The Mississippi House and Senate have passed HB 19, a tort reform bill dealing primarily with medical issues that insurers in the state say is a significant step toward improving the state’s business climate.

"Legislators clearly understood that a healthy business environment and competitive insurance marketplace in Mississippi depend on a balanced and fair civil justice system; unfortunately, the state in recent years has developed the reputation of being a judicial hellhole," said Cecil Pearce, vice president, southeast region, for the American Insurance Association. "While this legislation does not include everything that we wanted, such as limits on non-economic damages, it’s a good start."