Disaster-Related Issues

NAMIC Urges Action to Implement Disaster Reforms, Modernize Building Standards

December 11, 2019 The National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies urged federal disaster recovery officials to speed their efforts to provide funding and other tools to help communities prepare and protect themselves from natural disasters. Read more

South Carolina: 2020 Pre-filing Underway

November 26, 2019 Pre-filing for the 2020 portion of the 123rd South Carolina General Assembly has begun. Almost 100 new bills have been introduced, and several are of interest to the property/casualty... Read more

NAMIC Honors Smith With Chairman’s Award, Salutes Service to Insurance Industry

September 23, 2019 The National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies presented its Chairman’s Award to John Smith, president and CEO of Pennsylvania Lumbermens Mutual Insurance Company, at the association’s 124th Annual Convention today in National Harbor, Maryland. Read more

North Carolina: Resiliency Roundtable Scheduled

September 17, 2019 As part of NAMIC’s ongoing focus on resiliency in the states, the association is partnering with the North Carolina Chapter of the Nature Conservancy to host “Making North Carolina Resilient to Hurricanes: A Roundtable Discussion” on Sept. 26 in Raleigh. Read more

NAMIC, BuildStrong Coalition Host Disaster Mitigation Forum With U.S. Chamber, FEMA

July 23, 2019 The National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies and the BuildStrong Coalition today hosted the first in a series of regional disaster forums in conjunction with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.... Read more

BuildStrong Coalition to Host Resilience Forum in Conjunction With FEMA

July 22, 2019 The BuildStrong Coalition will host a forum July 23 at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in conjunction with Federal Emergency Management Agency to inform and instruct participants on the disaster mitigation and resilience grant programs and incentives... Read more

Alabama: New Fortified Roof Building Standard Endorsement Required

May 29, 2019 Enacted HB 283 requires all insurance companies writing homeowners insurance policies to offer an endorsement that allows an insured to upgrade a roof to a fortified bronze standard adopted by the Institute for Business and Home Safety when the... Read more

BuildStrong Coalition Testifies Before House T&I on DRRA Implementation; FEMA Readiness

May 28, 2019 The NAMIC-led BuildStrong Coalition testified before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management during a May 22 hearing examining the... Read more

South Carolina: NAMIC Resiliency Week Resolution Adopted in House

April 9, 2019 As expected, South Carolina House Insurance Chair Kit Spires introduced HB 4393, NAMIC's Resiliency Week Resolution, on April 4. It was adopted the same day. Read more

Alaska: NAMIC Submits Testimony Supporting State Residential Building Codes Bill

April 4, 2019 NAMIC has submitted written testimony to the House Committee on Community and Regional Affairs in support of HB 76, Residential Building Codes... Read more

New Mexico: New Notice Law Regarding Community Fire Protection, Building Code Information

April 2, 2019 Enacted HB 311 adds provisions to New Mexico law regarding notification duties in response to unfavorable changes in public protection classifications, community grading, building code effectiveness classifications, and fire suppression rating schedules. Read more

South Carolina: NAMIC Resiliency Week Resolution Introduced

April 2, 2019 State Sen. Thomas Alexander filed NAMIC’s Resiliency Week Resolution as SB 711 on March 27, following adoption by the National Council of Insurance Legislators at its most recent meeting. A House version of the resolution is expected to be introduced... Read more

SPECIAL REPORT | NCOIL Spring Meeting

March 26, 2019 The National Council of Insurance Legislators met in Nashville March 15-17 for its 2019 spring meeting, where 44 state legislators from 22 states came together to contemplate many issues of importance to NAMIC members. The NAMIC advocacy team was on... Read more

Alaska: NAMIC to Support Residential Building Codes Bill

March 18, 2019 HB 76, an act relating to a state residential code, the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation, and municipal building codes, has been introduced and assigned to the House Committee on Community and Regional Affairs, and the House Committee on Labor and... Read more

Florida: Committees Interested in Michael Recovery, Building Code Process

January 15, 2019 Read more

North Carolina: NCDOI Issues Advisory Regarding Adjusting Hurricane Water Damage Claims

December 3, 2018 The North Carolina Department of Insurance issued an Advisory Memorandum on Nov. 30, 2018, titled “Identification of Water Damages in Adjusting Hurricane Claims for Water Losses Other Than Flood.” Read more

Pass the DRRA to Protect Communities Before the Next Disaster

September 25, 2018 As communities in the Southeast continue to recover from Hurricane Florence, it is more critical than ever to fix the broken disaster system that has left the nation’s communities vulnerable to recent storms. And thanks to NAMIC members' years of... Read more

NAMIC Honors Rochman with Chairman’s Award, Salutes Service to Insurance Industry

September 24, 2018 The National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies presented its Chairman’s Award to Julie Rochman, former president and CEO of the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety, at the... Read more

NAMIC-Led BuildStrong Coalition Pushes Congress to Pass Disaster Reform Legislation

September 24, 2018 In the wake of Hurricane Florence causing widespread destruction in the Carolinas and Mid-Atlantic, the BuildStrong Coalition is launching an aggressive push asking Congress to pass legislation as soon as the week of Sept. 24 to better protect... Read more

NAMIC-Led BuildStrong Coalition Testifies on 2018 Hurricane Prep

July 23, 2018 David Paulison, former FEMA administrator and current senior advisor to the NAMIC-led BuildStrong Coalition, appeared before a House Transportation subcommittee for the July 18 hearing titled, “Are We Ready? Recovering from 2017 Disasters and Preparing... Read more

BuildStrong Participates in T&I Roundtable on Cost-Share Guidance

June 25, 2018 Members of the NAMIC-led BuildStrong Coalition participated in a June 20 roundtable hosted by Rep. Lou Barletta, R-Pa., chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee. The event was designed to discuss the Federal Emergency... Read more

South Carolina: 'Driving Under the Influence of Electronic Devices' Ban Legislation Moves to Senate; Concerning Building Codes Language Taken Up in Subcommittee

March 6, 2018 The South Carolina Senate Transportation Committee approved SB 957 on Feb. 28. The bill would prohibit the use of handheld electronic devices while driving, an issue NAMIC is supporting in a... Read more

NAMIC Hails Passage of Landmark Reforms to Federal Disaster Policy

February 9, 2018 The National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies today hailed passage of historic reforms that represent a foundational shift in federal disaster policy. Key provisions in a government funding and disaster... Read more

South Carolina: DOI Proposes Regulation Changes, Issues Safe Home Grants Bulletin

December 11, 2017 The South Carolina Department of Insurance is proposing to revise Regulation 69-1 to add motor vehicle physical damage appraisers to the existing language for temporary licensure of adjusters in the event of... Read more

NAMIC Advocates at NCOIL on Towing, ALI Restatement, Data Calls

November 20, 2017 NAMIC represented member companies at the 2017 annual meeting of the National Conference of Insurance Legislators in Nov. 16-19 in Phoenix... Read more

Key Member of Congress Set to Unveil NAMIC-Backed Disaster Reform Bill

November 6, 2017 Following two NAMIC appearances before his committee this year to call for a set of disaster reforms, Rep. Lou Barletta, R-Pa., is set to unveil a comprehensive disaster reform bill that includes NAMIC’s National Mitigation Investment Strategy... Read more

FEMA Administrator Calls for NAMIC-Backed Reforms as Congress Prepares to Unveil Bill

November 6, 2017 The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee held a hearing Nov. 2 titled “Emergency Response and Recovery: Central Takeaways from the... Read more

Key Panel to Examine Impact of Disasters as BuildStrong Coalition Pushes for Reforms

October 30, 2017 Read more

Senate to Pass Next Tranche of Disaster Aid, Send to President

October 23, 2017 The Senate is set to pass a comprehensive disaster aid package this week that would provide relief for victims of recent catastrophes and free up funding for the National Flood... Read more

BuildStrong Reforms Touted on House Floor Before Passage of Disaster Aid

October 16, 2017 Moments before the House of Representatives passed the second round of disaster aid for victims of hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria, a key member of Congress encouraged the inclusion of NAMIC-backed mitigation reforms in... Read more

Senate Commerce Committee Advances Self-Driving Legislation that Addresses Data, Preemption

October 9, 2017 A key Senate panel voted Oct. 4 to advance legislation designed to facilitate the deployment of self-driving, or automated vehicles... Read more

NAMIC works to Include Key Reform in Next Disaster Aid Bill

October 9, 2017 A month after sending an initial $15 billion to Texas and Florida to assist victims of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma, the property/casualty industry is asking Congress to pass... Read more

NAMIC Chairman Calls for Disaster Reforms in Wake of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma

September 18, 2017 NAMIC Chairman Steve Linkous called for Congress to enact a series of reforms to the federal disaster system during a Sept. 13 hearing of the House Transportation and... Read more

NAMIC Chairman: Help Communities Rebuild for the Future

September 12, 2017 Steve Linkous, chairman of the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies, brought a simple message to members of Congress at a Sept. 13 hearing... Read more

NAMIC Chairman to Testify on Disaster Reforms in Wake of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma

September 11, 2017 NAMIC Chairman Steve Linkous will testify before the House Transportation & Infrastructure Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency... Read more

Revisiting Old Lessons on the Anniversary of Hurricane Andrew

August 24, 2017 One of the most effective tools at our disposal when making a decision -- be it personal or professional -- is our knowledge of history. It helps us understand what worked in... Read more

NAMIC, Industry Voice Concern on CERCLA Rule

July 17, 2017 NAMIC, along with other trade associations, filed comments with the Environmental Protection Agency on July 11 on a proposed rule that sets forth... Read more

Congress Inches Along on NFIP Reform as August Recess Approaches

July 17, 2017 The National Flood Insurance Program faces a lapse in funding in less than two-and-a-half months, but the House and Senate continue to make little progress toward... Read more

NAMIC, BuildStrong Coalition Meet With White House to Discuss Infrastructure Resiliency

June 26, 2017 NAMIC staff led a group of BuildStrong Coalition members during a series of meetings with senior Trump administration officials June 23 to advocate for the... Read more

House Committee Advances Long-Term Flood Measure

June 26, 2017 The House Financial Services Committee advanced the remaining five pieces of legislation that will make up the House's National Flood Insurance Program reauthorization and... Read more

NAMIC Welcomes Committee Passage of Flood Insurance Reforms to Ensure Affordability, Accountability

June 21, 2017 Legislation to reform and reauthorize the National Flood Insurance Program passed by the House Financial Services Committee today will take steps to improve the program for consumers, companies, and taxpayers... Read more

Senate to Vote on Nomination for FEMA Administrator

June 19, 2017 The nomination of Brock Long, former director of the Alabama Emergency Management Agency, to head the Federal Emergency Management Agency... Read more

South Carolina: DOI Hosts Annual Coastal Property Insurance Public Hearing and Information Session

June 12, 2017 NAMIC attended the South Carolina Department of Insurance's annual Coastal Property Insurance Public Hearing and Information Session, held June 8 in... Read more

BuildStrong Coalition Hosts National Thought Leaders Forum on Capitol Hill

June 12, 2017 The NAMIC-led BuildStrong Coalition held its 2017 National Thought Leaders Forum June 7 on Capitol Hill. Industry experts and public officials gathered to... Read more

NAMIC Signs Joint Industry Opposition Letter as House Committee Seeks to Advance NFIP Bill

June 12, 2017 NAMIC sent a joint industry letter June 12 to House Financial Services Committee Chairman Jeb Hensarling, R-Texas, ranking member Maxine Waters, D-Calif., Housing and.. Read more

House Financial Services to Hold Hearing on Flood Reform, Taxpayers

June 5, 2017 House Financial Services Committee Chairman Jeb Hensarling, R-Texas, will hold a hearing June 7 to examine the reform of the... Read more

BuildStrong Coalition to Hold Forum on Capitol Hill During Big Week on Infrastructure

June 5, 2017 In the same week the White House will take its first official steps toward creating a $1 trillion infrastructure package... Read more

NAMIC-Backed Study on Disaster Losses Passed by Key House Committee

May 30, 2017 A key house panel advanced on May 24 legislation that contains a NAMIC-backed provision , setting the bill up for a vote on the House Floor. During a markup of the House Transportation and... Read more

BuildStrong Coalition to Hold Thought-Leaders Forum on Capitol Hill

May 30, 2017 The NAMIC-led BuildStrong Coalition will bring together policymakers, members of Congress, and key stakeholders June 7 to discuss ways to ensure the nation's communities are resilient in... Read more

House Financial Services Committee Releases Draft NFIP Reform Bill

May 30, 2017 The House Financial Services Committee unveiled a set of draft proposals May 25 to reauthorize and reform the National Flood Insurance Program. The long-awaited draft legislation, which... Read more

NAMIC-Backed Study on Disaster Losses Introduced in House

May 22, 2017 Legislation that contains a key NAMIC-backed provision was unveiled May 19 in the House of Representatives. The FEMA Reauthorization Act of 2017, H.R. 2548, was introduced by... Read more

NFIP Reform Bill Principles Unveiled

May 15, 2017 NAMIC staff has obtained a copy of a summary of the House Financial Services Committee's draft legislation to reauthorize and reform the National Flood Insurance Program. The summary of the... Read more

Senate Readies for NFIP Reauthorization, House Action Could Come Next Week

May 8, 2017 The Senate Banking Committee held a hearing May 4 to examine ways to reform the National Flood Insurance Program ahead of its Sept. 30 funding deadline. The hearing, titled "Reauthorization of the... Read more

