A report expected from the Federal Insurance Office later this month, addressing how to modernize and improve insurance regulation, could significantly affect the insurance industry, according to an industry regulatory expert.

A trade group representing insurance agents and financial service professionals submitted its comments on the Federal Insurance Office’s Dodd-Frank study on modernizing and improving insurance regulation.

The association of state insurance commissioners, including those on the East Coast who have been busy since the Aug. 23 earthquake and who could become busier with Hurricane Irene’s aftermath, has cancelled its summer national meeting.

Consumers can access the “best” insurance information from state insurance department websites in California, Georgia, Kansas, Ohio, Texas and Utah, while other states’ insurance regulatory websites must improve, according to consumer advocates.

The Philadelphia regional office of the Pennsylvania Insurance Department closes Aug. 5, in a move the agency says will complete its reorganization of its customer service bureau.

The U.S. Health and Human Services Department has provided states, already hard at work on preparation, with a proposed “framework” to establish health exchanges, including an offer to partner on developing local health exchanges.

Maine Gov. Paul LePage, a Republican, signed a bill allowing state residents to buy health insurance from other New England states in a move state officials say they hope will stimulate more competition and create more jobs.

Sixteen months after appointing Beth Sammis as acting Maryland insurance commissioner, Gov. Martin O’Malley has to make another appointment to the position.

New York’s banking and insurance departments will be merged, putting into effect a proposal Gov. Andrew Cuomo made before taking office in January.

A plurality of insurance agents and financial service professionals are licensed in more than one state, according to the latest IFAwebnews.com poll.