Miami Herald – Kristen Clark, Steve Bousquet Four days after Republican Gov. Rick Scott suggested lawmakers should be prohibited from working for law firms that lobby the Legislature, Florida Senate President Joe Negron says he is “stepping away” from the law firm he works for. The Stuart Republican announced his resignation in a statement today — provided by his Senate…
Palm Beach Post – Charles Elmore Florida drivers pay among the nation’s highest insurance premiums for relatively low coverage amounts, a state Senate panel heard Tuesday as discussion begins on whether to end the state’s no-fault system after four decades. “Florida has the fifth highest auto premiums in the country despite its mandatory limits being…
Michael Moline – Florida Politics The chairwoman of the Senate Banking & Insurance Committee foresees changes to Florida’s personal-injury protection, or PIP, mandate for auto insurance, but wants assurances reform will reduce premium costs. “I think that this is an issue that you will see some legislation that will come before this committee at a…
Florida Politics Michael Moline A state appeal court panel appeared skeptical Thursday of the Office of Insurance Regulation’s arguments that trade-secrets protections don’t exempt State Farm Florida from having to turn over business information for public scrutiny. The judges wondered whether the plain language of the trade-secret exemption in Florida’s public records law doesn’t protect…
SENATE WORKSHOP MAKES THE CASE FOR AOB REFORM TALLAHASSEE, FL, (January 10, 2017) – The Personal Insurance Federation of Florida today applauded the Senate Committee on Banking and Insurance for holding a workshop on property insurance and the problem of non-catastrophe water claims and related “assignment of benefit” abuse. During today’s presentation, critical evidence…
Sun Sentinel – Ron Hurtibise Groundhog Day isn’t until Feb. 2, but two legislative meetings scheduled next week in Tallahassee will likely have a “been-there, done-that” feel to many of the participants. Banking and insurance panels from the state Senate and House will kick off this year’s efforts to solve the “assignment of benefits” problem…
Orlando Sentinel – Gray Rohrer TALLAHASSEE – Millions of Floridians will feel the pinch in their pocketbooks when the calendar turns to 2017, as higher rates for some of the top property and health insurers in the state are set to take effect. The top five property insurers in the state – Universal, Citizens, Security…
News4Jax TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Sen. Jeff Brandes, a St. Petersburg Republican who has backed statewide rules for ride-sharing companies such as Lyft and Uber, expressed confidence Sunday that lawmakers will move forward during the 2017 session with legislation that supporters say would help the industry expand. “After years of debating this issue, Florida is finally…
Opinion – Steve Pociask What a difference a few years can make. Recent changes to insurance public policies have left homeowners better protected and given the state greater financial stability. Yet, there is still room for improvements, including changes that could dramatically reduce premiums for consumers. Over a decade ago, Florida property insurance market could…
State Sen. Jeff Brandes, wants to get rid of a car insurance requirement he says makes driving more expensive in Florida. On Tuesday, the St. Petersburg Republican filed legislation (SB 156) to repeal personal injury protection, or PIP, which covers minor accident claims, regardless of who was at fault. Required under state law since 1972, drivers…