News & Updates

Florida Senate

Omnibus Bill Advances Through House, Goes to Senate

Omnibus Bill Advances Through House, Goes to Senate

The so-called omnibus bill (HB 635) has passed the House of Representatives by a 100-17 margin and has been referred to the Florida Senate.  The bill addresses a wide range of insurance matters, consisting primarily of issues that generally are thought not to be controversial.  The range of issues covered by the bill includes: Extending […]

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Busy Week for Insurance Legislation

Busy Week for Insurance Legislation

Several legislative committees will hear bills this week relating to key insurance issues.  The House Banking and Insurance Subcommittee is expected to consider a bill allowing commercial motor vehicle and personal lines property and casualty insurance policies to be posted to the Internet rather than physically delivered in certain circumstances.  The House committee also is […]

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2012 Saw its Share of Insurance Issues

2012 Saw its Share of Insurance Issues

By some standards, there were fewer blockbuster issues in the Florida insurance market in 2012 than in some prior years.  After all, this was not a year in which the legislature needed to tackle workers’ compensation or medical malpractice reform, and efforts at bad faith reform stalled fairly early in the legislative session.  Florida thankfully […]

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Your Population Program is Better Than Your Depopulation Program

Your Population Program is Better Than Your Depopulation Program

As the 2013 legislative session approaches, the respective insurance committees of the Florida Senate and House of Representatives are beginning to address issues related to Citizens Property Insurance Corporation.  Citizens continues to take on 8000 new policies a week, and notwithstanding substantial depopulation activity late this year its policy count will drift back up as […]

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Cat Fund Right-Sizing Supporters Vow to Bring It Back

Cat Fund Right-Sizing Supporters Vow to Bring It Back

The key Senator and Representative who promoted the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund (FHCF) right-sizing proposal expressed disappointment that the bills did not receive more attention in the recently concluded session.  At least in the case of those who are eligible to return to the legislature next year, they vow to keep pushing for the reform. […]

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Workers Comp Excess Profits Law Slated for Rescission

Workers Comp Excess Profits Law Slated for Rescission

The legislature passed a bill (HB 941) that included a provision eliminating the excess profits calculation for workers’ compensation and employer’s liability insurance.  The excess profits provision, currently located at section 627.215, Florida Statutes, requires insurers to report their premiums, losses and expenses in the affected lines of business by July 1 of each year.  […]

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Cat Fund Revisions Fall Short

Cat Fund Revisions Fall Short

The Florida legislature did not adopt proposed changes to the size of the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund during the 2012 session.  Jack Nicholson of the FHCF developed a proposal he referred to as “right-sizing” the cat fund to ensure it has access to enough resources to pay promised reimbursements without regard to poor global market […]

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Reform for PIP Squeaks Through on Final Day of Session

Reform for PIP Squeaks Through on Final Day of Session

After intense debate throughout the 2012 legislative session, the Florida House of Representatives and Senate reached a compromise on reforms for Florida’s Personal Injury Protection (PIP) auto insurance system.  The bill and its reform proposals were the subject of considerable analysis and discussion prior to the session and throughout its two-month term.  Insurance Commissioner Kevin […]

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Special Session on Redistricting Next Week

Special Session on Redistricting Next Week

The Florida legislature wrapped up its 2012 regular session yesterday, but they’ll be back next week for a special session on redistricting.  Just as the session was wrapping up, lawmakers learned that the Florida Supreme Court rejected the newly drawn Senate districts by a 5-2 vote.  The Court approved the House plan.  This means the […]

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Session Drawing to a Close

Session Drawing to a Close

The 2012 legislative session is rapidly drawing to a close–  at least the regular session, anyway.  The session is scheduled to end tonight, and lawmakers will work at a frenzied pace to address bills that are bouncing back and forth between the chambers. No Florida session would be complete without a property and casualty insurance […]

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