Monday, February 19th, 2007 — As insurance companies retreat from their coverage of coastal areas along the Eastern Seaboard, legislators in Annapolis and other state capitals are stepping in to protect homeowners faced with fewer and fewer options. Maryland legislators have grilled insurance executives at hearings and introduced bills that would force companies to cover all areas of the state. Lawmakers also are looking at granting the states top regulator more authority over the industry, and offering tax breaks to encourage residents to safeguard their homes against storm damage.