BuildStrong Coalition Calls for Major Reforms During Key House Hearing

May 1, 2017 Mark Berven, Nationwide's Property/Casualty Operations president and chief operating officer, called for a set of major reforms to the... Read more

House, Senate Circulate Flood Proposals Ahead of Senate NFIP Hearing

May 1, 2017 In advance of a Senate Banking Committee hearing on the National Flood Insurance Program, members of both the House and Senate circulated drafts of legislation that could help serve as the basis for efforts to reauthorize and... Read more

Where There's a Hurricane, Storm Scammers Surely to Follow

May 1, 2017 Although federal forecasters are expecting a quieter-than-normal hurricane season this year, it is all but certain there will... Read more

Where There's a Hurricane, Storm Scammers Surely to Follow

May 1, 2017 Although federal forecasters are expecting a quieter-than-normal hurricane season this year, it is all but... Read more

Hurricane Season Approaching; Time is Now to Strengthen Homes, Buildings

April 30, 2017 Of all the natural disasters occurring in the United States, hurricanes allow for the most time to seek safety and... Read more

Hurricane Season Approaching; Time is Now to Strengthen Homes, Buildings

April 30, 2017 Of all the natural disasters occurring in the United States, hurricanes allow for the most time to seek safety and... Read more

NAMIC's 100 Days of 2017

April 28, 2017 April 29 marks the official end of the first 100-days of the Trump administration. But rather than rehashing our president's record, I thought this would be a fitting time to... Read more

NAMIC Calls on Lawmakers to Strengthen Communities Ahead of Natural Disasters

April 27, 2017 The federal government can and should do more to protect communities and prevent losses from natural catastrophes, the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies said... Read more

Louisiana: NAMIC Provides Written Testimony on Various Issues

April 26, 2017 NAMIC provided written testimony April 25 on three bills of interest in the Louisiana Legislature. NAMIC supports HB 89. It would allow employees of... Read more

BuildStrong Coalition to Call for Major Disaster Reforms During Key House Hearing

April 24, 2017 Mark Berven, property/casualty operations president and chief operating officer for Nationwide, will give testimony to a key House panel during an... Read more

NAMIC: Auto Insurance to Evolve, Not End, in the Age of Driverless Cars

April 19, 2017 Advances in automated driving systems are increasingly blurring the lines between who is in control, the driver or the vehicle, and this raises complex questions when something goes... Read more

NAMIC to Release White Paper on Autonomous Vehicles, Holds First Meeting of Policy Council

April 17, 2017 NAMIC is set to release one of the insurance industry's first looks at the policy implications for insurers surrounding the development of autonomous vehicle, or AV technology. In the white paper... Read more

NAMIC Works With Key House Panel to Hold Hearing on Infrastructure, Disaster Reforms

April 10, 2017 A key House panel will examine ways to mitigate damage and more quickly recover from disasters on April 27 as members of Congress prepare to invest in the nation's aging infrastructure. NAMIC worked... Read more

Rebuilding Program Funds Increase Under Proposed Crist Bill

April 10, 2017 Rep. Charlie Crist, D-Fla., introduced legislation April 5 seeking to increase the amount of funding property owners have access to for home improvements to prevent flood damage under the... Read more

NAMIC Comments on FEMA'S Deductible Concept

April 10, 2017 NAMIC will submit comments April 12 in support of the Federal Emergency Management Agency's proposed Public Assistance Deductible concept to increase the nation's overall resilience and lessen the... Read more

Florida: Legislation on Policy Transfer, Agent and Adjuster Licensing, IRMA Provisions, Advertising Gifts Moves Along

April 7, 2017 The Senate floor is the next stop for CS/SB 812</a>, which would make it easier to transfer homeowner policies within the same insurance group. The Senate Rules Committee amended and approved the bill on April 6. The amendment makes clear that... Read more

Senate Panel to Examine How to Improve Weather Forecasting, Mitigation

April 3, 2017 A key Senate panel will examine ways to improve forecasting to better improve response and mitigation capabilities to extreme weather events at an April 4 hearing. The Senate Appropriations Subcommitte... Read more

NAMIC Appears Before House Transportation Committee to Discuss Driverless Cars

April 3, 2017 Tom Karol, NAMIC’s general counsel-federal, appeared before House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Bill Shuster, R-Pa., Highway Subcommittee Chairman Sam Graves, R-Mo., and other members March 28 to discuss... Read more

Texas: NAMIC Testifies in Support of Building Code Enforcement Legislation

March 27, 2017 NAMIC testified on March 23 in the House County Affairs Committee in support of HB 2040. Current law allows counties to decide whether they wish to enforce the building code in unincorporated parts of the county. For those counties electing... Read more

Legislators Seek to Add to Flood Insurance Reform Debate With Introduction of Legislation

March 20, 2017 Only a few months into the new Congress, several legislators have already introduced legislation they hope to insert into a flood insurance reform and... Read more

House Hearing Focuses Heavily on Pre-Disaster Mitigation after Trump Proposes Cuts to FEMA Programs

March 20, 2017 The House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management held a hearing March 16 to assess the ability of the... Read more

NAMIC Asked for Input as Key House Panel Examines National Preparedness System

March 13, 2017 The House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management, will hold a... Read more

House, Senate Committees Kick Off Flood Insurance Hearings

March 13, 2017 With the National Flood Insurance Program set to expire on Sept. 30, both the House and Senate have begun work on the program's reauthorization with a... Read more

Former FEMA Administrator, BuildStrong Senior Advisor Asks Members of House to Reform Disaster Spending

March 6, 2017 During a Feb. 28 hearing of the House Homeland Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and... Read more

NAMIC Urges Action on Disaster Preparedness in Wake of Former FEMA Directors' Testimony

March 2, 2017 The National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies is urging Congress to follow the recommendations of former Federal Emergency Management Agency administrators by... Read more

Former FEMA Administrator to Advocate for NAMIC's Disaster Reforms During House Hearing

February 27, 2017 Former FEMA administrator David Paulison will use his testimony during a Feb. 28 House subcommittee hearing to advocate for the disaster mitigation reforms being... Read more

Montana: NAMIC Submits Testimony Opposing Mandated Water Claims Loss Coverage, Sets Damages Limits in Policy

February 23, 2017 NAMIC submitted written testimony to the House Business and Labor Committee in opposition to HB 515, Mandated Water... Read more

BuildStrong Coalition Meets to Strategize for 2017

February 21, 2017 The executive committee of the NAMIC-led BuildStrong Coalition held its annual strategic planning session Feb. 16 at... Read more

South Carolina: E-delivery Bill Making Steady Progress; Personal Insurance Primary for Rental Car Coverage is Back

February 20, 2017 South Carolina HB 3488, which would allow for the electronic delivery of certain insurance documents, was approved by a Senate Banking and... Read more

South Carolina: ORSA, Safe Home Changes, Magistrate Courts&rsquo; Jurisdiction Bills Moving

February 14, 2017 The South Carolina Senate Banking and Insurance Committee on Feb. 8 approved SB 254, the NAIC Own Risk and Solvency Act, and SB 11, the insurance department's bill to make changes to the state's Safe Home property mitigation program. Both... Read more

Florida: Justice Reform Institute Releases 2017 Assignment of Benefits Report

February 14, 2017 The Florida Justice Reform Institute on Feb. 13 released its 2017 Assignment of Benefits report, which updates its previous report on the same topic and shows a dramatic increase in the abuse of AOB and its correlation with one-way... Read more

South Carolina: Judiciary Subcommittee Votes to Increase Magistrate Court Jurisdiction

February 7, 2017 A South Carolina Senate Judiciary Subcommittee met Feb. 1 and approved SB 118, which would increase the civil jurisdiction for magistrate courts from $7,500 to $10,000. The bill now moves to the full Senate Judiciary Committee for... Read more

House Committee Chairman Highlights NAMIC's Disaster Message, Senate Next to Discuss Infrastructure

February 6, 2017 Rep. Bill Shuster, R-Pa., chairman of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, used a high-profile Feb. 1 hearing to highlight NAMIC and the BuildStrong Coalition&rsquo;s mission to ensure infrastructure improvements... Read more

Federal Affairs Committee Sets Agenda for NAMIC on Capitol Hill

January 30, 2017 Members of NAMIC&rsquo;s Federal Affairs Committee gathered for their annual kickoff meeting Jan. 24 to discuss federal issues currently facing the... Read more

House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to Explore Infrastructure Investment

January 30, 2017 A day after announcing NAMIC disaster mitigation champion Rep. Lou Barletta, R-Pa., will return to the helm as chairman of the Subcommittee on... Read more

South Carolina: E-Delivery, Moped Bills Moving; ORSA Model Scheduled for Hearing

January 23, 2017 The South Carolina House Labor, Commerce and Industry Insurance Subcommittee met Jan. 19 and gave a favorable report to H 3488, which would allow an insurer to deliver, store, or present documents via electronic means as long as... Read more

Nine Republicans Join Transportation and Infrastructure Committee

January 23, 2017 House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Bill Shuster, R-Pa., announced Jan. 13 the appointment of nine new Republican members to the committee. The following will serve on the committee in the 115th Congress... Read more

NAMIC, BuildStrong Coalition Meet With Trump Transition Team, Advocate for Stronger Building Codes

January 17, 2017 Representatives of the NAMIC-led BuildStrong Coalition advocated for its National Mitigation Investment Strategy during a Jan. 11 meeting with senior officials from the transition team of... Read more

FEMA Proposes NAMIC-Backed Disaster Deductible in Final Days of Obama Administration

January 17, 2017 The Federal Emergency Management Agency released its long-awaited Disaster Deductible proposal Jan. 12, just over a week before the inauguration of President Donald Trump. The concept, advocated for over the... Read more

Florida: House Insurance Subcommittee Discusses AOBs, TNC Bills Filed

January 12, 2017 One day after the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee took testimony on assignment-of-benefits reform, the House Insurance and Banking Subcommittee on Jan. 11 heard from some of the same presenters. Because the meeting was... Read more

Senate to Consider Several Trump Cabinet Nominees This Week

January 9, 2017 Members of the Senate are set to begin the consideration of several candidates poised to join the cabinet of President-elect Trump. The Senate Judiciary Committee will consider the nomination of Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions to be... Read more

NAMIC, BuildStrong Coalition to Meet with President-Elect&rsquo;s Transition Team

January 9, 2017 Representatives from the NAMIC-led BuildStrong Coalition will meet Jan. 11 with senior officials from the transition team of President-elect Donald Trump to press for reforming the way the federal government approaches... Read more

South Carolina: Legislative Pre-Filing Underway

December 19, 2016 South Carolina legislators have pre-filed more than 500 bills in anticipation of the 2017 General Assembly, which convenes Jan. 10. Following is a list of pre-filed bills to date that relate to the property/casualty industry or involve... Read more

Property Casualty Committee to Consider Home Sharing White Paper

December 8, 2016 The NAIC&rsquo;s Property Casualty (C) Committee will consider adoption of a white paper on home sharing when it meets Dec. 12 during the NAIC's Fall National Meeting. A draft of the white paper was previously adopted by the... Read more

NAMIC, BuildStrong Coalition to Meet With Trump Transition Team

November 21, 2016 NAMIC will soon meet with the director of policy of the transition team for President-elect Donald Trump to encourage the adoption of key disaster reform policies in the incoming administration's rumored trillion-dollar... Read more

Ask Your Member of Congress to Support the National Mitigation Investment Act

November 16, 2016 With the elections behind us, Congress has returned to Capitol Hill for a few short weeks to consider a handful of legislative items, the most pressing being a bill to keep the government's lights on through December. But with... Read more

HUD Issues Proposed Rulemaking on Minimum Standards for Flood Hazard Exposure

October 31, 2016 The Department of Housing and Urban Development issued a Proposed Rule Oct. 28 revising its regulations to ensure compliance with previously issued executive orders on floodplain management and federal flood risk... Read more

NAMIC Pushes for Inclusion of NMIA in Year-End Disaster Relief Package

October 31, 2016 As Congress works to prepare a relief package for victims of recent natural disasters, NAMIC is advocating for the inclusion of policies in relief legislation to invest federal dollars toward research-backed, proactive... Read more

NAMIC Applauds New FEMA Building Code Standards

October 28, 2016 The National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies applauds the Federal Emergency Management Agency for issuing a new policy designed to significantly increase resilience standards... Read more

FEMA Issues Sweeping Building Code Changes Modeled on NAMIC-Backed NMIA

October 24, 2016 The Federal Emergency Management Agency has issued a new policy that will dramatically increase resilience standards during construction following a major catastrophe. Following NAMIC and the... Read more

NAMIC, BuildStrong Coalition Promote Pre-Disaster Mitigation in National Media Blitz

October 17, 2016 While communities in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina began the process of recovering from the devastating effects of Hurricane Matthew, NAMIC and the BuildStrong Coalition undertook a national media... Read more

Administration Announces Higher Standards for Resiliency

October 11, 2016 At the direction of President Obama, three federal agencies involved in financing home mortgages issued new standards for resilient construction Oct. 5 in the face of an... Read more

Royce Files NFIP Reform Bill

October 3, 2016 Rep. Ed Royce, R-Calif., introduced legislation with Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore., Sept. 28 titled the Repeatedly Flooded Communities Preparation Act, H.R. 6196. The legislation seeks to make modest, common sense reforms that would help bring... Read more

NMIA Heads Into Fall With Support From Nearly 30 Members of Congress

October 3, 2016 Before Congress returned home to campaign for November’s elections, NAMIC and the BuildStrong Coalition continued over the last month in building support for H.R. 5177, the National Mitigation... Read more

