Latest Legislation Headlines

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

Vermont’s Latest Captive Bill Signed Into Law

May 2 2016 // Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin has signed new legislation, H-538, that allows sponsored or industrial insured captives that are inactive to enter a dormant status.This status would allow such types of captives to be exempted...

The Feds, the States and Self-Driving Cars

May 2 2016 // A big question looming is whether the federal government or state governments will play the primary role in setting standards for self-driving cars.Historically, the federal National Highway and Transportation Safety...

Report: Healthy but Challenging Workers’ Compensation Market

May 2 2016 // The workers’ compensation market is healthy and robust. It’s both competitive and profitable.That’s good news for business owners, the insurance industry and injured workers. Beneath the positive news,...

Florida Picks Deputy Altmaier to Be Next Insurance Commissioner

Apr 29 2016 // The Florida Cabinet has selected David Altmaier to be the state’s new insurance commissioner.Altmaier, 34, is currently a deputy commissioner within the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation. He will replace Kevin...

Florida Braces for Rate Hikes, Litigation Due to Workers’ Compensation Fee Ruling

Apr 29 2016 // The Florida Supreme Court’s ruling that the state’s current attorney fee limits are unconstitutional will have serious ramifications on the workers’ compensation market in the state, according to Florida...

Alabama Medical Marijuana Bill Headed to Governor

Apr 29 2016 // The Alabama legislature on Wednesday voted to decriminalize medicinal marijuana oil possession.In a 95-4 vote in the House of Representatives and a 29-3 vote in the Senate, legislators supported a bill supporters say is a...

Large Insurers Eager But Cautious About Drone Insurance Market

Apr 29 2016 // A growing number of insurance companies envision a large, robust insurance market for liability and property coverage associated with drone use. However, many insurers currently are proceeding with caution in light of...

Florida Supreme Court Finds Attorney Fee Schedule Unconstitutional; Passes on Other Key Workers’ Comp Case

Apr 28 2016 // The Florida Supreme Court has ruled that the state’s mandatory attorneys’ fee schedule for workers’ compensation cases is unconstitutional under both Florida’s and the U.S. constitution as a...

President Obama Gets Trade Secret Protection Bill Passed by Congress

Apr 28 2016 // The U.S. Congress on Wednesday passed and sent to President Barack Obama legislation strengthening legal protection for companies’ trade secrets, including manufacturing processes and computer methods.The House of...

Proposal for Food Inspection Cuts in Louisiana Raises Health Risk Concerns

Apr 28 2016 // More people could be exposed to foodborne illnesses in Louisiana if lawmakers approve a provision in the governor’s 2017 budget proposal which would lead to fewer inspections of the retail food industry, officials...

Reuters Special Report: How Google Is Winning Acceptance of Driverless Vehicles

Apr 27 2016 // The Alamo Drafthouse Cinema Plaza in Austin, Texas is a strip mall with a pet-accessories store, a Thai restaurant and a yogurt shop, an unlikely venue to display the high-tech future.But one Saturday morning in March,...

Updated: Florida Gov, CFO at a Standstill Over Next Insurance Commissioner

Apr 27 2016 // For the second time in a month, Florida Gov. Rick Scott and Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater could not reach an agreement over who will become the next insurance commissioner for the state.At the April 26 Florida...

Vermont’s Latest Captive Bill Signed Into Law

Apr 26 2016 // Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin has signed new legislation, H-538, that allows sponsored or industrial insured captives that are inactive to enter a dormant status.This status would allow such types of captives to be exempted...

Japan Aims to Beef up Nuke Safety Check Competency After Bad Review

Apr 26 2016 // Japanese nuclear regulators said Monday they will revise laws, nearly double inspection staff and send some inspectors to the U.S. for training to address deficiencies cited by the International Atomic Energy Agency.The...

Report: Missouri Recovered $15M-Plus for Insurance Consumers in 2015

Apr 25 2016 // The Missouri Department of Insurance, Financial Institutions and Professional Registration has released its 2015 Annual Report highlighting insurance industry data and department accomplishments, including the recovery of...

California Public Utilities Commission Oks New Ridesharing Regulations

Apr 25 2016 // The California Public Utilities Commission has approved new regulations for ridesharing companies like Uber and Lyft, including where identifying logos should go and stricter vehicle inspections.The San Francisco Examiner...

Groups: California Auto Repair Regs Will Increase Auto Insurance Rates

Apr 22 2016 // As the California Department of Insurance stages hearings on proposed regulations designed to give more money to auto body repair shops, a handful of property/casualty insurance trade associations are voicing their...

Plaintiffs Suing Dating Site Ashley Madison Over Data Breach Must Identify Themselves: U.S. Judge

Apr 22 2016 // Plaintiffs leading a lawsuit against online dating website Ashley Madison over a security breach that exposed the personal data of customers must publicly identify themselves to proceed with the case, a U.S. judge has...

Uber Settlement Doesn’t Settle Gig Economy’s Independent Contractor vs. Employee Dispute

Apr 22 2016 // Uber Technologies Inc. resolved the biggest threat to its business by settling with California drivers suing to be treated more like traditional employees, a move that could have broad-ranging implications for companies...

Florida to Interview 2 More for Insurance Commissioner, McCarty Delays Departure

Apr 22 2016 // The Florida Cabinet will interview two new candidates for the soon-to-be-open Florida insurance commissioner post at its April 26 meeting, in addition to the two candidates interviewed last month.In the meantime, current...