Latest Legislation Headlines

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

Bankruptcy Judge Rejects Freedom Industries’ Chemical Spill Settlement

May 18 2015 // A judge has rejected a $6.7 million bankruptcy plan by the company behind a January 2014 chemical spill in West Virginia.In a federal bankruptcy court filing last week, Judge Ronald Pearson said Freedom Industries and...

West Virginia Supreme Court Rules Addicts Can Sue Pharmacies, Doctors

May 18 2015 // Pharmacies and doctors who negligently prescribed pain medication can be sued for enabling people’s addictions, the West Virginia Supreme Court ruled.The ruling involved 29 people who were patients of Mingo...

Vermont’s New Captive Law Revises Capital Requirements

May 18 2015 // Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin signed new legislation passed in April that brings several changes to the state’s captive insurance rules – including changes to the investment guidelines to allow “marketable...

N.Y. Enacts New Rules to Rein In Title Insurance Industry

May 18 2015 // New York announced new regulations on title insurers on April 29 that officials say will prevent homebuyers from being charged for inappropriate fees.The proposed rules come after a state investigation found that some...

Insurers Get Ready to Comply With New Mississippi Property Insurance Clarity Act

May 18 2015 // Property insurers in Mississippi have until October 1, 2015 to respond to the Mississippi Insurance Department’s (MID) first call for homeowners’ insurance policy data that will be used to satisfy the...

Alabama Governor Signs ‘Innovator Liability’ Law

May 18 2015 // Companies in Alabama would be protected from lawsuits related to products they didn’t make under newly passed legislation. Gov. Robert Bentley on May 1 signed into law a bill that says manufacturers are not liable...

Insurers Warn Against Encroachment on State Regulation

May 18 2015 // Insurance companies are calling for Congress to ensure state-based insurance regulation remains protected from federal or international “regulatory encroachment.”“Congress must now increase its oversight...

Ohio’s Lt. Governor/Insurance Director Focused on Streamlining Regulation

May 18 2015 // As Ohio’s lieutenant governor, top insurance regulator and leader of a statewide regulatory reform initiative, it might seem that Mary Taylor’s public responsibilities would often pull in her in conflicting...

Cyber, Talent, Data Among Game Changers for Insurers

May 18 2015 // Protecting clients against growing and poorly understood risks associated with information technology system failures is a leading concern of the insurance industry today, according to a group of prominent underwriters and...

Texas Senate Passes Property Claim Litigation Bill

May 18 2015 // The Texas Senate on April 30 passed a bill aimed at stemming the onslaught of property claim litigation that has been occurring with increasing frequency in the state following natural catastrophes.Advocates of Senate Bill...

Texas Bill Preventing Local Drilling Bans Goes to Governor

May 18 2015 // A Texas bill banning its own cities from imposing prohibitions on hydraulic fracturing and other potentially environmentally harmful oil and natural gas drilling activities within their boundaries has been sent to Gov....

New Mexico AG Says Uber, Lyft Drivers Need Drug Testing

May 18 2015 // Drivers of ridesharing services Lyft and Uber in New Mexico should face strict drug testing requirements like taxi drivers and keep detailed records of such tests, the state Attorney General Hector Balderas told regulators...

Arizona Court Rules School District Has Immunity From Negligence Suit

May 15 2015 // An Arizona appellate court has ruled that Tucson Unified School District has legal immunity from a lawsuit accusing it of negligently hiring a teaching assistant later convicted of attempting to secretly record a...

N.Y. DMV’s New Rule Allows Proof of Auto Insurance in Electronic Format

May 14 2015 // The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles recently implemented a new regulation that allows motorists to show proof of auto insurance in either the paper or electronic format. The regulation went into effect on April...

Senate Now Expected to Pass Fast-Track Authority

May 14 2015 // U.S. Senate leaders agreed on a deal to move forward with President Barack Obama’s legislation to speed approval of trade agreements following a one-day rebellion by Democrats.The Senate will hold votes Thursday on...

Flood Insurance Does Not Cover Debris Removal From Insureds’ Land

May 13 2015 // A federal appeals court in Philadelphia recently ruled that a standard flood insurance policy from the National Flood Insurance Program does not cover the cost of cleaning up storm-generated debris not owned by the...

New Law in Oklahoma Sets Requirements for Public Adjusters

May 13 2015 // Oklahoma’s governor has signed legislation proposed by the state insurance department that specifies certain required and prohibited actions of public adjusters.According to Insurance Commissioner John D. Doak,...

Idaho College Wants Judge to Reject Student’s $1.5M Vaccine Lawsuit

May 13 2015 // A Boise State University student is suing school officials in federal court because he contends they discriminated against him by refusing to give him a meningitis vaccine designed for younger adults. Christopher Burdge...

Banks Keep Distance from Marijuana Business and Its Unbanked Billions

May 12 2015 // The U.S. government has opened a new line of business for America’s biggest banks, and for once they don’t want it. Little wonder: it’s cash from legalized marijuana.The financial-crimes arm of the...

Senate Democrats Derail Fast-Track Trade Authority Bill

May 12 2015 // U.S. Senate Democrats delivered a major blow to President Barack Obama’s trade agenda on Tuesday, blocking debate on a bill that would have smoothed the path for a Pacific trade pact.The stunning outcome cast doubt...