House Panel Examines FEMA's Role in NFIP, Members Highlight Importance of Mitigation

September 23, 2016 Members of a key House panel met Sept. 21 to examine the role of the Federal Emergency Management Agency in the National Flood Insurance Program. In a hearing titled &ldquo;An Examination of FEMA&rsquo;s Limited Role in... Read more

Senate Banking Committee Holds Hearing on TMAC Recommendations to the NFIP

September 19, 2016 The Senate Banking Committee held a hearing Sept. 13 titled &ldquo;The National Flood Insurance Program: Reviewing the Technical Mapping Advisory Council&rsquo;s 2015 Annual Report.&rdquo; Witnesses at... Read more

House Panel to Examine FEMA's Role in National Flood Insurance Program

September 19, 2016 Members of a key House panel will meet Sept. 21 to examine the role of the Federal Emergency Management Agency in overseeing the National Flood Insurance Program. In a hearing titled &ldquo;An Examination of FEMA&rsquo;s Limited Role in... Read more

Senate Banking Committee to Hold Hearing on TMAC Recommendations; Waters Introduces House NFIP Debt Forgiveness Bill

September 12, 2016 As Louisiana continues to recover from the flooding that wrought damage to large portions of the Baton Rouge area, members of Congress plan to highlight issues that remain to be unresolved with the National Flood Insurance Program in... Read more

Congress Examines Federal Response to Flooding Year After Build Strong Reform Report

September 12, 2016 In the wake of the devastating flooding in Louisiana, members of the House and Senate are examining the federal response to the catastrophe. The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee on... Read more

Louisiana Commissioner Wants More Time to Discuss NFIP Reform

September 7, 2016 Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon expressed frustration first at the meeting of the Property and Casualty Insurance (C) Committee at the NAIC Summer National Meeting and later at the concluding... Read more

NAMIC, BuildStrong Coalition Build Support for NMIA Ahead of Briefing Presidential Campaigns

September 6, 2016 Although members of Congress were back in their districts during an extended August recess, NAMIC and the BuildStrong Coalition continued over the last month in building support for... Read more

Property/Casualty Committee to Discuss Recommendations for NFIP Reform

August 24, 2016 During its meeting on Aug. 28 during the NAIC Summer National Meeting, the Property and Casualty Insurance (C) Committee will discuss proposed recommended principles for reforming the National Flood Insurance Program when it is... Read more

Drone Regulation Efforts Ready for Liftoff

August 15, 2016 The Federal Aviation Administration in June finally released the rules governing the future commercial use of drones. These rules are scheduled to take effect on Aug. 29, and it is fully expected that... Read more

NAMIC Named as First Member of FAA Drone Safety Team

August 5, 2016 With the initial regulations for commercial drone use set to take effect this month, the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies is the first member named to a Federal... Read more

NIST Seeks to Fill Advisory Committee on Windstorm Impact Reduction

July 18, 2016 The National Institute of Standards and Technology published a notice July 12 seeking the nomination of individuals for appointment to the National Advisory Committee on Windstorm Impact Reduction. This new Federal Advisory Committee was... Read more

NAMIC Submits Statement in Conjunction With Field Hearing on Community Resiliency

July 11, 2016 NAMIC submitted a statement for the record to the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Communications for a July 11 hearing titled... Read more

Earthquake Mitigation Measure Joins Growing List of Disaster Mitigation Bills

July 5, 2016 A bipartisan duo of lawmakers introduced legislation June 26 designed to encourage homeowners to take increased resiliency measures in the face of an increasing number of... Read more

New Co-Sponsors Sign On to National Mitigation Investment Act, NAMIC Continues Push

June 27, 2016 A number of lawmakers have signed on as new co-sponsors to the recently introduced H.R. 5177, the National Mitigation Investment Act in the wake of NAMIC-led meetings with... Read more

Ryan, House Leadership Call for Pre-Disaster Resilience in Policy Agenda

June 13, 2016 House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., highlighted the importance of resilience in the face of disasters with the June 9 release of a policy proposal meant to represent part of the GOP's agenda heading into the... Read more

At the NAIC: Group Will Look at Life Company Investment Risk First; Inaugural NAIC Insurance Summit a Success; Actuarial Group to Look at Operational Risk

June 9, 2016 The National Association of Insurance Commissioners' Investment Risk-Based Capital Working Group held a conference call June 2 to discuss comments received related to the working group's plans to update the... Read more

South Carolina: Great Info for Coastal Insurance Consumers at Annual DOI Hearing

June 7, 2016 The South Carolina Department of Insurance held its annual coastal property insurance public hearing and information session in Bluffton on... Read more

NAMIC Kicks Off National Mitigation Investment Act Co-Sponsor Push

June 6, 2016 In conjunction with the start of the 2016 hurricane season, NAMIC will be meeting with key members of the House this week to build support for the recently introduced... Read more

NAMIC to Submit Comments to Federal Insurance Office on Mitigation Investment Strategy

June 6, 2016 Following the introduction of H.R. 5177, the National Mitigation Investment Act, NAMIC is set to submit comments to the Federal Insurance Office June 7 regarding its effort to create a... Read more

Alabama: Commissioner Addresses State Trade; Takes Stock of 2016 Session, Looks Ahead to 2017

June 1, 2016 Alabama Insurance Commissioner Jim Ridling spoke to members of the Alabama Insurance Coalition during the group's post-session and board meeting on May 27. NAMIC is... Read more

A Milestone for the Property/Casualty Insurance Industry

May 25, 2016 NAMIC has taken another important step down the path toward one of our boldest federal advocacy efforts yet &ndash; changing the fundamental thinking behind... Read more

NAMIC Applauds Executive Order Designed to Improve Resiliency of Federal Buildings

May 23, 2016 NAMIC and the BuildStrong Coalition applauded an executive order issued May 18 by President Barack Obama that would require federal buildings in areas prone to wildfires to adopt... Read more

Senate Set to Advance NAMIC-Backed Study on Disaster Losses

May 23, 2016 The Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs is set to advance a NAMIC-backed study on disaster losses at a May 25 meeting. Following House passage of provisions earlier this year as part of the FEMA... Read more

In the World: Team USA Meets Again on International Issues; UK Looks at Stress Testing for Non-Life Companies; NAMIC Presented at IAIS Working Group Meeting

May 20, 2016 Several insurance companies and trades met with Team USA at the U.S. Treasury on April 25 to discuss issues before the International Association of Insurance Supervisors. NAMIC took a strong... Read more

Reps. Curbelo, Sires Introduce Bi-Partisan National Mitigation Investment Act, BuildStrong Coalition Testifies

May 16, 2016 Reps. Carlos Curbelo, R-Fla., and Albio Sires, D-N.J., introduced legislation designed to bring about a paradigm shift in the way the nation prepares for disasters on May 10, the same day NAMIC was recognized in conjunction with a... Read more

NAMIC Urges Swift Action of National Mitigation Investment Act

May 12, 2016 The National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies is urging lawmakers to move swiftly to advance the National Mitigation Investment Act after a House subcommittee hearing today examining the rising costs of... Read more

NAMIC Supports Fundamental Change in Disaster Policy through National Mitigation Investment Act

May 10, 2016 Bipartisan legislation introduced today will fundamentally alter federal disaster policy to better protect Americans and their communities while reducing the unsustainable rise in... Read more

Curbelo, Sires to Introduce Bipartisan National Mitigation Investment Act, BuildStrong Coalition to Testify at Hearing

May 9, 2016 Reps. Carlos Curbelo, R-Fla., and Albio Sires, D-N.J., are set to introduce legislation May 10 designed to bring about a paradigm shift in the way the nation prepares for... Read more

NAMIC, BuildStrong Coalition to be Recognized at White House Event on Resilient Building Codes

May 9, 2016 NAMIC and the BuildStrong Coalition will be recognized by the Obama administration as signatories on a Building Industry Statement on Resilience as part of a May 10 White House event centered on advancing... Read more

FEMA Announces NFIP Suspensions

May 2, 2016 The Federal Emergency Management Agency announced April 25 via the Federal Register a number of communities in Colorado, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Wisconsin in which the sale of flood insurance under the National Flood Insurance Program will be... Read more

FEMA Issues Proposal Promoting Stronger Building Following Disasters

April 25, 2016 A day after meeting with NAMIC and the BuildStrong Coalition, the Federal Emergency Management Agency released a proposed policy that would require... Read more

NAMIC Meets With FEMA Administrator, Discusses Changing Approach to Mitigation

April 25, 2016 NAMIC and members of the BuildStrong Coalition met with Craig Fugate, administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, April 20 to discuss the importance of changing... Read more

NAMIC to Meet With FEMA Administrator, Key Members of Congress Ahead of May Hearing

April 18, 2016 NAMIC will host a strategic planning session of the BuildStrong Coalition April 20 to advance the dialogue surrounding changing the way the nation prepares for disasters. The session will include meetings with Craig Fugate, administrator of the Federal ... Read more

Earthquake Study Group Hears Presentation from NAMIC

April 12, 2016 At the request of the Earthquake (C) Study Group, NAMIC delivered a presentation on “Earthquake Risk Mitigation Practices” when the study group met on April 3. The request came from Oklahoma insurance commissioner and study group member John Doak. Oklah... Read more

Alabama: Wind Mitigation Financing, Wind Pool Changes, TNC Insurance, Public Adjuster Regulation Bills Continue Being Discussed

April 11, 2016 Bills to allow for financing of wind mitigation loans were approved April 6 in both the House Insurance and Senate Banking and Insurance committees. HB 430 and SB 353 would authorize premium finance companies to also provide financing for wind mitigatio... Read more

Senate Examines FEMA Performance, Preparedness; NAMIC Submits Statement

April 11, 2016 NAMIC will submit a statement to the Senate Homeland Security Subcommittee on Federal Spending Oversight and Emergency Management in advance of an April 12 hearing examining the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s performance in preparing for natural ... Read more

NAIC to Hold on Meeting on National Flood Insurance Program

April 4, 2016 The National Association of Insurance Commissioners’ Property and Casualty Committee will discuss the National Flood Insurance Program’s reauthorization deadline at an April 5 meeting during the group’s meeting in New Orleans. A number of organizations ... Read more

Flood Insurance Technical Mapping Advisory Council to Hold Conference Call

April 4, 2016 The Technical Mapping Advisory Council established by the Biggert-Waters Reform Act of 2012 will meet April 14-15 via conference call to review draft recommendations for the 2016 Technical Review Report evaluating the FEMA Flood Mapping Program. The adv... Read more

Earthquake Study Group to Hear Presentation From NAMIC

March 31, 2016 At the request of the Earthquake (C) Study Group, NAMIC will deliver a presentation on “How Insurance Regulators Can Better Educate Consumers on the Earthquake Claims Process and Earthquake Risk-Mitigation Practices” when the study group meets on April ... Read more

Waters Proposes Wiping Out NFIP Debt

March 28, 2016 Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., the ranking member of the House Financial Services Committee, has recently floated the idea and will likely introduce legislation to forgive the $23 billion debt owed... Read more

New York Congressman Makes Inquiry About Status of Unspent Sandy Recovery Dollars

March 21, 2016 After meeting with NAMIC staff, Rep. Dan Donovan, R-N.Y., sent a letter March 16 to Reps. Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Fla., and David Price, D-N.C., asking that they provide details in their subcommittee report about the billions of leftover recovery dollars a... Read more

NAMIC Comments on FEMA’s Disaster Deductible Concept

March 21, 2016 NAMIC submitted comments to FEMA March 21 regarding the agency considering creating a disaster deductible. The concept, which would require a predetermined level of financial or other commitment from a recipient before receiving assistance following pre... Read more

NAMIC Hosts Meeting of BuildStrong Coalition, Lawmakers Make Exciting Announcements

March 21, 2016 Reps. Lou Barletta, R-Pa., and Carlos Curbelo, R-Fla., made some exciting announcements March 15 regarding the proposed National Mitigation Investment Strategy at a NAMIC-hosted meeting of the BuildStrong Coalition. After Jimi Grande, BuildStrong Coalit... Read more

NAMIC to Host Meeting of BuildStrong Coalition With Members of Congress

March 14, 2016 NAMIC will host a March 15 meeting of the BuildStrong Coalition, a group of architects, firefighters, emergency managers, contractors, code officials, and insurance companies all dedicated to building more resiliently ahead of disasters. The meeting wil... Read more

Connecticut: NAMIC, Insurance Trades Testify at Hearing on Crumbling Foundations Bill

March 10, 2016 NAMIC and the other insurance trade associations submitted a joint statement and testified as a panel before the Insurance & Real Estate Committee during a hearing on HB 5522. This bill would mandate homeowners’ coverage for a broadly defined “peril of ... Read more

House Passes NAMIC-Backed Study on Disasters

March 7, 2016 Members of the House of Representatives voted Feb. 29 to pass a NAMIC priority and a key piece of the National Mitigation Investment Strategy, the FEMA Disaster Assistance Reform Act of 2015, H.R. 1471. The measure, which was passed on the House floor M... Read more

NAMIC: Disaster Costs Study in FEMA Reauthorization Bill a First Step to Smarter Federal Policy

March 1, 2016 Legislation mandating a study of the costs associated with natural disasters passed by the House Feb. 29 would lead the federal government to a path toward smarter, mitigation-focused natural disaster policy. Read more

