Regulation/Legislation

New Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley has signed an executive order to create the Coastal Insurance Commission to study availability and affordability of homeowners insurance and make recommendations.

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has backed off a proposal to charge fees to motorists involved in an accident that requires the fire department to respond, his office says.

Florida's property insurance reform bill SB 408 received approval on April 5 from its final Senate committee. In its wake came a frenzy of negative media coverage.

We entered the 2011 legislative session with high hopes. We believed a pro-business governor and legislature would remove unwarranted restrictions and get the economy on track. Things are not turning out quite as we expected.

Florida lawmakers sauntered into the 2011 session promising to help businesses, end red tape and regulation, and revive the economy. However, it is clear that the insurance industry will not get everything it wants.

The Non-Admitted and Reinsurance Reform Act, which brings change for Floridas surplus lines marketplace with regard to tax allocation, surplus lines insurer eligibility requirements, and more, is set to take effect July 21.