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Citizens Property Insurance Corporation Continues to Grow

Citizens Property Insurance Corporation Continues to Grow

Citizens Property Insurance Corporation has continued to grow at a troubling rate in recent weeks.  Its policy count topped 660,000 policies at the end of July.  This represents an increase of about 23,000 policies compared to its June total, meaning Citizens continues to add policies at a rate of more than 5,000 per week. Citizens […]

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Injunction Highlights Questions About Property Reform

Injunction Highlights Questions About Property Reform

SB 76 adopted in the 2021 legislation drew a lukewarm reaction, even among some of the lawmakers who supported property insurance reform.  One key advocate referred to the bill as accomplishing about 40% of what would be needed to improve Florida’s property insurance market. And that was before part of the law was declared unconstitutional. […]

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Solutions for Overcoming the Difficulties of Complying with Rule 65D-30, Florida Administrative Code

Solutions for Overcoming the Difficulties of Complying with Rule 65D-30, Florida Administrative Code

In 2019, the Florida Department of Children and Families (“DCF”) significantly rewrote Rule 65D-30, Florida Administrative Code, related to substance abuse providers’ licensure and regulation (“Rule 65D-30”).  Since that time, many providers have found full compliance with the revised rule difficult, if not impossible.  Fortunately, if you find yourself unable to comply with the requirements […]

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Governor Vetoes PIP Repeal Bill

Governor Vetoes PIP Repeal Bill

Governor Ron DeSantis ended weeks of speculation, persuasion and publicity campaigns when he vetoed SB 54, which would have repealed Florida’s Personal Injury Protection (PIP) law.  SB would have replaced the no-fault PIP system with certain mandatory bodily injury (BI) coverage. The potential repeal of PIP has been an annual topic in the legislature for […]

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Property Bill Brings Uncertain Impact

Property Bill Brings Uncertain Impact

Governor Ron DeSantis signed SB 76 into law and it takes effect July 1, 2021.  The new law reflects a series of compromises reached by the Florida legislature during the 2021 session.  Despite the compromises, bill sponsors believe the reforms will have a favorable effect on Florida’s residential property insurance market.  Other legislators have been […]

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Governor Signs Property Insurance Bill

Governor Signs Property Insurance Bill

Governor Ron DeSantis has signed this year’s primary property insurance bill, SB 76, into law.  Most of the bill’s provisions take effect July 1, 2021. The legislature passed SB 76 after extended debate leading into and during the 2021 legislative session.  As is often the case during the legislative process, the final bill reflects a […]

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Hurricane Season Begins with Prediction of Above-Average Activity

Hurricane Season Begins with Prediction of Above-Average Activity

As the 2021 hurricane season begins, forecasters look for this year to bring an above-average level of tropical activity.  Just this week, the Tropical Meteorology Project in the Department of Atmospheric Science at Colorado State University (CSU) updated its projections and continues to believe this year will produce an above-average number of storms.  Its forecast […]

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Questions Remain After Property Bill Passes Late in Session

Questions Remain After Property Bill Passes Late in Session

The 2021 Florida Legislature spent several months evaluating property insurance reform proposals.  The committee hearing process included testimony from Insurance Commissioner David Altmaier, Citizens Property Insurance Corporation CEO Barry Gilway and many others.  Despite these months of analysis, the primary property insurance reform bill (SB 76) was amended several times in the last week of […]

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Window Closing on 2021 Session

Window Closing on 2021 Session

The 2021 legislative session is entering its final week, barring an extension.  As usual, key insurance legislation remains unresolved in the session’s final days. The session began two short months ago with Insurance Commissioner David Altmaier and Citizens Property Insurance Corporation CEO Barry Gilway discussing problems plaguing Florida’s residential property insurance market.  Commissioner Altmaier later […]

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Florida Leads Nation in Homeowners Litigation by Staggering Margin

Florida Leads Nation in Homeowners Litigation by Staggering Margin

The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR) recently analyzed nationwide homeowners insurance claims and litigation data and reached a well-known but unfortunate conclusion–  Florida leads the country in litigation by a staggering margin. OIR aggregated market conduct survey data related to lawsuits opened throughout the United States from 2016 through 2019 (the last year for […]

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