Automobile insurance-related issues continued to dominate legislative enactments in 2005, according to an analysis by the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies.
State Affairs Director Neil Alldredge said the annual NAMIC Survey of New State Insurance Laws found that more than 190 automobile insurance-related bills were enacted in 38 states.
Alldredge said the 2005 figures for automobile insurance-related issues continued a trend that saw 72 of 281 property/casualty laws enacted in 2004 and 40 percent of 418 laws enacted in 2003 pertain to auto issues. "From what we are seeing in the states this year, we have every expectation that this trend will hold once again."
Workers' compensation was the second most common issue trend of 2005 with 120 bills passed in 32 states, Alldredge said. Twenty-two bills dealt with benefits or authorized treatments in relation to workers' compensation and were passed in 15 states.
Tort reform was the third most common issue with a total of 60 laws enacted in 32 states. Missouri and South Carolina enacted comprehensive tort reforms while Alaska, Delaware, Georgia, Louisiana, Maine, Montana, Mississippi, South Carolina, South Dakota, and Wyoming enacted various medical malpractice provisions.
The study also noted that Florida and Louisiana both passed tougher building standards and North Carolina created a disaster relief fund for victims of 2004 hurricanes. Only two states — Alabama and Wisconsin — failed to enact any property/casualty legislation in 2005.
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