News & Updates

Florida Commission on Hurricane Loss Projection Methodology

New Law Makes Citizens Adjustments

New Law Makes Citizens Adjustments

House Bill 931 has been signed into law, becoming Chapter Law 2016-229.  The new law makes several changes affecting Citizens Property Insurance Corporation.  Among the key changes, the following take effect July 1, 2016: Citizens may appoint as agents only those agents who have and continuously maintain at least one appointment with an insurer actually […]

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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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Flood Proposal Advances

Flood Proposal Advances

The Senate Banking & Insurance Committee has advanced a bill intended to encourage private market flood coverage in Florida.  The bill would allow insurers to offer flood coverage as stand alone policies or as endorsements to existing policies.  At a minimum, the flood policies would have to include the deductible options available from the National […]

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Governor Signs Property Bill

Governor Signs Property Bill

Governor Rick Scott has signed SB 1770 into law.  At the outset of the 2013 legislative session, SB 1770 contained an ambitious set of reforms designed to reduce the size of Citizens Property Insurance Corporation and reduce the degree to which it competes with the admitted market.  The final package, however, contained a milder set of compromise […]

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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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Commissioner Discusses Misalignment Between Rates and Mitigation Discounts

Commissioner Discusses Misalignment Between Rates and Mitigation Discounts

Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty presented ideas for “principle-based” insurance reform to the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee this afternoon.  In his presentation, Commissioner McCarty identified several reasons the private market has difficulty competing with Citizens Property Insurance Corporation.  Among these, the Commissioner noted a “mismatch” between primary rate levels and the mitigation discounts for […]

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Consumer Advocate Questions Citizens Mitigation Program

Consumer Advocate Questions Citizens Mitigation Program

Florida’s Insurance Consumer Advocate Robin Westcott raised concerns about Citizens Property Insurance Corporation’s mitigation reinspection program at its recent board and committee meetings.  Ms. Westcott also issued a press release saying that the inspection process is confusing, has inequitable results, and serves as a threat to Florida’s already vulnerable economy. “The current inspection process is working against the very […]

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Public Records Exemptions for Modeling Continue

Public Records Exemptions for Modeling Continue

Two existing public records exemptions relating to catastrophe modeling have been extended due to action by the Florida legislature and approval by Governor Crist.  House Bill 7121 has become Chapter Law 2010-137.  This law extends the public records exemption for loss and exposure data submitted by insurers in the development and maintenance of the public […]

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