Flood Insurance Technical Mapping Advisory Council to Hold Conference Call

February 29, 2016 The Technical Mapping Advisory Council will meet March 10-11 via conference call to continue developing the Federal Emergency Management Agency Flood Mapping Program Description and the 2016 TMAC Annual Report. On March 10, the TMAC will develop content... Read more

House set to pass NAMIC-backed Study on Disaster Losses

February 29, 2016 Members of the House of Representatives are expected to vote Feb. 29 to pass a longstanding NAMIC priority, the FEMA Disaster Assistance Reform Act of 2015, H.R. 1471. The measure, which was scheduled for consideration this evening by House Speaker Paul... Read more

Please Contact Members of Arizona House of Representatives to Ask for "Yes" Vote on House Bill 2445

February 23, 2016 HB 2445 , a NAMIC-supported auto insurance underwriting freedom bill, was voted down last week on a 29-29 vote in the Arizona House of Representatives. The House will reconsider the bill Feb. 25. Please contact representatives in the Arizona House to as... Read more

NAMIC Applauds Executive Order Enhancing Federal Earthquake Risk Management

February 8, 2016 NAMIC and the BuildStrong Coalition applaud President Obama issuing an executive order Feb. 5 that promotes the adoption of stronger building codes to better prepare for earthquakes. Executive Order 13717, echoing the findings of a recently released rep... Read more

Federal Affairs Committee Sets Agenda for NAMIC on Capitol Hill

February 1, 2016 Members of NAMIC’s Federal Affairs Committee met for their annual kickoff meeting last week to discuss federal issues currently facing the property/casualty insurance industry. The committee helps to guide development of policy principles and positions ... Read more

Flood Insurance Technical Mapping Advisory Council to Hold Meeting

February 1, 2016 The Federal Emergency Management Agency has announced that the Technical Mapping Advisory Council established by the Biggert-Waters Reform Act of 2012 will hold a meeting Feb. 10-11 in Reston, Va. The meeting is open to the public and will be held in th... Read more

FEMA to Hold National Advisory Council Meeting Open to Public

February 1, 2016 The Federal Emergency Management Agency has announced an upcoming open meeting of the National Advisory Council to be held Feb. 9-11 in Raleigh, N.C. The NAC will review on Feb. 9 FEMA's response from the NAC's Sept. 2015 meeting recommendations and rec... Read more

Florida: Flood, ORSA, TNC Insurance, Other Bills Moving

January 26, 2016 HB 929 , which now includes only the two provisions related to flood insurance, was approved Jan. 25 by the House Insurance and Banking Subcommittee. The House committee substitute removes all the language in the original bill creating a statewide flood... Read more

Florida: Bills to Tackle AOB Abuse Approved by House Subcommittee

January 26, 2016 After more than an hour of testimony and debate, the House Insurance and Banking Subcommittee approved a committee substitute for HB 1097 , legislation to address Assignment of Benefits abuse. The bill makes some good steps toward reform but is still a ... Read more

FEMA to Create Disaster Deductible, NAMIC Seeks Input

January 25, 2016 The Federal Emergency Management Agency announced on Jan. 20 that it is considering creating a disaster deductible, which would require a predetermined level of financial or other commitment from a recipient before receiving assistance following preside... Read more

Alabama: Governor's Coastal Insurance Working Group Releases Report

January 22, 2016 In response to continuing calls for lower property insurance premiums by coastal consumers, Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley in June 2015 formed the Coastal Insurance Working Group. Bentley charged the group with focusing on “policy... Read more

Florida: Quick Start to 2016 Session, Important Bills Already Advancing

January 19, 2016 Due to months of pre-session committee activity, Florida legislators were able to hit the ground running when the 2016 General Assembly convened Jan. 12. Several bills of interest to NAMIC members already are advancing. Policymakers have a lot to do in ... Read more

House Subcommittee Holds Hearings on Flood Insurance

January 19, 2016 The House Financial Services Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance began the year with the first of many hearings on flood insurance that will occur in 2016 ahead of the National Flood Insurance Program’s Sept. 30, 2017, expiration. The first of those h... Read more

FEMA Announces Major Disaster Declarations

January 11, 2016 The Federal Emergency Management Agency has announced two major disaster declarations under the authority of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act. Presidential Declarations of a Major Disaster Oklahoma – FEMA Administrator... Read more

Support for NAMIC’s Signature Disaster Mitigation Legislation on Record-Breaking Pace

December 7, 2015 A banner year for the Congressional Contact Program has put support for the Safe Building Code Incentive Act on a record-breaking pace in the 114th Congress, which spans this year and next. NAMIC’s signature disaster mitigation legislation, which would ... Read more

Florida: 2016 Legislation Already Moving

December 3, 2015 The 2016 Florida General Assembly officially convenes in January, but as usual, committees and subcommittees have been meeting for several months to begin the process of multiple-committee referral and review for bills that have been introduced. On Dec.... Read more

Flood Insurance Technical Mapping Advisory Council to Hold Conference Call

November 30, 2015 The Technical Mapping Advisory Council established by the Biggert-Waters Reform Act of 2012 will meet Dec. 9-10 via conference call to review the final Annual and Future Conditions Reports. The final reports were reviewed and voted on by the TMAC and ag... Read more

Public Policy Paper Explores ‘Best Practices’ for Regulating Insurance Premiums, Managing Natural Catastrophe Risk

November 16, 2015 NAMIC has released its most recent public policy paper , “Best Practices for Regulating Property Insurance Premiums and Managing Natural Catastrophe Risk in the United States,” exploring “best practices” regulating insurance premiums and managing natura... Read more

NAMIC Pushes for Increased Pre-Disaster Mitigation at NIST Community Resilience Panel Meeting

November 16, 2015 NAMIC pressed for increased federal investment in mitigation during a forum held last week by the National Institute of Standards and Technology. The Community Resilience Panel Meeting, hosted Nov. 9 at NIST headquarters in Gaithersburg, Md., brought to... Read more

Public Policy Paper Explores ‘Best Practices’ for Regulating Insurance Premiums, Managing Natural Catastrophe Risk

November 16, 2015 Insurance regulators seeking to “protect consumers” after a natural disaster by suppressing the rate that homeowners insurers are allowed to charge end up doing more harm than good. Read more

Public Policy Paper Explores ‘Best Practices’ for Regulating Insurance Premiums, Managing Natural Catastrophe Risk

November 13, 2015 NAMIC has released its most recent public policy paper , “Best Practices for Regulating Property Insurance Premiums and Managing Natural Catastrophe Risk in the United States,” exploring “best practices” regulating insurance premiums and managing natura... Read more

Release of Disaster Spending Garners Significant Press Coverage

November 9, 2015 An array of national print and TV outlets took notice of the NAMIC-led BuildStrong Coalition’s Oct. 19 release of a comprehensive disaster spending reform report. The report, unveiled 10 days before the third anniversary of the landfall of Hurricane San... Read more

NAMIC Participates in NIST Community Resilience Panel Meeting

November 9, 2015 NAMIC staff is participating in a discussion Nov. 9 hosted by the National Institute of Standards and Technology that will connect community and infrastructure-sector stakeholders in an effort to propose solutions for improving community resilience. Hos... Read more

NIST Releases Disaster Planning Guide in Advance of Community Resilience Panel

November 2, 2015 The U.S. Commerce Department’s National Institute of Standards and Technology issued the “Community Resilience Planning Guide for Buildings and Infrastructure Systems” Oct. 29 in an effort to ensure communities across the nation are able to better withs... Read more

Florida: AOB Abuse, Bad Faith Reform, Flood Bills Filed

October 26, 2015 Assignment of benefits abuse is addressed in SB 596 filed Oct. 21 by Sen. Dorothy Hukill, who sponsored a similar bill last year. AOB reform is a top priority of the Florida Insurance Council, NAMIC’s advocacy partner in the Sunshine State. The language... Read more

House Committee Examines Federal Disaster Policy Following Release of BuildStrong Coalition Report

October 26, 2015 Days after the NAMIC-led BuildStrong Coalition released a comprehensive disaster spending reform report , Rep. Martha McSally, R-Ariz., chair of the House Homeland Security Committee Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Communications, ... Read more

NAMIC Hails New Report Calling for National Mitigation Investment Strategy

October 19, 2015 WASHINGTON, D.C., Oct. 19 – The National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies echoed the call for a better approach to federal disaster policy through the adoption of a National Mitigation Investment Strategy, in a report released today by the Buil... Read more

BuildStrong Coalition Releases Disaster Reform Report, House Committee to Examine Federal Disaster Policy

October 19, 2015 In conjunction with the release of a comprehensive disaster spending reform report today by the BuildStrong Coalition, a key House committee is set to examine federal emergency preparedness and response to disasters. Ten days before the third anniversar... Read more

NAMIC-Led BuildStrong Coalition to Release Disaster Spending Report Next Week

October 12, 2015 NAMIC and the BuildStrong Coalition will release a disaster spending reform report Oct. 19, just 10 days before the third anniversary of the landfall of Superstorm Sandy, that will point to flaws in existing U.S. disaster policy and offer a specific set... Read more

FIO Releases Assessment of Natural Catastrophe Insurance

October 5, 2015 The Federal Insurance Office released a report Sept. 25 examining the current market for natural disaster insurance. The report, called for by the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012, sought to assess: The current condition of, as well as ... Read more

NAMIC Says Mitigation Should be the Goal for Congress on Regulation, Natural Disasters

September 25, 2015 Congress can best ensure a vibrant insurance marketplace by exercising strong oversight over federal and international intrusions into the state-based system of insurance regulation and by shifting federal disaster policy to reduce the risk to communiti... Read more

NAMIC-Led BuildStrong Coalition to Release Disaster Spending Report

September 25, 2015 Coinciding with third anniversary of the landfall of Superstorm Sandy, NAMIC, through the BuildStrong Coalition, is planning the Oct. 19 release of a comprehensive disaster spending report that will point to flaws in existing U.S. disaster policy and of... Read more

Flood Insurance Technical Mapping Advisory Council to Hold Conference Call

September 21, 2015 The Technical Mapping Advisory Council established by the Biggert-Waters Reform Act of 2012 will meet via conference call Sept. 29 per an announcement in the Federal Register. TMAC members will deliberate on draft narrative and proposed recommendations ... Read more

NAMIC Calls on President to Sign Windstorm Research Legislation

September 16, 2015 The National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies welcomed passage today of HR 23, the National Windstorm Impact Reduction Act Reauthorization of 2015, by the U.S. House of Representatives and urged President Obama to sign the measure into law. Int... Read more

NAMIC to Host Webinar Sept. 10 in Advance of National Preparedness Day

September 8, 2015 NAMIC will be hosting a webinar at 2 p.m. on Sept. 10 to help the Federal Emergency Management Agency spread the grassroots message on how NAMIC member companies can get involved in the lead up to National Preparedness Day on Sept. 30, 2015. NAMIC and t... Read more

FEMA’s National Advisory Council to Discuss Emergency Management

September 8, 2015 The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s National Advisory Council will hold a three-day meeting Sept. 16-18 to discuss all aspects of the agency’s response to natural disasters and emergency management. The meeting will take place at Gallaudet Univers... Read more

On 10th Anniversary of Katrina, NAMIC Calls for Reforms to U.S. Disaster Policy

August 31, 2015 Following the 10th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina on Aug. 29, NAMIC is calling on Congress to enact major reforms to U.S. disaster policy. In 2005, Hurricane Katrina made landfall in southeastern Louisiana, killing more than 1,800 people and accountin... Read more

Flood Insurance Technical Mapping Advisory Council to Hold Conference Call

August 31, 2015 The Technical Mapping Advisory Council established by the Biggert-Waters Reform Act of 2012 will meet via conference call Sept. 9 per an announcement in the Federal Register. TMAC members will present and discuss its draft on proposed recommendations fo... Read more

A Decade After Katrina, NAMIC Urges Congress to Learn Its Lesson, Promote Mitigation

August 28, 2015 Ten years after Hurricane Katrina killed nearly 2,000 people and inflicted more than $100 billion in damage, the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies is calling on Congress and the administration to change federal disaster policies to bett... Read more

Ten Years After Katrina: Learning to Build for the Next Storm

August 28, 2015 Ten years ago, Hurricane Katrina swept over the Gulf Coast, killing more than 1,800 people and devastating the lives of tens of thousands and their communities. The images we saw of the storm’s aftermath changed our nation, and our industry, forever. Read more

Technical Mapping Advisory Council Meets to Discuss NFIP Recommendations

August 10, 2015 NAMIC attended the Technical Mapping Advisory Council meeting in Reston, Va., Aug. 4-5 that was held to discuss changes to the National Flood Insurance Program. The TMAC is a federal advisory council established under the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance ... Read more

Flood Insurance, Resiliency-Related Legislation Introduced Before Congress Recesses

August 3, 2015 While the deadline for Congress to reauthorize the National Flood Insurance Program is more than two years away, some members in the House of Representatives continue to maintain focus on seeking changes to the program. Rep. Morgan Griffith, R-Va., was ... Read more

NAMIC Continues to Push for Stronger Building Codes, Change in Approach to Disasters

August 3, 2015 As members of Congress prepared to return home for the annual August recess, NAMIC, working with the BuildStrong Coalition, continued its push on Capitol Hill in an effort to change how the nation approaches natural disasters. Since 1983 the U.S. has sp... Read more

FEMA’s Technical Mapping Advisory Council to Hold Open Meeting

July 27, 2015 The Federal Emergency Management Agency has announced an open meeting of the Technical Mapping Advisory Council on Aug. 4-5 in Reston, Va. The TMAC is a federal advisory council established under the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012 to ... Read more

