Latest Legislation Headlines

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

Miss. Passes Seat Belt Law; Ga. Considers Seat Belt Law for Trucks

Jan 30 2006 // The Mississippi Legislature, meeting in Jackson, has strengthened its seat belt law by passing House Bill 409 which allows law enforcement to stop a driver for not wearing a seat belt and Georgia is considering removing...

N.Y. Insurance Association Applauds Plan to Modernize Regulation

Jan 30 2006 // Legislation introduced by New York State Senator James Seward (R-C-I/Milford) to modernize insurance regulation of property/casualty insurance rates will stimulate competition to the benefit of consumers, according to the...

Okla. Lawmaker to Seek Insurance Commissioner’s Office

Jan 29 2006 // Oklahoma State Rep. Bill Case, R-Midwest City, announced he will run for insurance commissioner.Case, 52, said he had the experience as a businessman and insurance agent that is needed at the agency. Democrat Kim Holland...

Democrats Propose Mandatory Flood Insurance, Development Limits

Jan 27 2006 // Citing the risks exposed by Hurricane Katrina, a group of California Assembly Democrats unveiled legislation that could block some development in flood-prone areas and require homeowners living on flood plains to have...

Mandates, Regulations Key Topics During W.Va. Big ‘I’ Feb. 12-13 Legislative Topics

Jan 26 2006 // An update describing local, state and national industry and government issues, focusing on the latest legislative topics affecting the insurance industry and independent insurance agents in West Virginia will be held...

Zurich’s CEO Discusses Industry Issues in Davos Interview

Jan 26 2006 // Zurich Financial Services has released an interview with the Group’s CEO, James Schiro, to coincide with the ongoing conference of international business leaders, being held in the Swiss resort of Davos.Schiro, an...

R.I. Senate Passes Beacon Mutual Bill

Jan 26 2006 // The Rhode Island Senate on a vote of 34-3 passed legislation to reduce the number of public appointees to the board of Beacon Mutual and free the state’s dominant workers’ compensation insurer to cover...

R.I. Senate to Vote on Beacon Mutual Bill Opposed by Governor Today

Jan 25 2006 // Legislation to amend the charter of the Beacon Mutual Insurance Co. to reduce the number of public appointees on the workers’ compensation carrier’s board and clear the way for it to write out-of-state accounts...

Windstorm Conference Speaker Bailey Predicts Wind vs. Flood Suits Won’t Succeed

Jan 25 2006 // The controversy over litigation about wind vs. flood damage and what could happen in the market place and to the industry if Mississippi Attorney General James Hood and attorney Richard ‘Dickie’ Scruggs are...

Filing Deadline Passes for Okla. Legislature as Session Draws Near

Jan 24 2006 // The Oklahoma House and Senate press offices reported that Thursday, Jan. 19, marked the deadline for state lawmakers to file legislation for the 2006 session, which will open Feb. 6.Since Jan. 1, more than 140...

ACIC Testifies Against Reinsurance Regulations for Calif. Insurers

Jan 24 2006 // The Association of California Insurance Companies (ACIC) is testifying against proposed Department of Insurance reinsurance regulations that the association says would make it more difficult for insurers to do business in...

Mich. GOP Senator Sponsors Legislation that Rewards Healthy Habits

Jan 24 2006 // Exercising everyday and not smoking could bring more than good health to those who participate. In Michigan it could mean cost savings for Medicaid patients who sign on to a healthier lifestyle.On the premise that good...

Insurer, Agent Groups Push for Regulatory Oversight for Ind. Insurance Pooling Bills

Jan 24 2006 // The National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies, the Insurance Institute of Indiana and the Independent Agents of Indiana are calling on the governor and legislators to include regulatory oversight in proposals to...

White House to Revisit Mine Equipment Safety; Head of Agency Quits

Jan 23 2006 // The Bush administration is reviewing safety equipment used in the nation’s mines after previously scrapping similar initiatives started by the Clinton administration.The agency that oversees coal mine safety is...

Miss. Legislation to Require Homeowners to Refuse Flood Insurance in Writing

Jan 23 2006 // The goal of HB 982, approved Jan. 20 by the Mississippi House of Representatives is to make the basics of home insurance more understandable to homeowners and would require home buyers to refuse flood insurance in writing....

N.Y. Lawmakers Call for Federal, State Catastrophe Funds

Jan 23 2006 // Three elected representatives from New York joined with a leading homeowner’s insurance company last week in a call for increased government involvement in providing reinsurance for catastrophes.Congressman Steve...

Surplus Line Market: Speculations for 2006

Jan 23 2006 // AUTHOR: By Susan McKennaExperts agree. The surplus lines market remains alive, healthy and stable. Who can argue with the success of this niche-based market that has risen from 4 percent in 1984 to almost 15 percent of the...

Royal & SunAlliance USA Names Former Regulator Muhl as Director

Jan 23 2006 // Royal & SunAlliance USA Inc. has appointed Edward J. Muhl, an experienced insurance regulator, as outside director. Muhl brings with him nearly 40 years of insurance experience in senior regulatory and industry roles....

Surplus Lines Market: Speculation for 2006

Jan 23 2006 // Experts agree. The surplus lines market remains alive, healthy and stable. Who can argue with the success of this niche-based market that has risen from 4 percent in 1984 to almost 15 percent of the insurance market in...

Regulatory modernization tops industry’s legislative agenda for 2006

Jan 23 2006 // With the extension of the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act, passage of federal class action and crop insurance reform, enactment of asbestos reform in several states and some changes in state laws on pricing, property/casualty...