Latest Legislation Headlines

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

Florida’s Citizens Reaches Sinkhole Settlement

Mar 14 2014 // Florida’s state-backed property insurer said it has reached an agreement with more than 300 policyholders with sinkhole claims that officials say could save the insurer $30 million in legal fees.Citizens Property...

Florida Supreme Court Throws Out Medical Damages Caps Law

Mar 14 2014 // The Florida Supreme Court has ruled that the state’s caps on noneconomic damages in medical malpractice wrongful death cases violate the state Constitution’s equal protection clause.The 5-2 opinion held that...

Uber Announces New Policy to Cover Gap

Mar 14 2014 // Ridesharing company Uber on Friday said it has new insurance to cover a gap between personal and commercial policies when drivers are using the app-based ridesharing service, while the company’s CEO said the San...

P/C Reinsurance Market Softer Due to Alternative Capital: Execs

Mar 14 2014 // A new survey from Towers Watson confirms that more than half (55 percent) of property/casualty insurance chief financial officers believe the property reinsurance market is softer than the primary market, while about...

777 Mystery Sharpens Hunt for ‘Black-box’ Alternatives: Aviation Expert

Mar 14 2014 // The search for the missing Malaysian jet could speed development of new ways of locating wreckage, but such technology is unlikely to replace the traditional “black box” any time soon, France’s top crash...

Mass. House OKs Bill to Soften Impact of Flood Insurance Rules

Mar 13 2014 // The Massachusetts House on Wednesday unanimously approved a bill designed to soften the impact of new federal flood insurance rules on many of the state’s coastal homeowners.The measure, sponsored by Democratic House...

Senate Approves Bill to Curb Flood Insurance Hikes

Mar 13 2014 // The Senate today went along with the House of Representatives by passing a bill to reverse flood insurance reforms and curb flood insurance premium increases.The Senate approved H.R. 3370, the “Homeowner Flood...

Colorado Lawmakers Consider Limiting Cellphones In Cars

Mar 13 2014 // Drivers would have to use a hands-free device to use their cellphones under a bill being considered by Colorado state lawmakers. The bill would make it illegal to use a cell phone to make calls or use apps while driving....

Conn. Legislators Propose Workers’ Comp Coverage for Mental Trauma

Mar 13 2014 // The Newtown, Conn., Police officer who has not yet returned to work since the 2012 school massacre because of post-traumatic stress disorder urged Connecticut lawmakers on Tuesday to expand the state’s workers’...

State Supreme Court Upholds Mutualization of Oklahoma’s CompSource

Mar 12 2014 // The Oklahoma Supreme Court has upheld a plan to convert the state workers’ compensation insurance provider into a mutual company. The state’s highest court handed down a decision on March 11 that affirms...

Alternative Capital Softening P&C Reinsurance Market: Towers Watson CFO Survey

Mar 12 2014 // A new survey from Towers Watson confirms that “over half (55 percent) of property & casualty (P&C) insurance chief financial officers (CFOs) believe the property reinsurance market is softer than the primary...

Judge Rejects BP Bid to Shut Down Gulf Spill Payments

Mar 11 2014 // BP Plc’s bid to temporarily halt payments under its $9.2 billion oil-spill settlement so that heightened accounting and fraud safeguards can be established was rejected by a federal judge in New Orleans.U.S. District...

Sen. Collins: Finding the Right Capital Regulations for Insurers

Mar 11 2014 // The following a statement by Senator Susan Collins, a former state insurance regulator, in testimony before the Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Protection today on capital requirements for insurance...

West Virginia Lawmakers OK Chemical Spill Bill As Session Ends

Mar 11 2014 // Leading up to a midnight deadline, West Virginia lawmakers scrambled Saturday to give teachers raises and hike the minimum wage.A Jan. 9 chemical spill into the water supply loomed over the session, which began three days...

Insurers Urge Lawmakers Not to Impose Bank Capital Requirements on Industry

Mar 11 2014 // Insurance companies will urge U.S. lawmakers today to stop the Federal Reserve from imposing bank- like capital standards on their industry.A provision of the 2010 Dodd-Frank Act that overhauled U.S. financial regulation...

Colorado Bill Would Exclude Uber Drivers Until Summoned

Mar 10 2014 // A bill on ridesharing in Colorado passed by state Senate on Monday paints a “bright line” between when users of the app-based services are driving for personal reasons and when they are providing a commercial...

PCI Provides NCOIL List of ‘Key Elements’ on International Issues

Mar 10 2014 // “The National Conference of Insurance Legislators (NCOIL) took positive steps this weekend during its spring meeting outlining key areas where state legislators and regulators can impact the international dialogue on...

Judge’s Refusal to Fine Drone Operator Seen Spur to More Commercial Flying

Mar 10 2014 // A judge overturned a U.S. regulator’s first fine against a drone operator, a ruling that may lead to more commercial unmanned-aircraft flights in the U.S. before rules are written to govern their use.Judge Patrick...

Court Rules Ohio Landlords Are Liable for Safety of Tenants’ Guests

Mar 10 2014 // Landlords are on notice after a ruling by the Ohio Supreme Court. The high court ruled that landlords owe the same duty of safety to guests as they do for tenants.In Mann v. Northgate Apartments, a 16 year old was injured...

Florida Lawmakers Advance Bill Banning Insurers from Considering Gun Ownership

Mar 9 2014 // Florida House and Senate committees have approved a bill that would prevent insurance companies from discriminating against gun owners.The bill flew through the Senate Appropriations committee, but did meet some resistance...