Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report–Friday, February 12, 2016

 

Florida home insurance:  How safe is it after record Citizens drop?

Florida, land of the nation’s costliest home insurance, has reached a new era in early 2016. State-run Citizens Property Insurance is no longer the company with the most policies.  The Palm Beach Post’s Charles Elmore reports for the “Protecting Your Pocket” blog.

 

Florida Association of Counties to Hold NFIP Reauthorization Meeting in Tallahassee

In light of the unexpected consequences of the 2012 Biggert-Waters Act and the issues left unaddressed by the 2014 Homeowners Flood Insurance Affordability Act, the Florida Association of Counties has taken steps to ensure Florida’s issues are known to Congress when the NFIP is reauthorized in 2017.

 

Proposal to Ban Balance Billing Continues to Weave Through Legislature

Legislation to ban balance billing is still making its way through the Florida Legislature, passing through its latest committee by a unanimous vote.  Allison Nielsen reports for SunshineStateNews.com.

 

House, Senate ready to approve budget plans

Lawmakers on both ends of the Capitol worked Wednesday to prepare spending plans for the budget year that begins July 1, with House members squabbling about funding for Planned Parenthood while senators readied a reduction in education property taxes.  THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA’s Brandon Larrabee reports via the Palm Beach Post.

 

Boating bill to limit stopping, searching of boats sails through debate

Law enforcement officers would need “reasonable suspicion” to stop and inspect boats sporting state safety stickers, under a measure that sailed through its final House committee Wednesday.  THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA’s Jim Turner reports via the Tampa Tribune.

 

House, Senate Remain At Odds On Death Penalty Fix

Jury unanimity in death penalty sentences has become a flashpoint in the debate over how to fix Florida’s flawed death-penalty sentencing process after the U.S. Supreme Court last month decided that the system is unconstitutional.  THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA’s Dara Kam reports via CBS-Local Miami.

 

Florida Backs Article V Convention for Constitutional Amendment on Congressional Term Limits

An effort to establish congressional term limits gained steam this week as Florida became the first state in more than two and a half decades to back a constitutional convention under Article V to solely tackle the subject of federal term limits.  Kevin Derby reports for SunshineStateNews.com.

 

Proposal Would Relax Florida Cosmetics Manufacturing Rules

HB 261 by State Representative Chris Latvala and SB 176 by Senator Jeff Brandes would delete the requirement in state law that businesses who manufacture, package, or label cosmetics must register each product every two years with the Florida Department of Business & Professional regulation, while leaving in place the agency’s mandate to inspect and issue permits for facilities.  FloridaPolitics.com reports.

 

Harmful gas levels in Lumber Liquidators flooring

Last week, Lumber Liquidators was sentenced in federal court after pleading guilty to environmental crimes related to Chinese flooring, Yahoo News reports.

 

 

 

Click here to follow Colodny Fass on Twitter (@ColodnyFassLaw)

 

 

 

 

To unsubscribe from this newsletter, please send an e-mail to colodnyfassnews@gmail.com.