Latest Legislation Headlines

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

Montana Lawmakers Want More State Fund Oversight

Jan 20 2009 // The Montana State Fund is bucking a proposal for more legislative oversight of its workers’ compensation insurance program.A state lawmaker says the state is on the hook for financial shortfalls at the quasi-private...

Colorado Evaluating Proposed Insurance Rate Filing Rule

Jan 16 2009 // The Colorado Division of Insurance continues to evalute regulation 5-1-10, Rate and Rule Filing Submission Requirements for Property and Casualty Insurance.The rule was proposed to “ensure that property and casualty...

Wisconsin Insurance Chief Dilweg Honored by Consumer Advocates

Jan 16 2009 // Consumer representatives to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) presented Wisconsin Insurance Commissioner Sean Dilweg with their Excellence in Consumer Advocacy Award at recently.The NAIC Consumer...

North Dakota Republican Seeks Fines to Curb Driving While Texting

Jan 14 2009 // North Dakota Rep. Lawrence Klemin recalls the driver who pulled alongside him at a stoplight recently, eyes down, thumbs frantically working a tiny keyboard that was propped on the steering wheel.“When the stoplight...

Lawyers Hope to Fix Catastrophe- Related Insurance Problems

Jan 14 2009 // The nation’s lawyers who deal with insurance issues are developing policy recommendations designed to improve access to insurance coverage, reduce litigation over coverage and mitigate future losses involving natural...

Poll Finds Americans Support Increased Business Regulation

Jan 14 2009 // A clear majority of Americans believe government regulation of business should be increased, a new poll showed Wednesday.The poll, conducted by Public Strategies Inc. and the Politico news organization, found that more...

Eye on Insurance Industry Regulation

Jan 12 2009 // It has been said that “a rising tide lifts all boats.” That also raises the question, what happens to the boat when the tide goes down? The answer is that when the tide falls — or when the waters get choppy...

Windstorm Fund a Leading Issue With Lawmakers at Texas Capitol

Jan 12 2009 // Hurricane Ike was the big storm Texas officials feared would hit the coast – and the state’s way of paying for it afterward.When lawmakers convene Jan. 13, they’ll face the financial devastation left by...

People

Jan 11 2009 // Jim Johnstone has joined Westbrook, Conn.-based The Gowrie Group of Cos. as a producer in the Boat/Yacht department. Jim brings deep marine and sailing industry expertise that will enable Gowrie to broaden its reach into...

Massachusetts Agents Want Regulator to Rein in Progressive

Jan 11 2009 // It’s the second time in the seven months Progressive has been selling personal auto insurance online that the company has become a target of agents’ ire.A trade group for Massachusetts insurance agents has...

Independent Agents: State Regulation Big Issue in 2009

Jan 11 2009 // The New Year always brings out great hope for a new beginning, a fresh start and greater resolve for the coming year. But with all the financial and economic turmoil of the second half of 2008, independent agents could...

SEC Probes Florida’s Citizens Over Securities

Jan 11 2009 // The Securities and Exchange Commission is investigating the state-backed Citizens Property Insurance Corp. in Florida on bid placements earlier this year on auction rate securities.The SEC issued a subpoena June 24 seeking...

Lifelines in the Storm: Pro-Policyholder Developments in 2008

Jan 11 2009 // In light of the enormous losses and cascading failures triggered by the financial crisis, companies across the full spectrum of U.S. industry will be looking to their insurance policies for loss mitigation. Fortunately,...

North Carolina Auto Rate Hike In Escrow Until Court Rules

Jan 11 2009 // Auto insurers may increase premiums on North Carolina drivers by up to 9.4 percent starting Jan. 1, but a court ruling will determine whether they can keep the extra money.The North Carolina Rate Bureau, which represents...

Lifelines in the Storm: Pro-Policyholder Developments in 2008

Jan 11 2009 // In light of the enormous losses and cascading failures triggered by the financial crisis, companies across the United States will be looking to their insurance policies for loss mitigation. However, recent developments in...

Eye on Insurance Industry Regulation

Jan 11 2009 // It has been said that “a rising tide lifts all boats.” That also raises the question, what happens to the boat when the tide goes down? The answer is that when the tide falls — or when the waters get...

New Employment Laws, Power Shift in Washington May Increase the Risk of Workplace Charges

Jan 11 2009 // As the economy continues to falter and a new Administration takes over in Washington, the workplace is being seeded with new legal hazards for business owners that could lead to an increase in employment charges and...

Corporate Fraud Scandals Can Detonate Anywhere

Jan 9 2009 // When it comes to corporate fraud scandals, nowhere is safe.Revelations of a $1 billion fraud at Indian IT firm Satyam Computer Services do not point to a higher systemic risk of accounting scandals in India, or even in...

Galveston Officials Paint Bleak Picture of Ike Recovery for Lawmakers

Jan 9 2009 // Galveston officials pleaded with state lawmakers Jan. 7 for help in rescuing their island city from the dire financial straits it finds itself in nearly four months after the devastation of Hurricane Ike.“We’re...

Florida Workers’ Compensation Market in Good Shape, Says State

Jan 8 2009 // Availability and affordability in Florida’s voluntary workers’ compensation market overall is good, although small firms, new firms and construction firms might face affordability issues due to unique...