Latest Legislation Headlines

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

Terrorism Insurance Still on Front Burner for Insurers, Lawmakers

May 13 2002 // Amid heavy lobbying on the part of financial lenders, insurers, real estate executives and even President Bush, the Democrats and Republicans in the Senate seem to have come to agreement that there is need for some kind of...

Texas Offers IIABA’s First Virtual University Online Education Course

May 13 2002 // The first online continuing education course offered through the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America’s (IIABA) Virtual University has been unveiled—in Texas. The course is available on the...

UTAH CREDIT SCORING LAW TAKES EFFECT

May 13 2002 // Utah’s new law restricting insurers’ use of credit-based insurance scores to “initial underwriting” and discounts took effect May 6. The state Insurance Department had asked insurers to comment on...

NAII Says Amendments to Calif. Regulations Makes Claims Handling More Difficult, Expensive for Insur

May 9 2002 // Proposed amendments to California’s fair claims settlements practices regulations exceed the Department of Insurance’s authority and would prevent insurers from settling claims in a prompt, efficient, and fair...

Regulators Hear Industry’s Cautions on Mixing Terrorism Risk and Natural Disasters in CAT Plan

May 8 2002 // A National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) committee wanting to add terrorism risk to an existing plan for catastrophe reserving has agreed to slow down after the National Association of Mutual Insurance...

AAI Points to U.S. Congress JEC Study

May 8 2002 // The Alliance of American Insurers has pointed to the U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee’s (JEC) new study The Economic Costs of Terrorism, as further evidence that federal terrorism reinsurance legislation is...

Survey Finds $180 Million Rise in Pa. Hospitals’ Med Mal Rates

May 7 2002 // Hospitals in Pennsylvania are estimated to be paying more than $180 million in additional premiums for medical liability insurance compared to a year ago, according to a statewide survey of medical professional liability...

Ohio One of 6 States to Sign Innovative Cooperative Agreement for Market Conduct Exams

May 6 2002 // Ohio Department of Insurance Director Lee Covington has signed a cooperative agreement that will increase the efficiency and effectiveness of market conduct examinations of insurance companies doing business in Ohio....

Utah Credit Scoring Law Takes Effect May 6; Dept. Working on Regulation

May 6 2002 // Utah’s new law restricting insurers’ use of credit-based insurance scores to “initial underwriting” and discounts will take effect May 6. The state Insurance Department has asked insurers to comment...

IIC Award-Winner Warns: Terrorism Cover No Panacea, U.S. Regulation Out of Step

May 3 2002 // New York—The insurance business needs help in the form of terrorism coverage, but it’s no panacea, warns Robert V. Mendelsohn, the American Chief Executive of London-based Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance...

Minn. Lawmakers Approve “Sole Basis” Restrictions on Use of Credit Scores

May 1 2002 // Insurers will not be able to use a consumer’s credit history as the sole basis for underwriting decisions under a bill approved recently by the Minnesota State Legislature, according to the American Insurance...

Is the Texas Personal Auto Market Another Homeowners in the Making’

Apr 29 2002 // The personal automobile insurance market in Texas may not be approaching the crisis level at which the homeowners market currently finds itself, but signs indicate that it may be in for a rough ride. According to the Texas...

Giving Credit Where Credit is Due

Apr 29 2002 // To some it is the greatest thing since sliced bread, but others see it as the most flagrant abuse the insurance industry has every heaped upon the consumer. Insurance companies, consumer advocates and regulators just...

Giving Credit Where Credit Is Due

Apr 29 2002 // To some it is the greatest thing since sliced bread, but others see it as the most flagrant abuse the insurance industry has ever heaped upon the consumer. Insurance companies, consumer advocates and regulators just cannot...

CALIF. COMMITTEE APPROVES LOW-COST AUTO LEGISLATION

Apr 29 2002 // A California insurance committee has approved legislation that would indefinitely extend the state’s experimental low cost auto insurance program and could drive up the number of underinsured motorists, according to...

NAMIC Publishes State Laws and Legislative Trends Report

Apr 23 2002 // The National Association of Insurance Companies (NAMIC) has published a State Laws and Legislative Trends report on the “Use of Credit History by Insurance Companies.” The NAMIC analysis shows: Prior to 2002,...

IBA West Summarizes Issues Future Commissioner Will Face

Apr 22 2002 // IBA West recently outlined the major issues the successful candidate for California Insurance Commissioner will face in the coming years and outlined its goals for the future of insurance regulation in the state. IBA West...

Mo. House Rejects Governor’s Amendments to Credit-Based Score Legislation

Apr 18 2002 // The Missouri House rejected amendments pushed by Gov. Bob Holden April 15 that would have seriously impaired insurers’ use of credit-based insurance scores. The House is expected to take a final vote later this week...

Trio of Workers’ Comp Bills Aim to Aid Employers

Apr 18 2002 // Three bills (AB 1808, 1809, 2611) geared toward helping employers with workers’ compensation have been introduced in the California Legislature, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. Written by Assemblyman Keith...

Ohio Gov. Signs Agent Licensing Bill

Apr 17 2002 // The Ohio Department of Insurance announced that Governor Bob Taft signed Senate Bill 129, legislation crafted to streamline the insurance agent licensing process in Ohio. Sponsored by Senator Scott Nein (R-Middletown), ODI...