Florida lawmakers have not yet reached agreement on a budget proposal for the fiscal year beginning July 1 prompting a further extension of the current session until June 30. The primary responsibility of the Florida legislature each year is to adopt a state budget. The budget then is presented to the Governor for action. Although […]
The Florida House of Representatives has passed a bill seeking to unwind key provisions of the 2022 insurance reforms that have led to recent improvements in the market. The House amended Senate Bill 832 to include a so-called “prevailing party” attorneys’ fee provision despite clear statements from the Office of Insurance Regulation, the Governor and […]
Incumbent Governor Ron DeSantis soundly defeated Charlie Crist in Florida’s race for Governor, leading a Republican sweep of the state’s top elected offices. Current Chief Financial Officer prevailed in his bid for another term, as did incumbent Attorney General Ashley Moody. They are joined by Republican Wilton Simpson, the outgoing Senate president who won an […]
The Florida House of Representatives and Senate have released their proposals for next week’s special session on property insurance reform. The special session follows last month’s call from Governor Ron DeSantis for a special session dealing with the crisis in Florida’s residential property insurance market. Reinsurance Protection Although their proposals are subject to change when […]
The Florida House of Representatives has passed its version of Assignment of Benefits (AOB) reform. The bill has been a priority of key policymakers, including CFO Jimmy Patronis and Insurance Commissioner David Altmaier. You can learn more here. The bill is aimed at reducing abuses that have plagued the Florida property insurance market when consumers […]
The Florida Legislature is in the final month of its annual 60-day regular session. This year’s session concludes May 3. For many who follow Florida’s residential property insurance market, the question this year is the same as in recent years— is this the year assignment of benefits (AOB) reform will pass? Floridians throughout the state […]
A Senate committee has advanced SB 1052 on a 5-3 vote. The bill is one of two proposals pending in the Senate that would replace Florida’s no-fault (PIP) auto insurance system with mandatory bodily injury coverage. The other Senate bill has not been heard in committee. Perhaps more importantly, the Florida House also has not […]
A second Senate committee has approved an adjusting to existing law relating to flood insurance disclosures. Last year, the legislature adopted a requirement for all homeowners’ policies to state that they do not cover flood damage. Unfortunately, there is no exception in the current law for policies that actually do contain flood insurance in the […]
Bills to fix a glitch in last year’s flood disclosure requirement have moved out of their first committees in the House and Senate, respectively. The legislature adopted a requirement last year for homeowners’ insurers to include a disclosure on their policies stating that the policies do not cover flood. However, the bill did not contain […]
The 2019 Florida legislative session in only about a week away. This year’s session will be different in some respects than recent sessions, if only due to significant changes in executive branch and legislative officers. The Governor’s office often sets the tone for legislative sessions through developing proposed budgets and advancing public policy issues. The […]