Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report: Friday, February 28

Feb 28, 2014

 

To go directly to the section of your choice, click on a hyperlink below.  Other hyperlinks to meeting information, bills and news are noted in bold type.

 

 

 

Daily Florida Insurance-Related Events

 

There are no events scheduled for today.

 

 

Daily Florida Insurance-Related News

 

State Farm seeking new homeowners’ policies in Florida again

Four years after State Farm stopped writing new homeowners’ policies in Florida – after first threatening to quit the state altogether – the insurance giant has quietly begun to seek new business in the Sunshine State, The Florida Current’s Gray Rohrer reports.

 

Florida Sinkhole Tragedy:  One Year Later

Chuck Holloway didn’t sleep well for a week after a sinkhole swallowed his neighbor Jeffrey Bush in Seffner last year, Associated Press’ Keith Morelli reports via Insurance Journal.

 

Outside groups targeting David Jolly on climate change issue

LCV Victory Fund and the Sierra Club Political Committee today launched a $350,000 television ad campaign hitting congressional candidate David Jolly for what they describe as “being dangerously out-of-step with his district on climate change.”  SaintPetersBlog.com’s Peter Schorsch reports.

 

Tampa lawmaker tackles issue of driver suspensions

Tackling a priority of House Speaker Will Weatherford, Rep. Dana Young, R-Tampa, filed legislation Thursday to address the rampant suspension of driver licenses in Florida, in many cases for non-driving related infractions such as a drug conviction or non-payment of child support, Tampa Bay Times’ Steve Bousquet reports via the “Naked Politics” blog.

 

Florida lawmakers have money to spend or give back

Florida’s continued economic recovery is giving state legislators a reprieve from years of budget battles and a way to boost the election-year fortunes of Gov. Rick Scott, Associated Press’ Gary Fineout reports via the Miami Herald.

 

Associated Industries Florida issues its Session priorities

The state’s major business lobbying organization issued its legislative agenda Thursday, supporting Governor Rick Scott’s plan for an election-year cut of $500 million in taxes and fees and calling for protection of Florida’s pari-mutuel gambling spots in the push for casino gambling in the Miami-Fort Lauderdale area, The Florida Current’s Bill Cotterell reports.

 

Bills would expand on U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Florida property “takings” case

Florida House and Senate bills were filed this week prohibiting local governments from placing permitting requirements on a proposed development beyond those issued by state and federal agencies, The Florida Current’s Bruce Ritchie reports.

 

House Speaker Will Weatherford named to Republican Legislative Campaign Committee executive committee

The Republican Legislative Campaign Committee named Florida House Speaker Will Weatherford in its new class of executive committee members, SaintPetersBlog.com’s Phil Ammann reports.

 

Jack Latvala’s David Jolly Endorsement Turns Up the Heat Against Alex Sink

With less than two weeks to go, the stakes just went up in the battle for an open congressional seat representing parts of Pinellas County, Kevin Derby reports for SunshineStateNews.com.

 

State Representative Jim Boyd ascends ranks quickly

Few legislators have ascended to the upper ranks of leadership as fast as Bradenton Republican Jim Boyd, Jeremy Wallace reports for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.

 

State Representative Jose Felix Diaz named among rising conservative stars

For the second year in a row, a state lawmaker from Florida has been named one of 10 rising conservative stars under 40, Kathleen McGrory reports via the Miami Herald’s “Naked Politics” blog.

 

Louisiana Property Policyholders Urged to File for Citizens Insurance Rebate

Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon is once again reminding property insurance policyholders that tax season is one of the easiest times to claim the Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Assessment rebate, Insurance Journal reports.

 

Firms Oppose Targeted Tax That Would Hit Insurers Designated as Systemically Important Financial Institutions

Financial services firms will vigorously oppose a provision of the fundamental tax reform proposal released by Rep. David Camp, R-Mich., that calls for a federal tax on large financial services firms-including insurers designated as systemically significant, Arthur Postal reports for National Underwriter’s PropertyCasualty360.com.​

 

 

 

Click here to follow Colodny Fass& Webb on Twitter (@CFTLAWcom)

 

 

 

To unsubscribe from this newsletter, please send an e-mail to Brooke Ellis at bellis@cftlaw.com.