House Set to Vote on Small Business Disaster Loan legislation

July 13, 2015 The House is set to vote on H.R. 208, legislation introduced by Rep. Nadia Velazquez, D-N.Y., and titled the “Superstorm Sandy Relief and Disaster Loan Program Improvement Act of 2015” under a suspension of the rules, a legislative process used for nonc... Read more

Senate Banking Committee Dives Into NFIP Issues

June 22, 2015 The Senate Banking Committee will hold a briefing and a hearing on the National Flood Insurance Program and the controversy surrounding alleged doctored engineering reports for Superstorm Sandy flood insurance claims. As NAMIC notified members earlier t... Read more

Key House Committee Holds Productive Discussion on Disaster Spending

June 22, 2015 Members of the House Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management participated in a stakeholder roundtable discussion June 17 titled “Federal Disaster Assistance: Roles, Programs and Coordination.” The purpose of the r... Read more

TAKE ACTION: Contact Your Legislator to Support the Safe Building Code Incentive Act

June 15, 2015 NAMIC is asking that you contact your member of Congress to ask him or her to co-sponsor H.R. 1748, The Safe Building Code Incentive Act. NAMIC is leading a coordinated grassroots effort with members of the BuildStrong Coalition calling on Congress to a... Read more

BuildStrong Coalition to Participate in Congressional Roundtable on Federal Disaster Assistance

June 15, 2015 Members of the House Transportation & Infrastructure’s subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management will hold a roundtable June 17 titled “Federal Disaster Assistance: Roles, Programs and Coordination.” This event is t... Read more

Natural Disaster Mitigation Roundtable Held in Philadelphia

June 1, 2015 Members of the House Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management participated in a stakeholder roundtable discussion May 28 titled “The State of Pennsylvania and FEMA Region III are Leaders in Mitigating Disaster Cost... Read more

House Financial Services Subcommittee to Hold Hearing on Superstorm Sandy Flood Claims

June 1, 2015 More than two years after Superstorm Sandy, the National Flood Insurance Program continues to be highly scrutinized over the handling of claims. The momentum of outrage has increased to a level that members of Congress have formed investigative teams an... Read more

NAMIC Calls on Congress to Prepare for Hurricane Season

May 28, 2015 As thousands of Americans work to prepare their homes and businesses for the start of hurricane season on June 1, the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies wonders why Congress isn’t taking steps to get its own house in order. “Members of C... Read more

Natural Disaster Mitigation Efforts Remain in Spotlight With Hurricane Season Around the Corner

May 26, 2015 June 1 marks the beginning of the 2015 hurricane season and serves as a reminder of the critical need to invest in mitigation to protect U.S. communities and businesses. NAMIC and the BuildStrong Coalition have been working with Rep. Lou Barletta, R-Pa.... Read more

Texas: NAMIC-Supported Emergency Supplies Sales Tax Holiday Bill Passes Legislature

May 26, 2015 The Texas House of Representatives on May 21 passed SB 904 , making a number of emergency supplies eligible to be purchased without sales tax in April. The bill will now be sent to Gov. Greg Abbott for his signature. NAMIC has urged him to sign it. NAMI... Read more

Subcommittee Plans Next Regional Stakeholder Meeting on Natural Disasters for May 28

May 18, 2015 Just days ahead of the start of hurricane season, Rep. Lou Barletta, R-Pa., chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management, will convene the next regional stakehol... Read more

Federal Advisory Committee on Insurance to Meet on Cybersecurity, Other Issues

April 27, 2015 The Department of the Treasury has announced an upcoming open meeting of the Federal Advisory Committee on Insurance May 7, from 1:00-5:00pm EDT. The committee will discuss a number of issues, including cybersecurity related to the insurance industry, r... Read more

Trades Question FEMA on Sandy Settlements

April 20, 2015 The woes of National Flood Insurance Program continue to play out in the media for its mapping process, implementation of new laws, and more recently for alleged mismanagement of claims handling. Although it has been more than two years since the devast... Read more

NAMIC Hails Legislation to Support Stronger, More Resilient Construction

April 15, 2015 Legislation incentivizing the adoption and enforcement of safer statewide building codes will help reduce the losses suffered during natural disasters and the ensuing need for federal disaster aid, the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies ... Read more

NAMIC Urges Adoption of Disaster Policy Review in FEMA Reauthorization Bill

April 14, 2015 The National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies today called on members of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to pass legislation reauthorizing the Federal Emergency Management Agency and initiating a review of federal disaster... Read more

Urge Lawmakers to Help Improve Florida's Insurance and Legal Climates

April 14, 2015 The Senate Judiciary Committee will hear on April 15 two bills - one that would improve Florida's insurance climate and one that would make Florida's legal climate even worse than it already is. Please email these members of the Senate Judiciary Committ... Read more

House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to Mark-Up FEMA Disaster Assistance Reform Act of 2015

April 13, 2015 The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee will hold an April 14 mark-up of H.R. 1471, the FEMA Disaster Assistance Reform Act of 2015. Aside from reauthorizing FEMA through fiscal year 2018, H.R. 1471 also includes language that would requir... Read more

Ceres to Coach Examiners on Climate Risk, Insurer Solvency

April 7, 2015 The Climate Change and Global Warming (C) Working Group met on March 28 and heard presentations from Munich Re and Ceres. In the first presentation, Carl Hedde of Munich Re discussed his company’s projections of “climate change impacts on North America,... Read more

IBHS Releases Updated Building Code Assessment for 18 Hurricane-Prone States

April 6, 2015 The Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety released its second “Rating the States” report on April 1, focusing on residential building codes and enforcement systems for the Atlantic and Gulf coasts states. This report, first published in January... Read more

House Transportation Committee Leaders Introduce FEMA Reform Legislation

March 23, 2015 The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee continued to build off the momentum from the March 19 roundtable focusing on natural disaster losses by introducing a bill that would address the rise in disaster costs to the federal government and ... Read more

Subcommittee Kicks Off Congressional Roundtable Series on Natural Disasters

March 23, 2015 The House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management held a roundtable March 18 titled “What is Driving the Increasing Costs and Rising Losses from Disasters?” looking at the evolvi... Read more

NAMIC Welcomes Disaster Losses Assessment Provision in FEMA Reform Legislation

March 20, 2015 The National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies today welcomed legislation to address the rise in disaster costs to the federal government and reduce the impact of future disasters through improved efficiency and effectiveness of Federal Emergenc... Read more

BuildStrong Coalition to Participate in Congressional Roundtable on Natural Disasters

March 16, 2015 The House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management will hold a roundtable March 18 titled “What is Driving the Increasing Costs and Rising Losses from Disasters?” looking at the e... Read more

Florida: Electronic Delivery, Removal of ‘Four Vehicle Cap,’ FIGA Assessments Bills Ready for Floor Action; Other Bills Moving Through Committee Process

March 16, 2015 Several bills of interest to property/casualty carriers doing business in Florida will be debated on the floor of the House and Senate the week of March 16. HB 273 and SB 202 , both of which would allow electronic delivery of personal lines insurance do... Read more

Florida: Lawmakers Hit Ground Running as Session Officially Convenes

March 5, 2015 The Florida Legislature officially convened March 3, but a heavy interim committee meeting schedule over the past several months means quite a few bills are moving into position for full chamber discussion and debate. The House Insurance Banking Subcomm... Read more

Mississippi: Lyons Fix, ‘Clarity’ on Way to Governor; Cat Savings Still Alive

March 5, 2015 The Mississippi Senate on March 4 passed HB 346 , which provides a correction for the Lyons decision to clarify that named driver exclusion language is allowed by law. There were no floor amendments and only five votes against the bill. HB 346 has been ... Read more

California: Attend Cal Fire, CDI, and Insurance Industry Webinar on Wildfire Prevention and Preparation

February 23, 2015 On February 25, 2015 , a Wildfire Planning Webinar will be facilitated by CAL Fire, the CDI, and members of the insurance industry. The webinar is scheduled from 9 a.m.- 11 a.m. PST. NAMIC encourages member companies that write insurance in California t... Read more

BuildStrong Coalition Meeting to be Addressed by Committee Staff

February 9, 2015 The BuildStrong Coalition will be hosting a full meeting on Feb. 10 in Washington, D.C. The meeting will focus on the strategic vision of the coalition for 2015 and the progress already being made to advance the dialogue on pre-disaster mitigation. As p... Read more

Mississippi: Industry Coalition Stops Advance of Problematic TNC Bills

February 4, 2015 A coordinated effort led by the Insurance Coalition of Mississippi successfully stopped the advance of problematic legislation promoted by the transportation network company Uber. ICM is NAMIC’s advocacy partner in the Magnolia State. “While we embrace ... Read more

Congressional Hearing Highlights the Need for Natural Disaster Mitigation, Further Study

February 2, 2015 A hearing was held Jan. 27 by the House Transportation and Infrastructure's Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management Subcommittee. The hearing, titled "Rebuilding After the Storm: Lessening Impacts and Speeding Recovery," focused ... Read more

South Carolina: Uber Allowed to Operate While General Assembly Considers Bill

February 2, 2015 The South Carolina Public Service Commission has lifted a cease and desist order against Uber and again canceled a hearing on the subject, pending consideration by the General Assembly of HB 3413. Uber now will be allowed to operate at least through Jun... Read more

South Carolina: DOI Releases Coastal Market Documents

February 2, 2015 The South Carolina Department of Insurance released two documents of great interest to the property insurance industry: 1. Order 2015-01 that renews the 2013 expansion of the South Carolina Wind Pool’s territory, which was originally expanded in 2007. T... Read more

NAMIC Welcomes House Hearing on Mitigation, Encourages Further Discussion

January 27, 2015 A hearing by the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management should serve as the opening of a new debate on moving federal disaster policy toward mitigation and preventing... Read more

Mitigation Policy Push for 2015 Begins With House Committee Hearing

January 26, 2015 Attention to natural disaster mitigation continues to pick up steam as a hearing will be held Jan. 27 by the House Transportation and Infrastructure's Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management Subcommittee. The hearing, titled "Reb... Read more

Mississippi: Electronic Proof of Auto Insurance Bill Passes Senate Insurance Committee, ‘Clarity’ in Media

January 23, 2015 Mississippi Senate Insurance Chair Videt Carmichael unexpectedly called up SB 2380 , which would allow an electronic image of proof of insurance to suffice for law enforcement purposes, during his committee meeting Jan. 21. A committee substitute was ap... Read more

NAMIC-Led BuildStrong Coalition Starts Strong in 2015

January 20, 2015 While we are only a few weeks into the new year, the BuildStrong Coalition is wasting no time engaging the 114th Congress on a national disaster mitigation strategy. The coalition has continued to expand and is now comprised of insurers, emergency manag... Read more

House Approves Windstorm Research Bill

January 12, 2015 The House of Representatives passed the National Windstorm Impact Reduction Reauthorization Act of 2015 on Jan 7. under suspension of the rules by a vote of 381-39 The objective of the National Windstorm Impact Reduction Program is to achieve measurable... Read more

NAMIC Hails Senate Vote to Reauthorize TRIA Program

January 8, 2015 The National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies commended the U.S. Senate for immediately taking up a bill and voting to reauthorize the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act. Read more

South Carolina: Hurricane Model Feasibility Report Released

January 6, 2015 The South Carolina Department of Insurance has posted its Report on the Feasibility of Developing a South Carolina Hurricane Model , according to a communication by the South Carolina Insurance News Service, NAMIC’s advocacy communications partner in th... Read more

Rules for Drone Use Being Reviewed

December 8, 2014 Several insurance companies – including NAMIC members – have requested exemptions from Federal Aviation Administration restrictions on unmanned aerial vehicles or drone use. These petitions propose that the insurance companies would use drones for surve... Read more

Federal Insurance Office Hosts Industry Meeting on Cyber Insurance

November 24, 2014 The Federal Insurance Office hosted a meeting Nov. 20 with representatives of the property/casualty insurance and reinsurance industries to discuss the emerging market for cyber insurance. The goal of the meeting was to better understand how companies w... Read more

Republican Wave Carries GOP to Control of the Senate, Expands House Majority

November 5, 2014 Republicans handily won control of the Senate Tuesday evening as GOP candidates across the country swept to victory in crucial midterm elections, reflecting the electorate’s disenchantment with President Obama. The party’s leaders in Washington will now... Read more

Alabama: Commissioner Requests Industry Assistance

October 23, 2014 While speaking to members of the Southern Insurance Information Service, Alabama Insurance Information Service, and Georgia Insurance Information Service on Oct. 16, Alabama Insurance Commissioner Jim Ridling asked that the industry assist his office in... Read more

BuildStrong Executive Committee Meets With Administration Officials

October 20, 2014 The BuildStrong Coalition’s executive committee held a meeting Oct. 17 in Washington, D.C., to discuss the strategy for 2015 with a number of outside parties invited to address the group. The meeting started out with a discussion of a new proposed membe... Read more

South Carolina: Meetings Recap 2014 Session; Preview 2015 Legislative Activity

October 16, 2014 Several insurance-industry-related meetings were held the week of Oct. 6 in South Carolina. The SC Insurance News Service conducted its annual members and legislative meetings, the South Carolina Department of Insurance hosted its legislative and regula... Read more

FEMA Meets With Industry on Flood, WYO Issues

September 29, 2014 NAMIC participated in a meeting with FEMA and a number of WYO insurance companies Sept. 19 over remaining issues in relation to the continued implementation of the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012 and the Homeowners Flood Insurance Affo... Read more

