Latest Legislation Headlines

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

Left to Right: Sen. Clinton, Gingrich Meet in Middle on Health Reforms

Jul 24 2005 // Hillary Rodham Clinton, who as first lady pushed a health care policy overhaul in the early 1990s, found Republican lawmaker Newt Gingrich as her adamant foe. But now the two are working together to promote health care...

Delaware Commissioner Wants To Publicize Complaints Against Insurers

Jul 21 2005 // Delawareans would be able to evaluate insurance companies based on the number and kinds of valid complaints made against them by their customers under a new system proposed by Delaware Insurance Commissioner Matthew...

News Currents

Jul 18 2005 // Two Industry Opposed Bills Die in California LegislatureCalifornia’s SB 46 and SB 603 both died in the Legislature in late June, allowing insurers to breathe a little easy-for now. SB 46, authored by Sen. Richard...

Opinion: Rare Calif. Policy Success Tries to Survive

Jul 18 2005 // This month new workers’ compensation insurance rates went into effect in California. And thanks to reforms championed early on by State Sen. Charles Poochigian and Assemblyman Abel Maldonado, and later pushed by Gov....

Agent Leader Hits Hodgepodge of Disclosure Rules by Insurers

Jul 18 2005 // While insurance companies are calling upon state officials to coordinate their responses to the various brokerage compensation and other inquiries, independent insurance agents are worried about how the insurers themselves...

Two Industry Opposed Bills Die in California Legislature

Jul 18 2005 // California’s SB 46 and SB 603 both died in the Legislature in late June, allowing insurers to breathe a little easy–for now.SB 46, authored by Sen. Richard Alarcon (D — San Fernando Valley), would have...

ALASKA GOV. SIGNS REFORM REGULATIONS BILL:

Jul 18 2005 // Alaska Gov. Frank Murkowski recently signed 18 bills into law, including legislation to reform insurance regulations. “I was pleased to sign these important pieces of legislation into law,” Murkowski said....

New SOX Rules Don’t Fit Mutual Insurers for Size

Jul 18 2005 // For mutual property/casualty insurers, year-one SOX compliance costs would exceed $300 million.It’s obvious to us at the National Association of Mutual Insurance Cos. that there are crucial differences between public...

Alan A. Smith, Jr. is president/CEO of the Western

Jul 18 2005 // By Alan A. Smith, Jr.Many of our allies in the fight against the Garamendi Agenda were puzzled by IBA West General Counsel Steve Young’s open hostility toward the Western Insurance Agents Association’s...

Who’s Afraid of a Little Competition?

Jul 18 2005 // Ah, the traditional signs of summer-salt air, suntan lotion and that pungent smell without which no vacation trip is complete-the fumes of expensive gasoline. Although skyrocketing gas prices consume much of the...

Agent Leader Hits Hodgepodge of Disclosure Rules by Insurers

Jul 18 2005 // While insurance companies are calling upon state officials to coordinate their responses to the various brokerage compensation and other inquiries, independent insurance agents are worried about how the insurers themselves...

News Briefs

Jul 18 2005 // WASH. WORK COMP BENEFITS SEE INCREASE OF 0.6%: Workers currently receiving Washington workers’ compensation time-loss or pension benefits will receive a 0.6 percent cost-of-living increase effective immediately....

A Rare California Policy Success Trying to Survive

Jul 18 2005 // This month new workers’ compensation insurance rates went into effect in California. And thanks to reforms championed early on by State Sen. Charles Poochigian and Assemblyman Abel Maldonado, and later pushed by Gov....

Jul 18 2005 // Majestic Insurance Company announced the appointment of David Porter to the new position of marketing manager for Southern California. Porter has more than 25 years of experience in the industry. Prior to joining Majestic,...

Insurers Balk about Added Burden as N.J. Gov. Codey Signs Bill Restoring Consumer Advocate Office for 2006

Jul 18 2005 // New Jersey has brought back to life the state’s consumer advocate office that was killed more than 10 years ago.New Jersey Acting Gov. Richard J. Codey recently signed into law a bill that restores the Department of...

New SOX Rules Don’t Fit Mutual Insurers for Size

Jul 18 2005 // It’s obvious to us at the National Association of Mutual Insurance Cos. that there are crucial differences between public and mutual insurers. That’s why we oppose the National Association of Insurance...

PIA PUBLISHES ‘LEGISLATIVE REPORT’

Jul 18 2005 // The Professional Insurance Agents of Florida has completed its 2005 Legislative Report summarizing the provisions of recent legislation passed in the spring sessions of the Florida Legislature and has scheduled meetings to...

60-DAY NOTICE REQUIRED

Jul 18 2005 // The Alabama Hurricane Issues Task Force headed by Walter A. Bell, Insurance Commissioner, has recommended a new regulation that would force insurers to give 60 days notice to policyholders whose insurance will be changed...

Who’s Afraid of a Little Competition?

Jul 18 2005 // Five or fewer insurers control at least three-quarters of the small-group insurance market. This lack of competition contributes to double-digit premium increases for many small businesses and forces an increase in the...

Wis. Supreme Court Rules Med-Mal Award Cap Unconstitutional

Jul 15 2005 // The Wisconsin Supreme Court has struck down a law capping noneconomic damages in medical malpractice cases at $350,000. The court voted 4-3, saying the cap was “unreasonable and arbitrary” and no...