Latest Legislation Headlines

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

DFS to Have Applications Available Soon in Fla.

Dec 17 2004 // Florida lawmakers yesterday approved a measure – House Bill 9A – that will provide $150 million in financial assistance for Floridians faced with multiple hurricane deductibles. Those eligible will be...

PCI Praises Flex-Rating Law for Reducing S.C. Homeowner’s Rates

Dec 17 2004 // South Carolina’s new flex-rating law for personal lines property insurance is already helping to bring lower premiums to many homeowners, according to the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America (PCI).State...

Fla. Legislators Unanimously Approve Hurricane Victim Assistance Package

Dec 16 2004 // A half-billion-dollar aid package, including property and sales tax rebates to reimburse residents who had to pay more than one hurricane deductible, was approved by the Florida Legislature before it adjourned today.The...

Florida Legislature’s Approval of $150M Relief Looks Like ‘A Done Deal’

Dec 15 2004 // The Florida Legislature is expected to decide today or tomorrow to provide $150 million to help hurricane victims strapped with large insurance deductible payments. The House and Senate both support the plan, so according...

Judge Offers Decision in GEICO, Google Dispute

Dec 15 2004 // The use of the GEICO trademark to trigger Google paid ads that include the GEICO name reportedly violate the federal trademark laws. The judge presiding over the lawsuit filed by GEICO against Google Inc. ruled Wednesday...

Judge’s Key Ruling Favors CDI in Trial Concerning Regulatory Authority over State Fund

Dec 14 2004 // In an important development Dec. 13, Judge Paul Alvarado issued a tentative ruling affirming that the State Compensation Insurance Fund (State Fund) is subject to the Department of Insurance’s authority under the...

NAIC Award Honors Fla. Regulator

Dec 13 2004 // Rich Robleto, director of Life and Health Product Review at the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation has received the Robert Dineen Award from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). The award was...

Multiple Deductibles Among Key Issues Being Discussed By Florida Legislators

Dec 13 2004 // Major insurance issues are on this week’s Florida Legislature agenda in Tallahassee. In long-awaited special sessions, which begin today, even if legislators stick to key issues, it remains to be seen how much they...

Docs to Lawmakers: Fix Malpractice Crisis

Dec 13 2004 // Western Maryland doctors are demanding relief from the skyrocketing medical malpractice insurance rates that have driven some of them out of business.Frederick’s two senators and six local delegates listened to...

Okla. Legislator to Renew Effort to Make Insurance Commissioner an Appointed Position

Dec 13 2004 // A Tulsa, Okla.-area legislator plans to take up the mission he began nearly a year ago to change the position of state insurance commissioner to one that is appointed rather than elected.State Rep. John Trebilcock,...

American Agents Alliance Characterizes CDI’s Proposed Regulations “Unacceptable”

Dec 10 2004 // The American Agents Alliance is continuing to call for the defeat of California Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi’s proposed regulations relating to broker disclosures, terming the proposal...

Ky. Office of Insurance Receives Accreditation Award

Dec 9 2004 // The Kentucky Office of Insurance (KOI) in Frankfort was one of four state insurance departments receiving accreditation awards under the National Association of Insurance Commissioners’ (NAIC) Financial Regulation...

PCI Calls for More Specific Regulatory Modernization Agenda at NAIC Meeting

Dec 8 2004 // District of Columbia Insurance Commissioner Larry Mirel responded to a request from the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America (PCI) for regulators to develop a more specific action plan for regulatory...

Ill. Judge Rules Comp Fee Hike Improper

Dec 7 2004 // An Illinois Cook County circuit judge has ruled that a state increase in fees paid by employers into the state’s workers compensation fund was improper because it was used to help plug a gaping hole in the general...

New Agents Council for Technology Report Outlines Recommendations for Privacy Policies

Dec 7 2004 // As Americans become increasingly concerned about the privacy of their health and personal information, independent insurance agents and brokers must make safeguarding private client information a specific focus within...

NAIC Elects 2005 Officers

Dec 6 2004 // The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) elected four officers for 2005 during the NAIC Winter meeting in New Orleans, including a newly created position of president-elect to effectively serve a two-year...

SPITZER TAKES COMPENSATION PROBE TO WASHINGTON

Dec 6 2004 // Senate Panel Wants In, Agents Want Out of Brokerage Scandal At recent Senate hearings in Washington called to follow-up on allegations of bid rigging and hidden compensation by Marsh and other large insurance brokers,...

States Unveil Model Disclosure Act

Dec 6 2004 // An insurance broker would be required to obtain written approval from its insured before receiving any compensation from an insurer for the same transaction under a compensation disclosure act unveiled by the...

Texas Judge Denies State Farm Injunction Request

Dec 6 2004 // A state district judge recently ruled in favor of the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) and its efforts to recoup more than $100 million for customers of State Farm Lloyds, an amount the agency contends the company...

European Insurance Summit 2004 Offers Some Words to Live By

Dec 6 2004 // Rating agencies are a reality, and we have to live with them,” Martin Kauer, CFO, Converium AG. “Market share is the enemy of risk management,” Brian O’Hara, president and CEO, XL Capital....