News & Updates

House of Representatives

Session Winds Down, But Political Season Will Continue

Session Winds Down, But Political Season Will Continue

The 2014 legislative session is drawing to a close, but in some respects this only means the political process will shift forums.  Florida’s 60-day legislative session has only a week remaining.  The last week is always the most active, with bills that have not yet passed being in a do-or-die situation for this year.  Among […]

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Gun Discrimination Bill Headed to Governor

Gun Discrimination Bill Headed to Governor

The Florida House of Representatives passed SB 424 by  74-44 margin, sending the bill to Governor Rick Scott.  The bill prohibits any personal lines property or auto insurer from refusing to issue or renew a policy, or charging a differential rate, based upon the policyholder’s lawful ownership, possession or use of a firearm.  The new […]

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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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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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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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Medical Malpractice Proposal Advances

Medical Malpractice Proposal Advances

The House of Representatives’ Civil Justice Committee advanced HB 827 by a 9-4 vote.  The bill is intended to moderate medical malpractice costs and provide additional protections for hospitals. One component of HB 827 would protect hospitals against liability for negligence arising from physicans who are independent contractors.  Other aspects of the billl would aid in […]

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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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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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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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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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