Latest Legislation Headlines

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

Lawmaker Suggests Review of Denied Workers Comp Claims

Dec 14 2007 // North Dakota’s workers compensation agency should undertake a new review of some denied benefit claims from injured workers, a lawmaker says.Rep. George Keiser, R-Bismarck, said the review is needed because of...

Lloyd’s Comments on Florida Changing Reinsurance Collateral Rules

Dec 12 2007 // Lloyd’s Director & General Counsel Sean McGovern, called Florida’s decision to explore making changes in the collateral insurance requirements for foreign, or “alien,” reinsurers, such as...

Texas Lawmakers, Workers Criticize Court’s Liability Ruling

Dec 12 2007 // Four state lawmakers and the Texas AFL-CIO have asked the Texas Supreme Court to reverse its decision in a case they say incorrectly expands liability protections for employers under state workers’ compensation...

Study: California Workers’ Comp Insurer Needs Significant Reforms

Dec 11 2007 // California’s State Compensation Insurance Fund “has weak corporate governance, inadequate internal controls in various areas and a general inability to plan for the long-term,” according to an operational...

Pa. Judge Overturns $3 Million Award in Wyeth Prempro Drug Case

Dec 10 2007 // A woman who claimed that Wyeth’s hormone-replacement drug caused her breast cancer did not have sufficient evidence to show that the company acted negligently, said a judge in Pennsylvania who overturned a $3 million...

House Passes Bill to Create National Registry of Convicted Arsonists

Dec 7 2007 // Two House lawmakers from fire-struck California won approval this week for legislation to set up a national registry to track convicted arsonists.The bill, which was passed by voice vote, requires convicted arsonists to...

California Court Rules on Age Discrimination in Workers’ Comp Claim

Dec 7 2007 // The California Court of Appeals in Sacramento has, in an unanimous decision, ruled that a disabled employee’s age cannot be used to reduce workers’ compensation benefits.In January 2003, while working as a...

Pa. Gov. Vows to Hold Up Medical-Malpractice Aid

Dec 5 2007 // Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell is threatening to withhold state aid to help doctors and other health care providers pay for their medical malpractice insurance unless lawmakers also act on his proposal to expand state health...

Workers’ Comp Hits Rocky Patch in W. Va. on Road to Full Privatization

Dec 5 2007 // The latest power struggle between W. Va. Gov. Joe Manchin’s administration and lawmakers spilled out into the open last week, and those who attended the final meeting of the monthly interim session got a front-row...

Alabama Senator: English Only Driver Test Will Improve Highway Safety

Dec 5 2007 // An Alabama state senator who is vice chairman of a panel studying immigration issues in Alabama said Monday he will introduce legislation to require the state driver’s license exam be given in English only.The...

Okla. Lawmakers Examine State Preparations for Pandemic

Dec 4 2007 // Lawmakers in Oklahoma questioned whether the state would be prepared in the event of an influenza pandemic during a legislative study conducted by state Rep. Lee Denney.Lawmakers and other officials recently met at the...

Fla. Insurance Regulator Names New Property And Casualty Director

Dec 4 2007 // Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty promoted Robin Westcott to director of property and casualty financial oversight with the Office of Insurance Regulation effective Nov. 28. Westcott will report to Deputy...

Iowa Counties Urge Lawmakers to Consider Bicycle Exemption

Dec 4 2007 // Iowa’s county supervisors have informally agreed to pressure the Iowa Legislature for an exemption from any future court cases involving bicycles on county roads.The supervisors’ decision follows a $350,000...

Regulators Honor Nebraska with Esprit de Corps Award

Dec 3 2007 // The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) today bestowed its Esprit de Corps Award to the Nebraska Department of Insurance. This is the second time the NAIC has given the award.Nebraska Insurance Director...

A Nod to Dodd

Dec 2 2007 // Sen. Trent Lott, R- Miss., appears to have quieted down since his Hurricane Katrina claim has been settled, so perhaps people will start listening to other senators in Washington on property insurance and natural disaster...

Conn. Consumers to Get ‘Mints on Pillows’ Treatment

Dec 2 2007 // Connecticut consumers dealing with the state’s insurance regulatory agency should be left feeling they were given “mints on their pillow,” according to the no-nonsense man in charge.Insurance Commissioner...

Hawaii County Looks to Stem Flood Hazards, Meets National Flood Insurance Program Deadline

Dec 2 2007 // Hawaii County has met a deadline to save Big Island residents’ federal flood insurance coverage, but at least one County Council member is not satisfied.The council voted unanimously to approve a bill that puts the...

A Nod to Dodd

Dec 2 2007 // Sen. Trent Lott, R- Miss., appears to have quieted down since his Hurricane Katrina claim has been settled, so perhaps people will start listening to other senators in Washington on property insurance and natural disaster...

Proponents Ring Alarm After Court Ruling Strikes Down Ill. Tort Reform Law

Dec 2 2007 // A Cook County, Ill., Circuit Court ruling in late November struck down the state’s much touted 2005 medical liability reform law, calling the caps on non-economic damages for medical malpractice lawsuits...

Federal Legislation to Offer States Incentives for Stronger Building Codes

Dec 2 2007 // States that already have a mandatory statewide building code and have enforcement measures in place would be eligible for an additional 4 percent of federal disaster relief funds under recently introduced federal...