Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report: Friday, March 29
Mar 29, 2013
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
Florida’s 2013 Regular Legislative Session
- Click here for today’s Senate block calendar
- Click here for today’s House of Representatives block calendar
10:30 a.m.–Florida Self-Insurers Guaranty Association Board of Directors meeting. The call-in number is 866-866-2244 and code is 7903005. To view the meeting notice, click here.
Daily Florida Insurance-Related News
Elimination of insurance tax credit, vehicle fee cuts pass Senate panel
Senator Negron’s plan to do away with a $220 million tax break for insurance companies to pay for a reduction in vehicle registration fees passed through the Senate Appropriations Committee.
- Insurance lobbyists argue against end of their tax break, which would reduce Floridians’ car fees
- Florida Senate’s tax break for drivers has insurance lobbyists up in arms
- Blog: Negron’s push to reel insurance break brings out the big-business critics
- Blog: Florida Senate seeks to cut auto tag fees — at insurers’ expense
- Blog: Negron doesn’t buy insurers “apocalypse” claims, meaning tax break may be doomed
THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA: Bill to Shrink Hurricane Catastrophe Fund Advances
Legislators moved another step closer to reducing the size of the state fund that backs up private insurers while trying to make its name less menacing.
Seffner Saga Continues With 4th Sinkhole Report
Reports this week have surfaced about a potential sinkhole in Seffner, just weeks after the February 28 catastrophic sinkhole that claimed the life of Jeffrey Bush at 240 Faithway Drive.
Allianz disputes lawsuit alleging liability for another insurer’s failure
Allianz S.E. on Thursday said it will vigorously push back against a lawsuit filed last week in Florida that asserts the company is responsible for the demise of Magnolia Insurance Co.
Homeowners insurance costs eclipse mortgages in Florida
One of the highest expenses facing Florida families has long been the mortgage on their homes.
Massage Advocates Call Again for Affidavits from Therapists Affected by Florida PIP Law
An organization fighting a new Florida law that prohibits massage therapists and acupuncturists from billing Personal Injury Protection insurance in Florida is calling again for the state’s massage therapists to submit affidavits to the organization’s lawyers describing how they have been affected by the law, for use with future legal action.
Blog: Poll Shows Overwhelming Support For Ban On Texting While Driving
An overwhelming majority of Floridians supports legislation that would ban texting while driving, according to a new University of Florida poll.
Florida time limit on workers comp Temporary Total Disability benefits disputed
Several insurance industry and employer groups have requested an en banc rehearing of a Florida appellate court case that declared the state’s time limit on workers compensation temporary total disability benefits to be unconstitutional
Florida Senate leaders: No claims bills, or claims-bill reform, to pass this year
Florida cities, counties, public hospitals and other “sovereign” entities have put the brakes on an overhaul of the state’s claims bill process that allows people who have been harmed or injured by local governments to get paid more than $200,000 without the Legislature’s approval.
Florida Senate president expects accord on health care
Despite the Legislature’s slow progress on dealing the federal health care law, “it’s way too early to pull the fire alarm,” President Don Gaetz says.
Senator Bill Nelson, Officials Discussing Ways To Avert Florida Airport Tower Closings
U.S. Senator Bill Nelson said today Congress could avoid the Federal Aviation Administration shuttering of 149 airport towers in Florida and other states by targeting a few projects spread throughout the federal government and deemed by some to be unnecessary, duplicative or wasteful.
Blog: Charlie Crist Says He’s Not Announcing Anything On May 11
After I tried to fan the flames of speculation about when Charlie Crist might announce his intentions about possibly running for Governor in 2014, the Boss himself has shot me down.
Former Pensacola Councilman Jack Nobles Announces Bid For House District 2 Seat
One candidate is out, while another one is getting in.
The department has more than 7,000 sites in its petroleum contamination cleanup program.
Overhaul of Florida Alimony Laws Appears Headed for Passage
A major overhaul of Florida alimony law will get to the Senate floor for debate Wednesday and has stirred excitement among supporters who maintain it will bring fairness to a system that has so long been fodder for bad divorce jokes.
Louisiana Sinkhole Expands Again
About 25 trees fell into the Assumption Parish, La., sinkhole and officials say a new crack formed Monday night in a well pad south of the lake-like slurry hole.
Katrina, Sandy Offer Similar Lessons for Builders
Lessons learned from Hurricane Sandy about how best to limit damage to buildings closely track those of Katrina, a federal engineer said.
Google expands emergency alerts to millions of people
Alerts from police, fire and emergency management agencies will appear on Google maps and search pages beginning Friday as part of a growing Google public alert system.
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