still See Equality Gaps After Supreme Court Ruling on Firing
Jun 23 2020 // Even with this week’s Supreme Court ruling, the workplace will be far from equal for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans. While the nation’s highest court says you can’t be fired for your...
Governor Signs Louisiana Bills Shielding Businesses from Virus Lawsuits
Jun 22 2020 // Louisiana businesses are receiving state protection from most lawsuits involving COVID-19 deaths or injuries, after Gov. John Bel Edwards signed into law a package of measures that provides the sweeping liability...
Louisiana Lawmakers Block Bill Allowing Lawsuits Against Officers
Jun 22 2020 // A Louisiana lawmaker’s effort to eliminate police officers’ wide immunity from lawsuits and allow people injured by law enforcement to sue for damages in civil court was shelved by Republicans on a state House...
