Missouri: Legislative Activity Heats Up as Does Trial Bar Opposition to Asbestos Reform

The House Judiciary Committee’s Jan. 30 hearing on the asbestos/silica reform bill, HB 512, was marked by strong opposition by the trial bar. NAMIC attended the hearing and submitted written remarks supporting the bill, which is based on the American Legislative Exchange Council’s Asbestos and Silica Claims Priority Act.

At the beginning of the hearing, Republican Rep. Bryan Pratt, the bill author and committee chair, announced the meeting was for information purposes only and that another hearing will be held later in February.

The Missouri Insurance Coalition, NAMIC’s state trade partner, says the negative testimony from the trial bar verified that the passage of HB 512 will be “an uphill fight.”

MIC also reports last week the Senate confirmed Doug Ommen as the 46th director of the Missouri Department of Insurance, Financial Institutions and Professional Registration. Additionally, the Senate Government Accountability and Fiscal Oversight Committee heard the bill codifying the 2006 executive order reorganizing the department, and it’s expected to be “voted out as a non-controversial consent bill.”

Direct questions to NAMIC State Affairs Manager Tami Stanton.

Posted: Tuesday, February 06, 2007 12:00:00 AM.

Salary Survey: Discounts for Participation & Membership

(317) 875-5250 - Indianapolis | (202) 628-1558 - Washington, D.C.

Contact NAMIC | Press | Advertise | Sponsor

We are 1,400 property/casualty insurance companies serving more than 135 million auto, home and business policyholders, with more than $196 billion in premiums accounting for 50 percent of the automobile/homeowners market and 31 percent of the business insurance market. We are the largest and most diverse property/casualty trade association in the country, with regional and local mutual insurance companies on main streets across America joining many of the country’s largest national insurers who also call NAMIC their home. More than 200,000 people are employed by NAMIC members.