NAMIC Issues P/C Legislative Analysis

Revised: 09/22/2006

NAMIC Issues P/C Legislative Analysis
August 1, 2004, Insurance Journal

One-fifth of the 251 property/casualty bills enacted in the states so far this year relate to the regulation of automobile insurance, according to an analysis by the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies (NAMIC).

"A total of 23 states approved 50 new motor vehicle-related laws, the majority of which pertain directly to DUI, seatbelt or child safety standards, and proof of insurance requirements," said NAMIC State Affairs Information Manager Ken Marshall. "This trend is clearly in line with our new law findings from recent years. States approving motor vehicle related insurance legislation include Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Delaware, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin."

Just under 15 percent (36 bills) of the new laws pertain to workers' compensation. The majority of these bills address specific benefit or claims eligibility or the role and authority of the state workers' comp regulator, or provide comprehensive technical and substantive revisions to a state's workers' comp statutes.

Other notable issue trends this year include tort reform (15 new laws approved in 12 states), financial regulations (14 new laws approved in 10 states), licensure requirements (nine new laws approved in eight states), and the authority of the state regulator (nine new laws approved in seven states). Several states also approved measures related to CLUE, premium tax, state building codes, rate regulation and telephone sales.

The analysis covered 37 state legislatures that had adjourned as of July 15. It did not include eight states - California, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania - that were still in session at that time. Six other states - Arkansas, Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, Oregon and Texas - did not meet this year and were not included in the analysis.

"Working with our state trade association partners, NAMIC will continue our work in the states and report related legislative developments from those still in session this year," Marshall said.

Individual state summaries (including bill summaries, categorical reference, effective dates, chapter references, and full text links can be found on NAMIC's site at: http://www.namic.org/scorecard/default.asp.

An online information service of the United Farmers Agents Association, Inc.