Florida legislature News

Florida Governor Signs Wind-Mitigation Funding Bills for Homes, Condos

Florida’s governor has signed two bills that will provide more matching grants for homeowners and condominium associations to fortify properties against the growing threat of windstorms. Senate Bill 7028 will send an additional $200 million to the My Safe Florida …

NICB Praises Florida’s New Law on Predatory Tow Truck Practices

The National Insurance Crime Bureau is hailing a new Florida law that aims to deter predatory tow-truck practices and limit the fees that tow companies can charge. House Bill 179 was signed by the governor in March and it will …

Florida Condo Mitigation Bill Passes but Other Insurance Bills Uncertain After Changes

A Florida pilot program to fortify coastal-area condominiums is on its way to the governor but other property insurance bills may have hit a snag after last-minute changes – with just two days left in the legislative session. The state …

Federal Appeals Court Puts Florida’s ‘Stop Woke’ Act to Sleep as Speech Violation

Florida’s so-called “stop woke act,” championed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, violates businesses’ and employees’ First Amendment free speech rights, a federal appeals court ruled Monday in striking down the 2022 law. “This law, as Florida concedes, draws its distinctions based …

Florida Senate Panel Advances Bill Making it a Felony to Expose Responders to Fentanyl

A Florida Senate committee on Tuesday approved an amended bill that could potentially reduce workers’ compensation costs for first responders in the state, people who are at increasing risk of exposure to accidental fentanyl overdoses. Senate Bill 718, by Sen. …

‘Citizens 2.0’ is 86’d but Other Florida Insurance, Liability Bills Still Alive

A move to revamp the state-backed property insurer of last resort into Florida’s main wind carrier, a plan dubbed “Citizens 2.0,” appears to have died in the Legislature this year. But other insurance-related bills are still alive, and the governor’s …

Florida Bills Would Let Surplus Lines Do Takeouts and Require More Data Reporting

A key Florida Senate committee this week advanced a bill that would allow surplus lines carriers to take over coverage of second homes from Citizens Property Insurance Corp. Reaction by agents and brokers was mixed. The issue of having the …

Less Red Ink in Florida, 2 New Insurers, and Citizens Wants Commercial Take-outs

Florida-based insurers still aren’t profitable, overall, but their net losses and underwriting losses are getting smaller. Two more property insurance companies are preparing to enter the Florida market. And the number of Citizens Property Insurance Corporation’s commercial policies is growing …

Next Florida House Speaker Wants More Property Insurance Legislation, Deliberations

The next speaker of the Florida House of Representatives, set to take charge in 2025, said he hopes to see more legislation that could further address spiraling property insurance costs. “Do I believe we are done with property insurance? No. …

Flood Requirements, Condo Inspection Rules Revised in Fla. Bills Sent to Governor

When a bill passed at a December special session of the Florida Legislature required all Citizens Property Insurance policyholders to buy flood insurance, many owners in high-rise condominiums were outraged. Already facing soaring premiums on HO-6 policies, now they were …