Latest Legislation Headlines

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

Nevada Consumers Puzzle over Using Credit History to Set Rates

Jul 5 2007 // As Ed Rathje sees it, his first foray into the Nevada Legislature as a citizen-activist ended in “total defeat” earlier this month when a bill he was pushing to limit the insurance industry’s use of...

Insurer Group: La. Legislature Acts to Revive Marketplace

Jul 2 2007 // The Louisiana Legislature adjourned last week after sending to the governor a series of bills including one that abolishes the state’s insurane rating board.The enactment of HB 960, which abolishes the Louisiana...

Drinking Buddies Not Liable as Social Hosts, Mass. Court Rules

Jul 2 2007 // The Massachusetts Appeals Court has ruled that friends who meet regularly after work for drinks cannot be held liable for injuries caused when one of the members of their group drives home intoxicated.The court ruled that...

Lawyers, businesses groups tackle Oregon product liability laws

Jul 2 2007 // Business advocates and trial lawyers could be headed for a showdown over Oregon’s product liability laws before the legislative session comes to its scheduled end, and the verdict is anything but certain.The fight is...

Focus key to surviving insurance industry challenges

Jul 2 2007 // The “big problems” facing insurance agents and brokers today are human resources; government intervention; sustaining agency revenue growth/profit; maintaining a consistent company strategy and tactics; and...

Judge sides with Okla. AG on challenges to suit

Jul 2 2007 // A federal judge in mid-June sided with the state of Okla-homa on several legal challenges brought by the poultry industry in an attempt to dismiss a lawsuit filed by Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson.After two days...

Industry Challenges

Jul 2 2007 // It’s great to have peripheral ways of generating business and revenue, but stay focused on your core.Focus key to surviving insurance industry challenges The “big problems” facing insurance agents and...

After fast start with workers’ comp, Albany sputters

Jul 2 2007 // The Assembly has had its own reasons for moving slowly, especially on insurance bills — its insurance committee lacked leadership.Despite the state having a new governor, The New York Legislature continues with its...

Supreme Court ruling limits investors’ antitrust

Jul 2 2007 // Last month’s U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling that blocks investors from suing Wall Street investment banks under antitrust laws could save Wall Street firms a bundle by limiting investors to smaller recoveries.In a...

Contracts count when dealing with subcontractors

Jul 2 2007 // Language, legislative knowledge, and right insurance partner keys to wrapping up volatile marketOne of the many challenges general contractors — both commercial and residential — have faced over the past five...

Declarations

Jul 2 2007 // DeclarationsDangerous pooches “You never hear stories about roving packs of golden retrievers attacking children in our streets. … But you do hear about the pit bulls, who are responsible, according to...

News Currents

Jul 2 2007 // Gov. Riley halts hike in Alabama auto liability limitsAlabama Gov. Bob Riley decided to veto legislation that would have raised the minimum liability insurance limits that motorists must buy because he was concerned the...

Fla. regulators again irk insurers over credit rule

Jul 2 2007 // Property/casualty insurers are complaining that the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation is “off the mark” in developing rules implementing a law passed in 2003 addressing insurers’ use of credit...

Focus key to surviving insurance industry challenges

Jul 2 2007 // The “big problems” facing insurance agents and brokers today are human resources; government intervention; sustaining agency revenue growth/profit; maintaining a consistent company strategy and tactics; and...

Streamlining surplus lines

Jul 2 2007 // Declarations“Non-admitted insurance reform is a pro-consumer piece of legislation. HR 1065 makes it clear that the state where the policyholder resides should be the state that is in charge of regulation. …...

Lawyers, businesses groups tackle Oregon product liability laws

Jul 2 2007 // Business advocates and trial lawyers could be headed for a showdown over Oregon’s product liability laws before the legislative session comes to its scheduled end, and the verdict is anything but certain.The fight is...

Supreme Court ruling limits investors’ antitrust

Jul 2 2007 // Last month’s U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling that blocks investors from suing Wall Street investment banks under antitrust laws could save Wall Street firms a bundle by limiting investors to smaller recoveries.In a...

Contracts count when dealing with subcontractors

Jul 2 2007 // One of the many challenges general contractors — both commercial and residential — have faced over the past five years involves subcontractor insurance.The subcontractor marketplace has always been volatile....

Maine Gov. Baldacci Signs Bill Allowing Dirigo to Self-Insure

Jun 29 2007 // Gov. John Baldacci this week signed into law a bill that authorizes Maine’s Dirigo Health program to self-insure. But it doesn’t mean that will happen overnight, or even anytime soon.For now, the...

N.Y. Court Rules Drunk Driving Does Not Include Using Inhalants with Alcohol

Jun 29 2007 // A motorist accused of “huffing” stimulants from an aerosol can before getting into a deadly wreck cannot be charged with driving while intoxicated, New York’s highest court ruled Wednesday.The Legislature...