Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report – Friday, May 05, 2017
May 5, 2017
Insurer Says Local Policy Freeze Helped Cut Losses
Heritage Insurance Holdings, the third-largest Carrier in South Florida, said it reduced Claims Losses in the First Quarter of 2017 in part because it hasn’t written a New Policy in the Tricounty Region in nearly 12 months. The Insurer, which operates in Florida as Heritage Property & Casualty, reported its decision not to write new Policies in the Region during an earnings call Thursday. The Sun-Sentinel reports.
Florida Approves Nearly 1,500 Citizens Commercial Policies for July Takeouts
The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation has approved the following Company to participate in the July Citizens Property Insurance Corporation Take-Out Period. Insurance Journal reports.
How False Water-Damage Claims are Reaching Crisis Levels in Florida
With just a few weeks before the start of Hurricane Season 2017, all eyes turn to Florida, which had remained relatively unscathed by Mother Nature’s torment in recent years until Hurricane Matthew barreled up the Atlantic Coastline last September — leaving behind more than $800 Million in Claims in the Sunshine State. Neil Alldredge reports for National Underwriter’s PropertyCasualty360.com.
House Passes Lois Frankel’s FEMA Loan Reform Bill
On Wednesday, the U.S. House agreed to a measure from a South Florida Congresswoman which saves Local Taxpayers almost $17 Million. Kevin Derby reports for SunshineStateNews.com.
Florida to Require 2-Day Public Notification of Pollution Spills
The Florida Legislature passed a Bill (SB 532) Wednesday that requires Polluters to Notify the Department of Environmental Protection within a day of a Spill. Ana Ceballos reports for Insurance Journal.
Critics Say House Plan An Unworkable Workers’ Comp
Employer Groups are threatening to bolt and Trial Lawyers are in open revolt as Lawmakers spend the final days of the 2017 Session haggling over Workers’ Compensation Reforms. Jim Ash reports for WFSU.org.
Sober Homes Bill Heads to Governor
Sober Homes have been nightmares of Drug Abuse, Prostitution and Patient Brokering, in which the Homes offer kickbacks to Rehab Centers for Patients whose Insurance the Homes can Bill. The Sun-Sentinel’s Dan Sweeney reports.
Taller Skylines Pushing Their Way Into Smaller Cities
Towering Buildings are beginning to rise in many of South Florida’s smaller Cities, promising to transform life in Communities where people have long valued a slower pace and wide-open views. The Sun-Sentinel’s Anne Geggis reports.
Tom Lee Quietly Files Unfriendly Amendment Affecting Uber, Lyft
Florida Senator Tom Lee Filed an Amendment for the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles Bill that would Regulate the Operations of Ridebooking Services like Uber and Lyft. SaintPetersBlog.com reports.
Governor Scott in Naples Chastises Legislators over $83 Billion Budget
Governor Rick Scott urged Voters Thursday to hold Lawmakers accountable for a proposed $83 Billion Budget crafted by House and Senate Leaders in secret that rejected his top priorities. Eric Staats reports for the Naples Daily News.
· What Might Have Been: The House’s Surprising Offer to Rick Scott
· Member Projects Make it into State Budget at the Last Possible Moment
· Appropriations Chiefs Declare Budget Talks “Closed” — But with an Asterisk
In Session’s Last Two Days, “Everyone Starts Throwing Hail Marys”
In the Last Two Days of the Regular Legislative Session in Tallahassee, the Amendments are flying, and Senators don’t like what they’re seeing. Steve Bousquet reports via “The Buzz” blog.
Senate Approves Amended House Medical Marijuana Bill
The Florida Senate passed the Florida House Proposal to Regulate Medical Marijuana in Florida on Thursday in the latest Chapter of one of the most hotly-debated and most publicized topics during this year’s Legislative Session. Allison Nielsen reports.
Carlos Lopez-Cantera to Head Federal Judicial Nominating Panel
Lt. Governor Carlos Lopez-Cantera will be the next Statewide Chair of the Panel that Vets Candidates for Federal Judges. FloridaPolitics.com’s Jim Rosica reports.
One Way or Another, Miami Lawmaker Expects He Won’t be in Florida House Next Year
The Miami Republican has asked to say good-bye because he expects to be gone from the House one way or another before the 2018 Session. The Miami Herald’s Patricia Mazzei reports via “The Buzz” blog.
Here are the Main GOP Contenders for Florida Attorney General
It doesn’t look like Pam Bondi will be leaving Tallahassee for a Job in the Trump Administration. The Tampa Bay Times’ Adam Smith reports via “The Buzz” blog.
State Farm to Close 11 Offices, Displacing 4,200 Employees, After 2016 $7B Loss
State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co., the largest U.S. Home and Auto Insurer, plans to shut 11 U.S. Facilities, displacing about 4,200 Workers, after a $7 Billion Annual Underwriting Loss last year on Auto Policies. Bloomberg’s Sonali Basak and Katherine Chiglinsky report via Insurance Journal.
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