House to Vote on Cap Standards Bill

September 15, 2014 House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., announced that the House of Representatives will vote on the Insurance Capital Standards Clarification Act of 2014 under suspension, which would require a simple two-thirds majority vote to pass. The legis... Read more

Actuaries, Rating Agencies Weigh In on Climate Change

August 25, 2014 The Climate Change and Global Warming (C) Working Group heard two presentations from two entities that have been surprisingly absent from the NAIC’s discussions of climate change in recent years: actuary associations and rating agencies. In the first pr... Read more

Connecticut: DOI Revises Coastal Underwriting Guidelines

July 28, 2014 The Connecticut Insurance Department has revised its Filing Review Guidelines Related to Underwriting Coastal Homeowners' Insurance Policies to reflect recent legislation that prohibits insurers from conditioning the writing or renewal of coastal homeow... Read more

Senate Hearing on Resilient Communities Adds to Busy Summer for Mitigation Issues

July 21, 2014 The Senate Banking Subcommittee on Housing, Transportation, and Community Development will hold a hearing July 22 titled “Building Economically Resilient Communities: Local and Regional Approaches.” The hearing is a precursor to the introduction of Sen.... Read more

NAMIC Applauds House Passage of Windstorm Research Legislation

July 14, 2014 The National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies hailed passage today of HR 1786, the National Windstorm Impact Reduction Act Reauthorization of 2013, by the U.S. House of Representatives. Introduced by Rep. Randy Neugebauer, R-Texas, the legislat... Read more

House Expected to Pass Windstorm Research bill

July 14, 2014 The House of Representatives is expected to vote this week on the National Windstorm Impact Reduction Act Reauthorization of 2013, H.R. 1786, introduced by Rep. Randy Neugebauer, R-Texas. The vote is expected under suspension of the rules, requiring a s... Read more

Ask your member of Congress to sponsor the Safe Building Code Incentive Act

July 10, 2014 Since 1980, the United States has spent nearly $1 trillion dollars on natural disaster recovery and rebuilding. The Center for American Progress conducted an analysis and found that the federal government—which means taxpayers—spent $136 billion total f... Read more

Hurricane Arthur Spares the East Coast but Dangerous, Costly Wildfires Rage in the West

July 7, 2014 Many communities on the East Coast that prepared for the worst as Hurricane Arthur moved up the coast just before the July 4th holiday were largely spared as damage was limited to rain and delayed fireworks. North Carolina’s Outer Banks were mostly evac... Read more

As Storm Season Begins, NAMIC Continues Push for Mitigation Policy

June 30, 2014 As the East Coast closely watches the developments of the first potential named storm of the season, BuildStrong and NAMIC have had a busy month of coordinated activities to draw attention to the ways that building codes could save lives and reduce the ... Read more

NAMIC Urges Connecticut Governor to Veto Storm Shutter Legislation

May 20, 2014 The National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies urged Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy to veto H.B. 5502 , which prevents carriers from requiring current and potential policyholders who present a heightened risk for storm damage from having to inst... Read more

NAMIC Testifies to Senate Panel on Cost Savings From Mitigation

May 19, 2014 NAMIC’s vice president of public policy, Robert Detlefsen, testified May 14 on behalf of the BuildStrong Coalition before the Senate Homeland Security Subcommittee on Emergency Management. The hearing, chaired by one of the keynote speakers at the May 1... Read more

NAMIC Urges Building Code Incentives as Key to Reducing Economic Losses From Natural Disasters

May 14, 2014 Federal disaster policy should shift its focus toward mitigation in order to reduce future disaster costs, the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies said today, and creating an incentive for states to adopt and enforce strong building codes... Read more

NAMIC to Call for Building Code Incentives, Mitigation at Senate Hearing

May 13, 2014 NAMIC’s vice president of public policy, Robert Detlefsen, Ph.D., will urge lawmakers to consider legislation creating an incentive for states to adopt and enforce strong statewide building codes as part of the solution to the growing costs of natural d... Read more

NAMIC to Make the Case for Mitigation in Senate Hearing

May 12, 2014 NAMIC’s vice president of public policy, Robert Detlefsen, Ph.D., will provide the views of the property/casualty insurance industry at a May 14 Senate hearing on how more investment in mitigation can reduce the costs of severe weather. Detlefsen will a... Read more

White House Report Shows Need for Mitigation Policy: NAMIC

May 7, 2014 The findings of an Obama administration report on climate change and its economic impact provides a substantial argument for Congress to take and adopt legislation promoting disaster mitigation, the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies sai... Read more

White House Climate Report Supports Mitigation, Building Codes

May 7, 2014 The White House’s U.S. Global Change Research Program on May 6 issued its report on climate change in the United States, focusing on changes that are happening now and further changes that we can expect to see throughout this century. The report offers ... Read more

Hearing on Natural Disasters Follows Successful BuildStrong Forum

May 5, 2014 NAMIC and the BuildStrong Coalition capped off a successful forum with an invitation to testify at the Senate Homeland Security Committee on Emergency Management’s hearing May 14 on the economic impact of natural disasters. The chair of the subcommittee... Read more

BuildStrong Forum to Bring Focus on Safer Construction

April 28, 2014 The BuildStrong Coalition is hosting the 2nd Annual Thought Leaders Forum on Building Codes for a Stronger and Safer America Thursday, May 1 at 8:30 a.m. The forum expands on the work that NAMIC and coalition has done educating members of Congress on th... Read more

Department of Homeland Security Agrees to Participate in BuildStrong Forum

April 21, 2014 David Heyman, assistant secretary for policy, Department of Homeland Security, has accepted an invitation to participate in one of the two panels at BuildStrong’s 2nd Annual Thought Leaders Forum. The forum, “Building Codes for a Stronger, Safer America... Read more

BuildStrong Forum Will Feature Multiple Members of Congress

April 7, 2014 The NAMIC-led BuildStrong Coalition has released its agenda for the 2nd Annual National Thought Leaders Forum on Building Codes for a Stronger and Safer America, being held May 1 from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. in the U.S. Capitol Visitors Center. The event w... Read more

House Committee to Hold Flood Mitigation Hearing

March 31, 2014 The House Transportation Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management will hold a hearing April 3 titled “Disaster Mitigation: Reducing Costs and Saving Lives.” While the title of the hearing and its stated goals are s... Read more

Property Casualty Committee to Hear Presentation on Disaster Savings Accounts

March 27, 2014 The Property and Casualty (C) Committee will hear a presentation from Rep. Dennis A. Ross, R-Fla., regarding the Disaster Savings Accounts Act, H.R. 3989, of which Ross is a co-sponsor. NAMIC supports the legislation as a sensible means of encouraging d... Read more

BuildStrong to Host Second Annual Thought Leaders Forum

March 24, 2014 NAMIC is pleased to announce that the BuildStrong Coalition will once again host its Thought Leaders Forum on “Building Codes for a Stronger and Safer America” on Thursday, May 1 at 8:30 a.m. in the Senate Visitors Center. Similar to last year, the foru... Read more

Mississippi: Governor Approves Statewide Building Code, Other Bills Await Signature

March 19, 2014 Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant on March 17 signed SB 2378 , legislation to implement a statewide building code. The measure finally puts Mississippi on the path to stronger, more resilient construction. NAMIC congratulates the members of the Mississippi G... Read more

Mississippi Governor Signs Building Code Legislation

March 17, 2014 Statement from Liz Reynolds Director, State Affairs – Southeast Region National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies “NAMIC congratulates the members of the Mississippi General Assembly who worked so hard this session to pass a statewide building c... Read more

Senate Hearing on Federal Reserve’s Capital Standards for Insurers

March 10, 2014 The Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs will be holding a hearing March 11 titled “Finding the Right Capital Regulations for Insurers.” At issue is the Federal Reserve Board’s interpretation of a provision in the Dodd-Frank Wall Stree... Read more

RAND Releases Study on National Security Implications of TRIA

March 10, 2014 The RAND Center for Catastrophic Risk Management and Compensation released the first in a series of public policy briefs March 6 on the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act. Titled “National Security Perspectives on Terrorism Risk Insurance in the United States... Read more

House Republicans Introduce Legislation to Roll Back Reforms

February 24, 2014 House Majority leadership introduced on Feb. 21 a modified version of legislation authored by Reps. Michael Grimm, R-N.Y., and Maxine Waters, D-Calif., that would roll back vital reforms to the National Flood Insurance Program and ask flood insurance po... Read more

New York: Feedback Requested on Obstacles to Private Flood Insurance

February 21, 2014 NAMIC recently reported on a meeting between the Department of Financial Services and the industry on the prospect of creating a viable market in New York for private flood insurance. DFS subsequently contacted the participants to solicit feedback on im... Read more

Progress Amid Politics on Tap for 2014 in Washington

February 12, 2014 As in state advocacy, NAMIC takes its cues for its federal agenda from a member-driven committee. Federal Affairs Committee members recently completed their planning session and have identified for NAMIC action a number of important issues facing our in... Read more

Senate Votes to Delay Flood Insurance Reforms

January 30, 2014 The Senate approved legislation Jan. 30 to effectively undo many of the reforms adopted in 2012 to strengthen the National Flood Insurance Program, though the measure is unlikely to be taken up by the House. For months NAMIC has been successful in delay... Read more

NAMIC: Senate Passes the Buck on Flood Insurance

January 30, 2014 Legislation approved by the Senate today to undo reforms to the National Flood Insurance Program fails to address any of the actual problems facing homeowners at risk of flooding, according to the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies. “The... Read more

South Carolina: Competitive Insurance Act Moves Out of Subcommittee

January 23, 2014 As expected based on discussions during legislative off-season public hearings on coastal insurance concerns, a South Carolina Senate Banking and Insurance subcommittee on Jan. 22 gave SB 569 a favorable report. The bill will be taken up next in the ful... Read more

BuildStrong Roundtable Report

December 16, 2013 NAMIC and the BuildStrong Coalition have commissioned an official report , including photos and quotes by elected officials, of the congressional roundtable hosted at IBHS in South Carolina in November, which included several members of Congress and the... Read more

BuildStrong Roundtable a Success for the Safe Building Code Incentive Act

December 2, 2013 The BuildStrong Coalition hosted its first ever congressional roundtable Nov. 12 at the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety facility in South Carolina, bringing important lawmakers to hear from not only insurers, but a broad spectrum of sta... Read more

An ounce of prevention, IBHS, and Congress

November 12, 2013 Benjamin Franklin, founder of America’s first successful mutual insurance company a full generation before he helped found our nation, is known for many famous quotes. For those of us in the insurance business, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound o... Read more

BuildStrong Roundtable, FEMA Reauthorization Show Support for Safe Building Code Incentives Growing

November 4, 2013 Lawmakers are increasingly showing interest in learning more about the NAMIC-supported Safe Building Code Incentive Act and welcoming the legislation as a forward-thinking, common-sense solution to the increasing damage of natural catastrophes. Two key ... Read more

Lawmakers Write in Support of Building Codes Incentives

October 29, 2013 Encouraging safer construction should be seen as part of Congress’ responsibility to protect the American people, two members of the U.S. House of Representatives wrote Oct. 29 in making the case for the Safe Building Code Incentive Act. Reps. Mario Dia... Read more

House Committee to Markup FEMA Reauthorization Bill

October 28, 2013 The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee will meet Oct. 29 to markup a reauthorization bill for the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The FEMA Reauthorization Act of 2013 – H.R. 3300 – is meant to improve the nation’s emergency managemen... Read more

House Committee Chairmen to Visit IBHS, Discuss Building Codes

October 21, 2013 The Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety will host lawmakers and other experts at an upcoming roundtable on building codes at its South Carolina facility as part of the ongoing effort to educate Congress on the necessities of stronger, safer c... Read more

Texas: TDI Solicits Input for Informal Data Call

October 21, 2013 The Texas Department of Insurance recently announced that it is seeking input for a proposed data call aimed at implementing Senate Bill 1702. The legislation permits residential structures that were built, remodeled, or repaired on or after June 19, 20... Read more

BuildStrong Coalition to Meet With White House Officials

September 17, 2013 On the heels of the two White House reports calling for better building standards nationwide, the NAMIC-led BuildStrong Coalition will be meeting with White House officials this week to discuss ways to promote better resiliency through stronger building... Read more

NAMIC, BuildStrong Call for Inclusion of Safe Building Codes Incentives in FEMA Bill

September 16, 2013 As Congress undertakes the debate on funding the government beyond Sept. 30 and raising the debt ceiling, NAMIC and the BuildStrong Coalition are calling on lawmakers to invest in mitigation by incentivizing the adoption and enforcement of safe building... Read more

Busy Fall Ahead for Congress, NAMIC

September 9, 2013 Member of Congress officially returned to Washington, D.C., on Sept. 9 with a slew of issues on the docket requiring their attention. The number of items that need to be taken care of far outnumber the eight scheduled legislative days this month and the... Read more

NAMIC Welcomes Sandy Task Force Recommendation on Building Codes

August 19, 2013 The National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies welcomed a call in a report by the task force overseeing recovery efforts from Hurricane Sandy for states and communities to better protect their citizens by adopting statewide model building codes ... Read more

Hurricane Sandy Task Force Endorses Statewide Building Code Adoption

August 19, 2013 President Obama’s Hurricane Sandy Task Force released its report on Aug. 19 with recommendations for fortifying the country’s infrastructure against future massive storms. Chaired by Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan, t... Read more

