Latest Legislation Headlines
All the headlines from our Legislation Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Jimcor’s Mastowski on the Market and the Future of MGAs
May 6 2013 // The incoming president of the American Association of Managing General Agents (AAMGA) is no newcomer to insurance. He has some 40 years of experience under his belt. Frank Mastowsi founded his family-run managing general...
Ohio Justices: Doctor’s Apology not Evidence of Malpractice
May 6 2013 // Sympathetic statements by a doctor over a patient’s unexpected medical outcome can’t be admitted as evidence in medical malpractice cases filed after the date a law intended to outlaw their use went into effect...
Connecticut Bill Would Report Chatty Drivers to Insurers
May 5 2013 // Frustrated by drivers who ignore Connecticut’s ban on talking and texting on hand-held cellphones, some state legislators want insurance companies to know when their customers break the law. Lawmakers hope the...
Florida Lawmakers Approve Medical Malpractice Reform
May 3 2013 // In a victory for medical malpractice insurers and physicians, Florida lawmakers have approved a series of tort reforms that among other things will require expert witnesses testifying against physicians in a malpractice...
Debate Stalls on Missouri Malpractice Liability Limits Legislation
May 2 2013 // An effort to reinstate Missouri’s cap on noneconomic damages in medical malpractice lawsuits stumbled on April 30 in the state Senate. Senators discussed the legislation for about eight hours and worked into night...
Authorities Aim to Finish Texas Blast Probe by May 10
May 2 2013 // An investigation should be finished within the next two weeks into what caused a massive explosion at a Texas fertilizer plant that killed 14 people, state authorities said. Texas State Fire Marshal Chris Connealy told...
Oregon House Passes Immigrant Driver’s Card Bill
May 2 2013 // Tens of thousands of immigrants living in Oregon without legal permission will be able to get four-year driver’s licenses starting Jan. 1 under a bill given final legislative approval by the House on Tuesday. The...
Florida Lawmakers Advance Texting While Driving Bill
May 2 2013 // The Florida House has passed its version of a statewide ban on texting while driving, but the proposal’s fate is uncertain. The House passed the bill (SB 52) on a 110-6 vote Wednesday. It includes an amendment that...
Inquiry Into Texas Blast Plagued by Regulatory Gap
Apr 30 2013 // Federal and state officials investigating the April 17 deadly blast at a Central Texas fertilizer company are trying to determine whether a fire at the plant could have ignited a supply of ammonium nitrate. But how much of...
Trade Group Urges Indiana Governor to Sign Work Comp Bill
Apr 30 2013 // The Indiana General Assembly ended a very productive 2013 legislative session early in the morning on April 27 having passed workers’ compensation reform, legislation permitting the use of electronic devices to show...
Experts Weigh Boston Bombings’ Impact on Government-Backed Terrorism Insurance
Apr 30 2013 // The April 15 Boston bombings could have an impact on the efforts to renew the federal government’s terrorism insurance backstop. Some experts say the Boston Marathon tragedy could help the cause of supporters of the...
Arkansas Joining Interstate Insurance Regulation Compact
Apr 29 2013 // Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe has signed SB1170, enacting the Interstate Insurance Product Regulation Compact (Compact). The bill was introduced by Sen. Jason Rapert, chair of the Arkansas Senate Insurance and Commerce...
Oklahoma Agents Group Pleased with Progress of State Legislation
Apr 26 2013 // Oklahoma’s independent insurance agent association says measures of interest to the group are moving so quickly in the state Legislature this year it is cancelling an annual event furing which member speak with...
Florida Senate Approves Citizens Reform Bill; Path Ahead Remains Uncertain
Apr 26 2013 // Florida lawmakers have taken the first step towards reforming the state-backed property insurer, but not before significantly scaling back its impact on policyholders while the chances for final legislative approval remain...
Federal Judge Moves S&P Ratings Case Back to State Court
Apr 26 2013 // A federal judge handed a legal defeat to Standard & Poor’s, ruling that a lawsuit in which Connecticut accused it of fraudulently inflating credit ratings to win business should be moved back to the state court...
2 Judges Consider State Farm Rates in Texas
Apr 26 2013 // The state’s consumer advocate has challenged State Farm Insurance Co.’s 20 percent rate hike for Texas homeowners as being too high. Public Insurance Counsel Deeia Beck on April 24 urged two administrative law...
U.S. Court Rules Artist Richard Prince Didn’t Infringe Photo Copyrights
Apr 26 2013 // In a closely watched case in the art world, American artist Richard Prince won a federal appeals court order Thursday holding that he did not infringe the copyrights of a photographer by incorporating his images into 25...
EU Supports French Demand; Trade Talks with U.S. Should not Cover Culture
Apr 26 2013 // European Union lawmakers have backed French demands to exempt culture from a proposed free-trade pact between Europe and the United States, keeping Paris on side and raising the chances that the talks can start on...
AXA to Buy 50% of China P&C Insurer Tian Ping for $631 Million
Apr 26 2013 // France’s AXA Group announced that it has entered into an agreement with Tian Ping Auto Insurance Company Limited shareholders to acquire 50 percent of the company. Under the terms of the agreement, and subject to...
Oklahoma Workers’ Comp Reform Legislation Advances
Apr 25 2013 // Legislation that would reform Oklahoma’s workers’ compensation system has passed the House and Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner John D. Doak says that’s a good thing. Applauding the leadership of House...
