News & Updates

FHCF

2014 Saw Significant Property and Casualty Issues

2014 Saw Significant Property and Casualty Issues

As 2014 comes to a close, several of the issues that commanded considerable attention during the year reached their resolution and set the framework for 2015 ahead.  When we all return from the holidays, the legislative committee weeks will be upon us and the 2015 legislative session will begin before we know it.  However, before […]

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FHCF Initial Event Fully Funded

FHCF Initial Event Fully Funded

The Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund (FHCF) recently announced that it anticipates being able to fully fund its $17 billion in initial season obligations and being able to support a large portion of a subsequent season’s obligations. Under its most recent projections, the FHCF would fall about $5 billion short of providing another $17 billion in […]

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Citizens to End Assessment Early

Citizens to End Assessment Early

Citizens Property Insurance Corporation announced that a surcharge on Florida homeowners insurance premiums will end about two years earlier than originally planned.  The assessment has been in place to pay off bonds from the 2005 hurricane season. The surcharge will end as of July 1, 2015.   Inital projections would have extended  the surcharge until June 30, 2017.  Citizens is able to take this […]

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FHCF Assessment to End Early

FHCF Assessment to End Early

The assessment imposed by the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund (FHCF) will end 18 months earlier than previously projected.  Governor Scott and the Cabinet voted to terminate the assessment as of January 1, 2015 rather than the scheduled July 1, 2016, end date. The assessment currently is 1.3% of premiums.  Insurers add the assessment amount to […]

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SB 542 Aims to Encourage Private Flood Insurance Programs

SB 542 Aims to Encourage Private Flood Insurance Programs

The Florida legislature adopted SB 542 intended to encourage admitted market insurers to write personal residential flood insurance programs.  If approved by the Governor, the bill will make changes to Florida’s rating law and modeling review process to facilitate private flood products. Section 627.062, Florida Statutes, lists factors to be considered by the Office of […]

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New Year to Bring Continued Discussion of Property Issues

New Year to Bring Continued Discussion of Property Issues

The beginning of a new year always brings with it an acceleration of Florida’s consideration of key public policy issues affecting the insurance industry.  Activity in Tallahassee slows down in the second half of December, soon followed by the realization that the next legislation will be here quickly.  For the property insurance industry, this means […]

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FHCF Right-Sizing Debate Results in No Changes

FHCF Right-Sizing Debate Results in No Changes

The legislature entered the 2013 session talking about reducing the amount of reimbursement capacity provided by the FHCF.  It leaves Tallahassee without changing the limits at all, but not for lack of thorough discussion of the issue. Lawmakers interested in reducing the state’s assessment exposure urged a reduction in the FHCF to be phased-in over […]

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Citizens-Lite Bill Heads to Governor

Citizens-Lite Bill Heads to Governor

After months of committee meetings and discussions, the Florida legislature reached compromises on changes to Citizens Property Insurance Corporation in SB 1770.  The bill now heads to Governor Scott’s desk for review.  The months leading up to the 2013 legislative session included discussion of far-reaching proposals that would aggressively restore Citizens to its role as […]

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FHCF Right-Sizing Becomes Bite-Sized

FHCF Right-Sizing Becomes Bite-Sized

Discussions about the proper size of the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund have been intense throughout the 2013 legislative session.  The FHCF proposed last year that it should be reduced in size to better ensure it can meet its reimbursement obligations to insurers.  However, last year’s proposal called for changes that were too significant and would […]

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Scope of FHCF Still Unclear as Session Goes On

Scope of FHCF Still Unclear as Session Goes On

The size of the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund in future years continues to be a widely discussed issue in the current legislative session.   We have now reached the halfway point but it is still unclear how this issue will play out. Jack Nicholson of the FHCF advocated a reduction in the FHCF’s size last year […]

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