Latest Legislation Headlines

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

Enforcement Issues Complicate Mississippi’s Efforts on Texting Drivers

Oct 13 2010 // Undoubtedly bills will be filed to strengthen Mississippi’s texting-while-driving ban during the 2011 legislative session, and questions about enforcement are sure to be raised.A law enacted in 2009 banned beginning...

States Hosting International Insurance Regulators

Oct 13 2010 // The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) welcomed 13 regulators from China, India, Korea, Lebanon, Republic of Srpska and Thailand to its International Internship Program for Education and Regulatory...

Judge Cuts Fines Against ICG for Deadly Sago Mine Blast in 2006

Oct 12 2010 // An administrative law judge has reduced some of the fines levied against International Coal Group Inc. for the 2006 Sago Mine explosion that killed 12 men and downgraded some violations the Mine Safety and Health...

Clock is Ticking on Surplus Lines Tax Reform

Oct 12 2010 // The insurance industry called the passage of the Wall Street Reform & Consumer Protection Act on July 21, 2010, a “big win” thanks to provisions in the massive reform bill that would modernize regulation...

Biglari Holdings Makes Another Bid to Take Over Fremont Michigan

Oct 12 2010 // Texas- based Biglari Holdings, which runs Steak n Shake and other restaurants, is making another bid for the Michigan property/casualty insurer, Fremont Michigan InsuraCorp. Inc.The San Antonio holding company has proposed...

Calif. Iranian Investment Regs Ruled Improper

Oct 12 2010 // The California Office of Administrative Law has ruled that state Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner’s Iranian investment regulations were improper.Earlier this year, the California Department of Insurance...

BP Gulf Oil Disaster Legacy Includes Higher Risk, Insurance Costs

Oct 12 2010 // The Gulf of Mexico oil spill will push up costs and reduce the number of offshore oil and gas operators in U.S. waters for a long time to come, oil company executives told an industry conference in London on Tuesday.More...

U.S. Judge Upholds Individual Mandate in Obama Healthcare Law

Oct 8 2010 // A U.S. judge Thursday upheld a key part of President Barack Obama’s signature healthcare law that requires Americans to obtain coverage, rejecting a challenge by a conservative interest group.The Thomas More Law...

Foreign Insurers Need Adaptability to Share in Gulf Market

Oct 7 2010 // International insurers seeking a bigger share of the potentially lucrative Gulf market need to adapt quickly to regulatory changes and tap into growth areas like Islamic finance or risk being muscled out of...

Safety Remains a Concern for Nanotechnology Says Lloyd’s

Oct 7 2010 // Nanotechnology is finding wider and broader use in modern technology. It is “transforming product design and innovation among manufacturers of electronics goods, textiles, cosmetics and foodstuffs as well as in other...

Oklahoma Updates License, CE Requirements for Work Comp Adjusters

Oct 7 2010 // The Oklahoma Department of Insurance issued a bulletin reminding workers’ compensation insurance adjusters they must be licensed to operate in the state. Licensed workers’ comp claims adjusters also must...

Survey: Execs Still Concerned Over Profitability, Double-Dip Recession

Oct 7 2010 // U.S. insurance executives report that despite improving market conditions, they remained concerned about their company’s performance and the industry’s ability to generate underwriting profit amid continuing...

Lower Corporate Taxes Could Help Preserve London’s Competitiveness

Oct 5 2010 // The City of London is just emerging from the recession brought on by the financial crisis, but it’s “clear there are numerous challenges ahead if it is to retain its global importance as a center for financial...

Florida Cheerleader’s Mom Not Satisfied with Insurance Settlement

Oct 4 2010 // Two years after her 18-year-old daughter died from a rare genetic condition during plastic surgery, Joanne Kuleba can talk about her without crying.The devastating sadness has been replaced by new emotions: Anger....

South Carolina Requires Notice to Families of Deaths from Medical Errors

Oct 4 2010 // A new state law designed to notify families of those who die within 24 hours of hospital admittance and invasive surgery is increasing the call volume for some coroner’s investigators.The Ann S. Perdue Independent...

Judge Refuses to Dismiss Securities Fraud Lawsuit Against AIG

Oct 4 2010 // A judge has refused to dismiss a securities fraud lawsuit accusing American International Group Inc. of misleading investors about its exposure to subprime mortgages, which led to a liquidity crisis and $182.3 billion of...

Declarations

Oct 4 2010 // Phantom Oversight“We need to uncover the true extent of what the FDA knew and when they knew it and determine whether or not they acted appropriately and timely.” —Congressman Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), calling...

New Jersey Lawmakers Advance Bill Hiking Cell Phone Fines for Drivers

Oct 4 2010 // New Jersey lawmakers have advanced a bill that would impose heftier fines for talking or texting while driving. The bill approved last month by the Senate Law and Public Safety Committee would double the fine for first...

Saved From Death Suits in Florida

Oct 4 2010 // In 2003, lawmakers approved a 182-page rewrite of the state’s laws for workers’ compensation.They are two of Central Florida’s biggest and best-known employers — and both face the prospect of...

Judge Keeps TWIA Ike Settlement Information Private for Now

Oct 4 2010 // Galveston County Judge Susan Criss on Sept. 27 put on hold a Texas state representative’s request for information from the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association regarding a $189 million settlement in a class action...