Latest Legislation Headlines

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

OSHA Hit for Taking Too Long to Adopt Workplace Safety Rules

Apr 23 2012 // The nation’s premier worker safety agency takes nearly eight years on average to adopt new safety regulations, government auditors said in a report.The Occupational Safety and Health Administration takes far too long...

Ohio Lawmakers Change Proposed Exotic Animal Rules

Apr 20 2012 // Ohio lawmakers considering regulations on exotic animals have eased proposed rules for snakes and decreased requirements for property warning signs as part of two dozen changes to the bill. Boa constrictors were removed...

Gulf Oil Spill Commission Criticizes Congress for Inaction

Apr 19 2012 // A presidential commission that investigated the Gulf oil spill blasted Congress for inaction in its report card on industry and government response to the massive BP oil spill.“Across the board, we are disappointed...

Mississippi Lawmakers Still Weighing Workers’ Compensation Changes

Apr 19 2012 // Mississippi senators are considering making more changes to a workers’ compensation bill that sparked controversy in the Legislature this year.Supporters said the bill removes an existing bias toward workers, while...

Best’s Special Vietnam Report Sees Continued Strong Growth

Apr 19 2012 // Vietnam’s insurance market has experienced strong double-digit premium growth in recent years and demand for insurance product is forecasted to continue, according to a recently released special report from A.M. Best...

Missouri Bill Criminalizes Undercover Videos at Farms

Apr 19 2012 // The Missouri House has endorsed legislation that would make it a crime for undercover activists to produce videos portraying poor conditions at livestock farms or other agricultural facilities.The legislation given...

Oklahoma GOP Lawmakers Revisit Severe Weather Liability Policy

Apr 18 2012 // Oklahoma House Republicans are developing a comprehensive liability protection policy for Oklahomans who offer shelter to others during severe weather.House Bill 2296, which would offer liability protection to mobile home...

Oklahoma Gov. Vetoes Mobile Home Park Liability Bill; Lawmakers Critical

Apr 17 2012 // Two Tulsa, Okla., lawmakers said they were disappointed by Gov. Mary Fallin’s veto of a bill that would have given civil liability protection to mobile home park operators who allowed residents to take shelter in...

New Law May Limit Participation in Flood Program in Florida

Apr 17 2012 // A bill recently passed by Florida lawmakers could hinder the ability of some communities to participate in the federally funded flood insurance program, federal officials say.The Federal Emergency Management Agency...

Judge Extends Deadline for BP Oil Spill Settlement

Apr 16 2012 // A federal judge has given BP Plc and lawyers for individuals and businesses who claimed they were harmed by the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill more time to file details of their proposed settlements.U.S. District Judge Carl...

Vermont Licensed 8 New Captives in 2012 Q1; Strongest Start Since 2005

Apr 16 2012 // Vermont officials said its captive insurance industry is off to a strong start in 2012, with the state having licensed eight new captives during the first quarter.“We had a great first quarter with the licensing of...

Fed Chairman Bernanke Defends AIG, Bear Stearns Bailouts

Apr 16 2012 // Chairman Ben Bernanke said Friday that the Federal Reserve was left with few good options when it stepped in to shore up the largest U.S. financial institutions during the 2008 crisis.Bernanke defended the central...

North Carolina Auto Insurance Reform Postponed Until Next Year

Apr 16 2012 // North Carolina lawmakers have decided to postpone any major effort to reform the state’s automobile insurance market until next year citing the complexity of the subject and a lack of time due to a shorten...

Insurance Premiums Climb to a Record $30B in Missouri in 2011

Apr 16 2012 // Missouri experienced a number of insurance industry “firsts” in 2011, including a record number of premium sales dollars, the largest-ever amount in claims paid for a single event in the state, and an...

Workers’ Comp Scofflaws in North Carolina Under Scrutiny

Apr 16 2012 // Officials in North Carolina said they will review their efforts to ensure that employers are purchasing workers’ compensation coverage after facing criticism they have done little to make sure that employers comply...

Idaho, Arizona Governors Sign Electronic Proof of Coverage Law

Apr 16 2012 // Idaho became the first state in the nation in late March to enact legislation to allow motorists to use a smart phone to demonstrate proof of insurance coverage. Not to be outdone, Arizona enacted similar legislation a few...

Vicarious Liability Ruling May Impact Education Insureds in California

Apr 16 2012 // The California Supreme Court ruled that a public school district may be vicariously liable for the negligent hiring, retention and supervision of a guidance counselor who allegedly sexually abused a student.And that ruling...

New York State Senate Passes Auto Insurance Fraud Measures

Apr 16 2012 // New York lawmakers want to slam the brakes on the auto insurance fraud. Late last month, the state’s Senate passed three bills to fight auto insurance fraud.These measures are now in the state Assembly for...

Agents Urge Caution on Changes to Missouri Work Comp Insurer

Apr 16 2012 // Some insurance agents are urging caution as Missouri lawmakers consider changes to a state-created workers’ compensation firm that has been criticized by the state auditor for taking advantage of a federal tax...

Replacement Costs Battle on the Road to Somewhere

Apr 13 2012 // Steve Young was somewhat upbeat when he was asked what he thought about the outcome of a long-brewing legal battle between three insurance associations and the California Department of Insurance.That upbeat attitude is...