Latest Legislation Headlines

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

Asbestos Legislation Signed in Georgia; Similar Legislation Pending in Fla.

Apr 15 2005 // Georgia enacted meaningful asbestos/silica litigation reform this week as Gov. Sonny Perdue signed House Bill 416, which requires that plaintiffs meet specific medical criteria before they can pursue an asbestos or silica...

Missouri House Passes Bill to Regulate Med-Mal Rates

Apr 14 2005 // The Missouri House passed legislation Wednesday that would tighten regulation of medical malpractice insurers as part of an effort to bring down premiums for physicians. The 141-11 vote sends the bill to the Senate....

Policymakers Urged to Weigh Cost of Consumer Regulation, Not Just Producer Compensation

Apr 14 2005 // Policymakers concerned that producer compensation practices might result in higher prices for insurance consumers should “pay attention to regulatory requirements that have had that effect for years,” according...

Text of Proposed Regs on California Broker Fiduciary Duties Now Available

Apr 14 2005 // Yesterday, California Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi issued a press release briefly outlining proposed changes to his regulations regarding broker fiduciary duties (see Garamendi Unveils New Broker Disclosure...

Garamendi Proposes New Regulations for Homeowners Insurance Market

Apr 14 2005 // California Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi on April 14 announced new regulations to protect homeowners from unfair “use it and lose it” practices in the homeowners insurance market.“We all pay...

Garamendi Unveils New Broker Disclosure Regulations

Apr 13 2005 // California Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi announced new regulations April 13 regarding agent/broker compensation disclosure.The proposed regulations would: Require the agent or broker to advise a client, prior to...

California Workers’ Comp Rate Regulation Bill Moves Through Committee

Apr 13 2005 // A measure approved April 13 by the California Senate Industrial Relations Committee will create an artificial pricing scheme and send the wrong message to workers’ compensation insurers considering investing new...

Insurers Oppose Ore. Auto Repair Shop Legislation

Apr 13 2005 // The Property Casualty Insurers Association of America (PCI) is urging the Oregon Senate to reject legislation which would mislead consumers about a valuable program designed to provide quality repairs to accident-damaged...

R.I. Lawmakers Eye Identity Theft Penalties

Apr 12 2005 // Rhode Island Rep. Al Gemma (D-Dist. 20, Warwick) wants to establish strict standards for identity theft protection and penalties for its violation.A bill he has filed will be heard today before the House Committee on...

PCI Backs Feinstein Consumer Protection Legislation

Apr 12 2005 // Federal lawmakers concerned with protecting consumer data from security breaches should model legislation on the provisions of an effective law on the books in California, Property Casualty Insurers Association of America...

After Two-Hour Floor Debate, W.Va. House Passes Senate Bill 414

Apr 11 2005 // The West Virginia House of Delegates passed Senate Bill 414 on Friday prohibiting third-party bad-faith lawsuits against insurance companies. SB 414 is part of Gov. Joe Manchin’s insurance and tort reform proposals,...

ABI Applauds New Legislation “To Drive Illegal and Dangerous Motorists from the Roads.”

Apr 8 2005 // The Association of British Insurers’ (ABI) campaign to more effectively enforce sanctions against motorists driving illegally without insurance, is on the road to success.According to the ABI offenders “will...

Lloyd’s CEO Outlines ‘Strategic Challenges’ Facing General Insurance Industry

Apr 8 2005 // Lloyd’s CEO Nick Prettejohn, speaking at the FSA insurance conference on Thursday, April, 7, outlined six “strategic challenges” facing the general insurance industry, which he also indicated was by no...

Fla. Legislation Would Require Insurance Companies to Disclose ‘Hurricane-Preparedness’ Discounts

Apr 8 2005 // Legislation now working its way through the Florida House and Senate would require insurance companies to disclose discounts they offer for policyholders who make their homes more resistant to hurricane winds. At present,...

New Mexico Governor Signs Credit Legislation

Apr 8 2005 // The American Insurance Association commended New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson (D) for signing into law this week SB 560, the Personal Insurance Credit Information Act. The bill was passed by the legislature on March...

Ky. Court Rules AIK COMP Rehabilitation May Resume

Apr 8 2005 // Franklin Circuit Court Judge William Graham signed an order April 7 enabling AIK COMP rehabilitator Martin J. Koetters to continue his efforts on behalf of the financially troubled self-insured group workers’...

ABI Secures Delay for New Finance Bill Regulations

Apr 7 2005 // The Association of British Insurers (ABI) announced that following discussions with financial authorities, the U.K. Government has decided to drop controversial new clauses from the current Finance Bill. The ABI said it...

Insurance Accounting Probe Spreads; Munich Re Questioned; Bermuda Opens Investigation

Apr 7 2005 // The accounting investigation swirling around AIG has now spread out across the ocean to reach Bermuda and Germany, as authorities questioned Munich Re about its relations ships with AIG and Island regulatorsd launched...

Okla. Gov. Henry Seeks Bipartisan Compromise for Workers’ Comp Reform

Apr 7 2005 // Oklahoma Gov. Brad Henry is calling on legislative leaders to work toward a bipartisan compromise on workers’ compensation reform, saying the issue is too important to fall prey to political disagreements.Two major...

Insurers Warn in Study: Unprofitable Del. Auto Insurance Market Could Face Reduced Competition

Apr 6 2005 // Even after investment income is considered, underwriting private passenger automobile insurance in Delaware has been unprofitable for the past five years, according to a study done by the Property Casualty Insurers...