Latest Legislation Headlines

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

9 Appeals Court Judges Recuse Themselves in Louisiana Church Sex Abuse Suit

Dec 17 2020 // All nine judges in Louisiana’s Second Circuit Court of Appeal have recused themselves from a sexual abuse lawsuit against the Catholic Diocese of Shreveport and a late priest.Following the full court recusal, the...

Lawmakers: Insurance Disputes, Slow Response Hinder Louisiana Storm Recovery

Dec 17 2020 // Southwest Louisiana lawmakers on Dec. 16 criticized the insurance industry’s handling of claims from Hurricanes Laura and Delta, describing slow responses, low-balled damage estimates and drones used to assess...

Judge OKs Plan for Settling Hurricane Damage Lawsuits Against Insurers in Louisiana

Dec 15 2020 // A federal judge in western Louisiana has approved a plan on how to settle thousands of lawsuits expected to be filed against insurance companies over damage from a pair of hurricanes that hit the region six weeks...

Nevada Judge Says Gig Workers Must Get Pandemic Benefits

Dec 8 2020 // A state court judge held the Nevada unemployment office in contempt and gave it until the end of the month to comply with his July court order to resume paying pandemic relief benefits to almost 9,500 out-of-work gig...

Lawmaker Calls FCC’s Spectrum Auction Danger to Aviation Band

Dec 8 2020 // A senior U.S. House lawmaker on Monday urged the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to delay the auction of portions of a key spectrum band, warning it could impact a nearby aviation frequency band.House Committee on...

Tennessee Lawmakers Explore Limiting Executive Authority During Health Crises

Dec 4 2020 // Tennessee lawmakers who have often been critical of government restrictions to curb COVID-19’s spread are suggesting ways to give themselves the power to limit or overturn emergency orders from the governor during...

Insuring Cannabis Summit: Insurance Expert Unpacks Green Wave Election

Dec 4 2020 // Editor’s note: This is part of a series of articles based on panels and presentations during Insurance Journal’s 2020 Insuring Cannabis Summit on Nov. 19.One election takeaway beyond the fact that cannabis...

Judge Won’t Block Ban on Michigan Indoor Dining

Dec 3 2020 // Bars and restaurants on Dec. 2 lost a challenge to Michigan’s ban on indoor dining and immediately warned about business failures and deep job losses if the restriction linked to the coronavirus is extended past next...

Automakers Unveil Steps for U.S. to Speed Up Self-Driving Vehicle Deployment

Dec 3 2020 // A group representing major automakers is unveiling a detailed proposal Wednesday aimed at making it easier to deploy thousands of self-driving vehicles in the coming years, according to a document seen by Reuters.The...

China Renews OK of Oceanwide’s Stalled $2.7 Billion Purchase of Genworth

Dec 2 2020 // U.S.-based Genworth Financial Inc. reported that Chinese officials have renewed their approval of China Oceanwide Holdings Group’s acquisition of Genworth’s Delaware-domiciled insurer, allowing the deal to...

Pennsylvania Governor Strikes Down Bill That Would Have Limited COVID-19 Lawsuits

Dec 2 2020 // Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf has vetoed a bill that would have expanded liability protection against COVID-19-related lawsuits for various businesses and entities in the state as they continue to grapple with coronavirus...

Louisiana Deputy Sues Ex-Judge Over Racial Slurs in Text Messages

Dec 1 2020 // A Black Louisiana sheriff’s deputy has sued a white former judge, saying a racial slur in her private text messages defamed him and has hurt his ability to do his job since being made public.Assumption Parish Deputy...

Judge Rejects Bayer’s $648 Million PCB Contamination Proposal

Dec 1 2020 // A federal judge has rejected Bayer AG’s proposed $648 million settlement of class-action litigation by cities and other claimants over contamination from polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs, made by the former...

Nevada Supreme Court Rules Undocumented Injured Worker Can Get Benefits

Nov 25 2020 // The Nevada Supreme Court has ruled that an undocumented worker is entitled to permanent disability.The court ruled on Nov. 23 that an undocumented worker suffering trauma due to a workplace accident is entitled to...

Louisiana School Superintendents Seeking Looser Quarantine Rules

Nov 25 2020 // Leaders of several Louisiana public school systems have called on state officials to relax coronavirus quarantine rules that have sent thousands of students home from school because they have been in close proximity to...

Next Virus Shutdown May Cost Washington Restaurants $800M

Nov 25 2020 // A four-week shutdown on indoor service at restaurants and bars prompted by an alarming statewide spike in COVID-19 cases is expected to cost the industry some $800 million, a representative said Monday.Anthony Anton, chief...

Louisiana Virus Aid Funds Run Low with Small Business, Local Requests Unmet

Nov 24 2020 // Louisiana will run out of federal coronavirus money before it pays out grants to all eligible small businesses and local government agencies seeking dollars from COVID-19 aid programs created by Gov. John Bel Edwards and...

Ping An’s Goal to Pivot from Finance Group to Tech Giant Is Now Threatened

Nov 23 2020 // The headwinds that toppled Ant Group Co.’s initial public offering now threaten a $22 billion dream of China’s Ping An Insurance (Group) Co. — to pivot from a finance group to a tech giant and be valued...

Judge Declines to Halt Michigan’s Recent Ban on Indoor Dining

Nov 22 2020 // A judge on Nov. 20 declined to halt a three-week ban on indoor dining in Michigan that is one of the most recent coronavirus restrictions imposed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s administration.The state health department,...

Judge Upholds Washington’s Orders Against Armed Citizens Legal Defense Network

Nov 20 2020 // An administrative law judge upheld Washington Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler’s fine and cease-and-desist order against Armed Citizens Legal Defense Network Inc., for illegally acting as an insurer in the...