No Letup for Federal Priorities Leading Up to August Break

August 5, 2013 NAMIC’s federal legislative priorities continue to gain steam despite the slowed congressional calendar of August, with support for our major initiatives building as lawmakers return home to check in with constituents and work on local issues. Nearly 30... Read more

BuildStrong Coalition Meets With Committee Staff Ahead of FEMA Reauthorization Hearing

July 22, 2013 The NAMIC-led BuildStrong Coalition held a series of meetings July 18 with the offices of relevant committee chairmen for the Safe Building Code Incentive Act. The coalition organized a diverse group of its membership to attend the meetings, including r... Read more

Ask Your Legislators to Support the Safe Building Code Incentive Act Today

July 22, 2013 Help the NAMIC-led BuildStrong Coalition gather support for its main priority by asking your legislators to support S.924/H.R.1878, the Safe Building Code Incentive Act. There is overwhelming scientific evidence that the adoption and enforcement of mode... Read more

NCOIL Report: Legislators Adopt Resolution Calling for TRIA Reauthorization; Introduce Industry-Supported Litigation Lending Model

July 17, 2013 Sixty-three legislators from 32 states, including many first-time attendees as well as 150-plus insurance and business community representatives, met in Philadelphia July 11-14 for the summer meeting of the National Conference of Insurance Legislators. ... Read more

BuildStrong to Meet With Transportation and Infrastructure Chair

July 15, 2013 Members of the NAMIC-led BuildStrong Coalition will be meeting with relevant committee staff for House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Bud Shuster, R-Pa., whose committee has plans for a hearing next week on a reauthorization of FEM... Read more

BuildStrong Coalition Continues to Grow

June 24, 2013 The NAMIC-led BuildStrong coalition continued its busy pace in June by adding a new member with a huge footprint on Capitol Hill and across the country, the American Society of Civil Engineers. ASCE represents more than 140,000 members of the civil engi... Read more

Ask Your Members of Congress to Sponsor the Safe Building Code Incentive Act

June 19, 2013 On the heels of bipartisan, bicameral bill introduction, two congressional hearings, and a forum on safer building codes co-hosted with the Congressional Fire Services Institute, NAMIC and the BuildStrong Coalition are taking advantage of our momentum b... Read more

NAMIC Supports IBHS Testimony on Windstorm Mitigation Bill

June 6, 2013 Appearing at a joint hearing of the House Science Subcommittees on Research and Technology, Debra Ballen, general counsel and senior vice president for public policy at the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety, testified in support for legisla... Read more

NAMIC Calls for Building Code Update for Shelby County, Tenn.

May 15, 2013 Statement From Erin Collins State Affairs Manager National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies “We strongly urge the Shelby County Board of Commissioners in Memphis, Tenn., to adopt updates to their building codes, including immediate implementati... Read more

Tennessee: NAMIC Promotes Strong Building Code for Shelby County, Tenn.

May 15, 2013 NAMIC submitted comments encouraging the Shelby County Board of Commissioners not to delay the implementation of proposed building code updates at their May 15 meeting in Memphis. NAMIC asked the county to adopt as strong a code as is feasible, includin... Read more

Big Week in Washington for Safe Building Codes Effort

May 14, 2013 The NAMIC-led BuildStrong Coalition completed a successful week-long effort to promote safe building codes by hosting a multi-industry forum on building code safety, testifying at a Senate subcommittee hearing and seeing the bipartisan, bicameral introd... Read more

NAMIC: Safe Building Code Incentives an Investment in a Stronger, Safer America

May 8, 2013 Congress should act to create financial incentives for states to adopt and enforce statewide model building codes to prevent losses from natural disasters, save lives, and reduce the need for taxpayer-funded disaster aid, the National Association of Mut... Read more

NAMIC and BuildStrong Coalition Launch Unprecedented Effort to Promote Safe Building Codes

May 7, 2013 The NAMIC-led BuildStrong Coalition is undertaking its largest effort to date this week to promote The Safe Building Code Incentive Act. Along with bipartisan and bicameral introduction of the legislation in the 113th Congress, the coalition is testifyi... Read more

NAMIC Puts Building Codes in Washington Spotlight

May 7, 2013 NAMIC and the BuildStrong Coalition have orchestrated its biggest week since the coalition’s inception with the bipartisan and bicameral congressional re-introduction of The Safe Building Code Incentive Act, testimony at a May 8 Senate hearing, and the ... Read more

NAMIC, BuildStrong to Convene National Forum on Building Codes

April 2, 2013 NAMIC and the BuildStrong Coalition will hold a National Thought Leaders Forum on Building Codes for a Stronger and Safer America in Washington, D.C., on May 9, 2013. The objective of the forum is to increase awareness and visibility of building codes a... Read more

Senate Hearing on ‘Superstorm’ Sandy Recovery Espouses Mitigation, Building Codes

March 26, 2013 Leaders from FEMA, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the Army Corps of Engineers testified last week on the value of incorporating pre-disaster mitigation, including model building codes, into the “Superstorm” Sandy rebuilding pr... Read more

NAMIC Applauds Focus on Mitigation at Senate Hearing on Sandy Recovery

March 20, 2013 Testimony from agencies who oversee the federal response to natural catastrophes at a Senate Committee hearing today continued to support efforts towards stronger building codes, the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies noted. At a hearing... Read more

Maryland: NAMIC Submits Testimony Supporting Building Codes

February 22, 2013 NAMIC submitted testimony yesterday supporting House Bill 769. The measure allows local jurisdictions to adopt amendments to the wind design and windborne debris provisions of the Maryland Building Performance Standards only if such amendments do not we... Read more

New Jersey: Industry Meeting with DOBI to Discuss Sandy Response

February 15, 2013 The Department of Banking and Insurance will meet with the industry on Tuesday, February 26th at 10:00 a.m. to discuss the response to Superstorm Sandy, lessons learned and outstanding issues. I will be attending on behalf of NAMIC and we may bring one ... Read more

Tennessee: Contact Sponsor of Building Code Erosion

February 8, 2013 The insurance industry is trying to convince the sponsors of HB 92/SB 281 and HB876/SB1136 of the importance of strong building codes. The measures erode the strength of Tennessee’s building codes by allowing localities to control all codes and inspecti... Read more

NAMIC: NFIP Funding will help Recovery for Sandy Victims, Building Codes Legislation will Help Victims of Next Natural Disaster

January 4, 2013 The National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies applauded the House of Representatives and Senate for acting today to extend the borrowing authority of the National Flood Insurance Program, providing funding to pay claims related to Super Storm S... Read more

A Flurry of Activity before Congress Adjourns, but Unfinished Business Remains

January 3, 2013 In a year where Congress was considered extremely unproductive, lawmakers were able to come together for a last minute surge of legislative activity that saw the “fiscal cliff” averted and other issues important to NAMIC members addressed, while setting... Read more

NAMIC Encouraged by NFIP Vote, Encourages Safe Building Incentives in Future Sandy Bill

January 3, 2013 "NAMIC welcomes the House of Representatives' scheduled vote on Friday, January 4, to increase the borrowing authority of the National Flood Insurance Program, and we urge the Senate to swiftly follow suit to ensure the federal government meets its obli... Read more

Safe Building Code Incentive Act Introduced in the U.S. Senate

December 19, 2012 Sens. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J., Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., and Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., introduced the Safe Building Code Incentive Act in the U.S. Senate today. The legislation creates an incentive for the adoption and enforce... Read more

NAMIC Hails Senate Introduction of the Safe Building Code Incentive Act

December 19, 2012 The National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies applauded the introduction of legislation in the U.S. Senate today to reduce the loss of lives and property from natural disasters by incentivizing the adoption and enforcement of building codes by ... Read more

Safe Building Code Incentive Still Possibility in 112th Congress

December 18, 2012 NAMIC-supported legislation to incentivize the adoption and enforcement of building codes by the states could become law before year’s end. Congress is set to consider legislation authorizing $60.4 billion in emergency assistance for communities affecte... Read more

Risk, Uncertainty and Profit

December 4, 2012 Last week I spoke at the Florida Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Insurance Summit in Orlando to a roomful of insurance industry representatives, regulators, legislators, and policymakers. In my keynote address – “Florida in the National Picture” – I spoke ... Read more

NAMIC, BuildStrong Seeking Path for Building Code Incentive in Sandy Relief Package

December 4, 2012 Since Super Storm Sandy struck the East Coast in late October, NAMIC and the BuildStrong Coalition have embarked on an aggressive two-front strategy seeking to win passage of the Safe Building Code Incentive Act as an attachment to the emergency supplem... Read more

"Super Storm" Sandy and Hurricane Deductibles

November 11, 2012 Statement of Jimi Grande Senior Vice President, Federal and Political Affairs National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies "Facing the largest natural disaster since Hurricane Katrina, America's property/casualty insurers have already begun paying... Read more

NAMIC Promotes Strong Building Codes for Shelby County, Tennessee

September 20, 2012 Statement of Erin Collins State Affairs Manager National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies "We strongly urged the Shelby County commissioners in Memphis, Tennessee, to adopt updates to their building codes at their meeting yesterday, including i... Read more

Tennessee: NAMIC Promotes Strong Building Code for Shelby County

September 19, 2012 NAMIC issued comments encouraging the Shelby County commissioners to adopt updates to their building code at their meeting in Memphis today. NAMIC asked the county to adopt as strong a code as was feasible for its community, including an immediate imple... Read more

Alabama: Affordable Homeowners Insurance Commission to Meet Again

August 14, 2012 The Alabama Insurance Information Service reports that Gov. Robert Bentley’s Affordable Homeowners Insurance Commission will meet Aug. 17 to review a final report drafted by Auburn University. “It’s our understanding that the report is likely to resembl... Read more

NAMIC Builds Case for Building Stronger

July 31, 2012 NAMIC and the BuildStrong Coalition were featured at a House subcommittee hearing July 24, calling on Congress to encourage stronger homes and businesses through public policy. Rod Matthews, P&amp;C Operations vice president for State Farm Mutual Automo... Read more

Stronger Building Codes Pushed in Hearing

July 25, 2012 Rod Matthews, vice president of P&amp;C Operations at State Farm Insurance Companies, appeared before a House of Representatives Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee hearing on July 24th is support of H.R. 2069, the Safe Building Code Incentiv... Read more

NAMIC to Represent the P/C Industry at Two Domestic Insurance Hearings before Congressional Committees Today

July 24, 2012 Witnesses will offer testimony on behalf of NAMIC at two hearings in the U.S. House of Representatives today on the need for stronger building codes and Dodd Frank implementation At 10:00 am EDT, Rod Matthews, P&amp;C Operations Vice President from Stat... Read more

NAMIC: Build Stronger to Save Lives and Taxpayer Dollars

July 24, 2012 WASHINGTON (July 24, 2012) Congress can help to save lives and reduce the need for federal disaster aid for the next natural catastrophe by incentivizing the adoption of enforcement of strong building codes, the National Association of Mutual Insurance ... Read more

NAMIC to Urge Stronger Homes and Buildings at Congressional Hearing

July 19, 2012 NAMIC and the BuildStrong Coalition will be featured next Tuesday July 24 calling on Congress to encourage stronger homes and businesses through public policy. Rod Matthews, P&amp;C Operations Vice President from State Farm Insurance Companies will be t... Read more

House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee Hearing on Building Codes

July 17, 2012 NAMIC-supported building codes legislation will be under the spotlight on Capitol Hill next week. The House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management will hold a hearing on July 24 ... Read more

Mississippi: New Laws for Homeowners, Auto, Workers’ Comp Lines Highlight Session

May 8, 2012 The Mississippi Legislature adjourned sine die May 3, after passing bills addressing mitigation, building codes, auto liability insurance verification, and workers’ compensation coverage, among others of interest to the property/casualty insurance indus... Read more

Obama Declares May National Building Safety Month

May 8, 2012 President Barack Obama on May 4 declared May “National Building Safety Month.” In his declaration promoting building safety, the president wrote, “resilient infrastructure is essential to an America built to last, and during National Building Safety Mon... Read more

Iowa: Storm Scammer Bill Encounters Setback in Iowa House

April 25, 2012 NAMIC's state trade advocacy partners the Mutual Insurance Association of Iowa and the Iowa Insurance Institute report that despite strong grassroots , the House of Representatives refused to concur with the Senate’s amendment to SF 466. At this time th... Read more

NAMIC, BuildStrong Continue Making Progress

April 3, 2012 Legislation that would incentivize the adoption and enforcement of strong building codes by the states continues to gain ground on Capitol Hill. NAMIC has been given word from House Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings & Emergency Mana... Read more

Mississippi: House Passes Mitigation, Building Codes Incentive Bill

March 20, 2012 The Mississippi House last week passed HB 1410 , a bill that requires insurers to incorporate discounts or credits into rating plans to encourage policyholders to strengthen their homes against catastrophes. “The language in HB 1410 is modeled after sta... Read more

Administration Includes Building Code Adoption, Enforcement in Hazard Mitigation Plan

March 13, 2012 The White House released a draft of its framework for hazard mitigation last week that specifically includes the adoption and enforcement of building code standards as a way to reduce vulnerability as part of its National Preparedness Planning Report. T... Read more

CCP 2012 Registration Open on NAMIC Online

March 6, 2012 NAMIC’s Congressional Contact Program’s 27th season officially began last week as Don Adams, president and CEO of Bear River Mutual Insurance Company, came to Washington, D.C., on behalf of our members doing business in Utah. His visit, where he met wit... Read more

Arizona: House Committee Passes Amended Version of Residential Property Roofing Repair Contracts Bill

