News & Updates

David Simmons

Flood Bill Might Return to Insurance Committee

Flood Bill Might Return to Insurance Committee

The Florida Senate has been advancing a bill intended to increase private market interest in making flood insurance coverage available to Floridians.  However, in light of the complexities of the issue, some Senators are suggesting that recent substantial revisions to the bill should be sent back to the Banking and Insurance Committee for further review. […]

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Burgess to Return as Consumer Advocate

Burgess to Return as Consumer Advocate

The start of today’s meeting of the Senate Banking & Insurance Committee included an announcement from chairman David Simmons that Steve Burgess, the committee’s staff director, will be leaving to become Florida’s Insurance Consumer Advocate.  Burgess has held the consumer advocate position previously, but most recently has been the committee’s staff director for the last five years.  […]

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Senate Committee to Discuss Possible PIP Replacement

Senate Committee to Discuss Possible PIP Replacement

David Simmons, chairman of the Senate Banking & Insurance Company, is expected to bring up a proposal for replacing PIP with mandatory bodily injury liability insurance at today’s committee meeting.   Senator Simmons has scheduled PIP as a major part of today’s meeting, although no vote is expected on any proposal today.   Possible topics arising from an alternative proposal include bodily […]

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Flood Program Rates Draw Concerns

Flood Program Rates Draw Concerns

Rate increases in the federal flood insurance program are drawing the ire of politicians on both sides of the aisle in Tallahassee.  Governor Rick Scott recently sent a letter to Florida U.S. Senators Bill Nelson and Marco Rubio stating that he is “deeply troubled” by the impact of flood insurance rate increases on Florida’s economy.  […]

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PIP Decision Creates Uncertainty in Final Weeks of Session

PIP Decision Creates Uncertainty in Final Weeks of Session

Leading into the 2013 legislative session, the most prevalent question relating to Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage was whether insurers’ rate filings were meeting the levels of savings lawmakers anticipated.  However, that changed when Circuit Judge Terry Lewis found that last year’s PIP reforms improperly limit the remedies available to injured persons.  Although the state […]

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Property Insurance Proposals Begin to Take Shape

Property Insurance Proposals Begin to Take Shape

The Florida legislature is expected to take steps this session to improve the Florida property insurance market.  After a series of committee meetings, some of the ideas are beginning to take shape.  According to Senate Banking & Insurance Chairman David Simmons, the committee will have a bill dealing with issues relating to Citizens Property Insurance […]

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Legislative Session to Cover a Range of Insurance Issues

Legislative Session to Cover a Range of Insurance Issues

The New Year’s celebrations are over and it’s back to work in Tallahassee.  Before the annual legislative session begins in March, the Florida Legislature will hold a series of committee weeks to continue considering proposals for 2013.  The insurance-related issues under consideration will range from health insurance to property insurance to workers’ compensation.  The following […]

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