February 14, 2012 The Arizona House Committee on Commerce passed Feb. 8 on an 8-0 vote, an amended version of HB 2091 , Residential Property Roofing Repair Contracts bill. HB 2091 is a residential roofing repair consumer protection bill that requires roofing repair contr... Read more

Federal Affairs Committee Sets Legislative Priorities

February 7, 2012 NAMIC’s Federal Affairs Committee met Feb. 2 to discuss the association’s legislative priorities for the second session of the 112th Congress. Chaired by Dan Ferris, Vice President, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary of SECURA Insurance in Appleto... Read more

CCP Gets Results for NAMIC’s Agenda

February 7, 2012 NAMIC’s Congressional Contact Program made significant headway last year on legislative issues important to the property/casualty insurance industry. This year, NAMIC will continue to build upon that success by focusing on the legislative priorities set... Read more

NAMIC Responds to State of the Union Address

January 25, 2012 “The President’s State of the Union Speech, and the response by Gov. Mitch Daniels, make clear that both Republicans and Democrats are working to help our economy’s recovery, albeit with very different ideas. At NAMIC we believe that economic growth is ... Read more

New Report From IBHS Evaluates Building Codes in 18 Coastal States

January 17, 2012 The Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety released a new report that provides an analysis of residential building codes in the 18 hurricane-prone coastal states along the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Coast. Building codes are intended to inc... Read more

BuildStrong Hosts Florida Roundtable

November 8, 2011 The BuildStrong Coalition hosted the Disaster Mitigation and Building Codes Roundtable Luncheon in Orlando, Fla., Oct. 24, featuring remarks from U.S. Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Fla., and Bryan Koon, director of Florida Division of Emergency Management. ... Read more

Alabama: Slow Progress on Statewide Building Code

October 25, 2011 The Alabama Energy and Residential Codes Board met for the second time last Thursday to consider a statewide building code. Legislation passed in 2010 gave the AERC Board authority to adopt mandatory residential and commercial codes for the entire state... Read more

Safe Building Code Campaign Ramps Up in Washington

October 11, 2011 NAMIC continues to make the case for smarter federal spending when it comes to natural disasters, including legislation that would incentivize the adoption and enforcement of strong building codes by the states. Along with the BuildStrong Coalition , NA... Read more

Strong Building Codes are Among the Best Protections against Natural Disasters

August 25, 2011 As the East Coast recovers from an earthquake and prepares for a hurricane, we are again reminded that natural catastrophes can strike at any time and any place. We believe the strong building codes in place in states like Virginia, Pennsylvania, New Je... Read more

Sweet Home Alabama

August 16, 2011 When Robert Bentley ran for governor of Alabama last year, his campaign was founded on several promises: forgoing a salary until the state’s unemployment rate dropped to “normal”; using tax breaks to create jobs; and promising to call a special session ... Read more

Build Strong Submits Testimony to Two Congressional Panels

August 2, 2011 As Congress continues to wrestle with the federal government’s financial troubles, NAMIC continues to promote cost-effective mitigation legislation for disaster preparedness policy. As part of that effort, NAMIC drafted testimony on behalf of the Build ... Read more

Getting Prepared

June 21, 2011 Joplin, Missouri. Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Springfield, Massachusetts. In the last several months we have seen devastating weather all over the country. No region is immune from the power of Mother Nature. Short of learning to control the weather, how can w... Read more

House Leaders Introduce the Safe Building Code Incentive Act

June 7, 2011 One of NAMIC’s top federal legislative priorities took a crucial step towards becoming law last week as Reps. Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Fla., Albio Sires, D-N.J., and Richard Hanna, R-N.Y., introduced H.R. 2069, The Safe Building Code Incentive Act in the Ho... Read more

NAMIC and BuildStrong Coalition Partners Secure Introduction of the Safe Building Code Incentive Act

June 1, 2011 Hours ago, Reps. Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Fla., Albio Sires, D-NJ, and Richard Hanna, R-NY, introduced H.R. 2069, the Safe Building Code Incentive Act, in the House of Representatives. This legislation is one of NAMIC’s key legislative priorities in the 112... Read more

NAMIC Hails Introduction of H.R. 2069, the Safe Building Codes Incentive Act of 2011

June 1, 2011 WASHINGTON (June 1, 2011) As hurricane season begins today, legislation to incentivize the adoption and enforcement of strong building codes by the states will, if enacted, help protect Americans from future storms, according to the National Association... Read more

Severe Weather Shows Need for Stronger Building Codes

May 24, 2011 As Americans start to rebuild in the aftermath of a series of natural disasters, and with the official start of Hurricane season just around the corner, Congress will soon have the opportunity to encourage states to rebuild with the next big storm in mi... Read more

Colorado: Member Information Requested on Roofing Repair Building Code Claims Experience in Northern Metro-Denver Area

April 19, 2011 Several insurance companies have experienced claims issues with a number of municipal building code divisions in regard to residential roofing repairs in northern Denver, specifically in Broomfield and Frederick. The building code departments in these a... Read more

Building a Stronger Nation, One State at a Time

June 2, 2009 Let’s face it – building codes are a somewhat boring little corner of the insurance public policy world. But they’re an important cornerstone in protecting lives and property when disaster strikes. For example, following Hurricane Katrina, The Louisiana... Read more

NAMIC Leads Building Code Coalition Efforts

September 9, 2008 Last week, NAMIC and members of the Building Code Coalition wrote a letter to Senate Banking Committee Chairman Christopher J. Dodd, D-Conn., and Ranking Member Richard Shelby, R-Ala., in support of S. 2458, the Community Building Code Administration Gr... Read more

Oregon: NAMIC Joins Citizens Against Unsafe Housing to Oppose Ballot Measure 63

August 26, 2008 In Oregon’s general election Nov. 4, voters will have the opportunity to vote “no” on Ballot Measure 63 , Exempts Specified Property Owners from Building Permit Requirements for Improvements Valued at/under $35,000. Earlier this month, NAMIC joined a br... Read more

House Action Increases Hopes for Building Codes Passage

July 15, 2008 Legislation passed by the House last week is a significant step in our efforts to see meaningful building code reforms. By a voice vote, members of the chamber approved H.R. 4461, the Community Building Code Administration Grant Act. The bill, sponsored... Read more

NAMIC’s Advocacy for Stronger Building Codes Produces Important Congressional Approval

July 1, 2008 Our push to encourage states to adopt and enforce stronger building codes to stave off losses from natural disasters has moved the issue forward in Congress. The influential House Financial Services Committee unanimously endorsed a NAMIC-backed proposal... Read more

NAMIC: Legislation to Promote Stronger Buildings Will Save Lives, Money

June 24, 2008 WASHINGTON (June 24, 2008) – Legislation adopted today by the House Financial Services Committee is key to preventing loss of lives and property during natural catastrophes, according to the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies (NAMIC). Th... Read more

Building Code Legislation Expected to Pass Through Committee

June 24, 2008 Legislation aimed at protecting homes and businesses from the effects of natural disasters is moving through Congress this week. A NAMIC-endorsed proposal to promote stronger building codes throughout the states is expected to be adopted by a key House ... Read more

Mississippi: Legislature Pushes Building Codes Adoption

April 1, 2008 The Mississippi Legislature passed HB 1465 last week in an effort to push the state farther down the road to statewide minimum building codes, and is on its way to the governor’s office. The bill requires any county or municipality that adopts building ... Read more

Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance Announces Emergency Rules for Fire and Building Codes; NAMIC Comments

January 31, 2008 Leslie Newman, commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance, filed emergency rules with the Secretary of State's Office Jan. 25, to allow building plans to be submitted and reviewed under the 2006 International Building Code (IBC) ... Read more

Building Code Legislation Seen by NAMIC as ‘Vital’ to Protecting Property

December 13, 2007 WASHINGTON (Dec. 13, 2007) – The National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies today urged members of Congress to support H.R. 4461, the Community Building Code Administration Grant Act of 2007, which was introduced late last night. The bill, spons... Read more

2007 Hurricane Season Gone but Not Forgotten

December 4, 2007 That gigantic breeze you might have heard last Friday was not a loud gust of wind, but a huge sigh of relief among members of the insurance industry and coastal residents. Nov. 30 was the official end of the hurricane season. Despite dire predictions fo... Read more

NAMIC Urges Quick Action on Building Codes Legislation

October 23, 2007 WASHINGTON (Oct. 23, 2007) — The National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies (NAMIC) applauds Reps. Doris Matsui, D-Calif., and Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Fla., for introducing legislation to encourage states to adopt strong statewide building codes. N... Read more

Building Codes Legislation Introduced

October 23, 2007 Reps. Doris Matsui, D-Calif., and Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Fla., introduced legislation yesterday to encourage states to adopt strong statewide building codes. The Building Code State Incentive Act of 2007 would increase the amount of federal monies availab... Read more

Maryland: Insurance Task Force Hears Ideas to Promote Stronger Structures

October 8, 2007 Opportunities exist in the public and private sectors to increase the disaster resistance of homes and businesses and contribute to the overall health of Maryland's insurance market. Harvey Ryland, president and chief executive officer of the Institute ... Read more

North Carolina: Building Code Council Considers Amended International Building Code Standards

September 25, 2007 The North Carolina Building Code Council held a public hearing Sept. 10 to discuss a proposal to adopt an amended version of the International Building Code Standards for wind-borne debris standards. The IBC requires shutters/coverings for window/impact... Read more

Hawaii: Bill Establishing State Building Code Goes into Effect July 1

June 26, 2007 On Sunday, SB 795 , requiring the Department of Accounting and General Services to create a state building code council, goes into effect. The council will be responsible for establishing a comprehensive state building code, reviewing and adopting new m... Read more

NAMIC Praises NCOIL for Passage of Building Code, Disaster Mitigation Resolution

July 24, 2006 INDIANAPOLIS (July 24, 2006) – An official of the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies (NAMIC) today commended the National Conference of Insurance Legislators (NCOIL) for adopting a resolution in support of statewide building codes and or... Read more

Report: Stricter Adherence to Standards and Codes, Recognition of Storm Surge as Keys to Minimizing Structural Damage from Hurricanes; NAMIC Comments

June 14, 2006 Stricter adherence to existing building standards; model building codes and good building practices; and a greater recognition of the risks posed by storm surge could minimize the kind of structural damage experienced in the Gulf Coast states hit by Hur... Read more

Tennessee: Several Important Insurance-Related Bills Enacted During Session

May 30, 2006 Several important insurance-related insurance bills were enacted during the Tennessee General Assembly, which adjourned May 26. On May 18, Democratic Gov. Phil Bredesen signed Senate Bill 3504 into law. The bill rewrites the state's county mutual statut... Read more

Alabama/Mississippi: Building Code Bills Signed into Law

April 24, 2006 Alabama Gov. Bob Riley and Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour last week both signed into law building code legislation enacted earlier this month in their respective state legislatures. Gov. Riley signed House Joint Resolution 653 that creates a 12-member c... Read more

Alabama: Lawmakers Pass Building Code Study Commission Resolution

April 17, 2006 Alabama lawmakers have passed House Joint Resolution 653, which calls for the creation of a 12-member Alabama Building Code Study Commission to study and make recommendations to the Legislature on establishing statewide building code standards. One of t... Read more

Mississippi: Residents Favor State Building Code, But Support for Bill Still in Doubt; NAMIC Comments

March 27, 2006 More than three-quarters of Mississippians say they favor adoption of a state building code, but a bill now before the Legislature to create such a building code remains in doubt. The Coalition to Build a Safer and Stronger Mississippi, of which NAMIC i... Read more

Mississippi: Residents Favor State Building Code, But Support for Bill Still in Doubt; NAMIC Comments

March 22, 2006 More than three-quarters of Mississippians say they favor adoption of a state building code, but a bill now before the Legislature to create such a building code remains in doubt. The Coalition to Build a Safer and Stronger Mississippi, of which NAMIC i... Read more

Louisiana: Special Session Handles Multiple Building Code Bills, FEMA Sets New Standards

February 13, 2006 During the first days of the Louisiana Extraordinary Session that began Feb. 9, the legislature took quick action on several bills dealing with the statewide uniform building code legislation passed in the November 2005 Extraordinary Session (Act 12 – H... Read more

Mississippi: Governor Endorses Statewide Building Code Bill; NAMIC Comments

February 9, 2006 Mississippi Republican Gov. Haley Barbour has come out publicly in favor of Senate Bill 2807 , the bill that would create a statewide building code in the state. In a Feb. 8 letter to Sen. Dean Kirby, chair of the Senate Insurance Committee that heard t... Read more

Mississippi: NAMIC Joins Broader Coalition Seeking Statewide Building Code

January 9, 2006 NAMIC has now joined a broad-based Mississippi coalition that is seeking legislation to establish a statewide building code. At a Jan. 4 meeting in Jackson, representatives of the insurance-based coalition that NAMIC already belonged to met with several... Read more

Florida: Legislature Adjourns, Session Productive for Property/Casualty Legislation; NAMIC Comments

May 4, 2004 Florida’s just-ended legislative session “proved to be very productive,” according to NAMIC State Affairs Manager David Reddick. Florida lawmakers enacted several key property/casualty bills before adjourning their regular legislative session on Friday.... Read more

Tennessee: Fire Marshal Announces New Building Code Standards

April 30, 2004 The State Fire Marshal’s Office has announced that it has completed its rule making process to update minimum statewide building construction safety standards. The Office has adopted the 2003 edition of the National Fire Codes (NFPA Standards as listed ... Read more