Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report: Monday, March 24
Mar 24, 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
3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.–Florida House Government Operations Appropriations Subcommittee meeting. Agenda includes consideration of the following bills:
- CS/HB 391 relating to the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund by the Insurance and Banking Subcommittee; State Representative Bill Hager
- CS/HB 879 relating to Flood Insurance by the Insurance and Banking Subcommittee; State Representative Ed Hooper
Daily Florida Insurance-Related News
Florida Lawmakers Consider Flood Insurance Changes
The flood policies written by The Flood Insurance Agency in Florida and 17 other states are identical to the federal policies, though on Monday the Gainesville company will extend the coverage limits to $500,000 for a home and $250,000 for personal property, Jennifer Kay reports for NBC Miami.
Federal Judge Gives Nod to $300 Million-Plus Force-Placed Insurance Settlement
A tentative $300 million Lender insurance settlement that was announced last September and given preliminary approval a month later has been granted final approval by a federal judge in Florida, Gordon Gibb reports for LawyersandSettlements.com.
Engle Martin Acquires Florida’s Totura & Co. Claims Firm
Atlanta-based independent claims adjusting firm Engle Martin & Associates Inc. has acquired Totura & Co., a regional claims adjusting firm based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Insurance Journal reports.
License to Drive? Florida Lawmakers Take on Digital Transportation Regulations
Technology companies offering alternatives to traditional limousine and livery car services are getting help from some friends in high places, writes William Patrick for FloridaWatchdog.org via SunshineStateNews.com.
Lawmaker seeks to revamp Florida’s medical malpractice system
Within days of the Florida Supreme Court eradicating medical-malpractice damage limits, a Central Florida Republican laid out his vision for turning the entire system on its ear, the Sun-Sentinel’s Tonya Alanez reports.
State Representative Kathleen Passidomo Discusses Lawsuit Reform At The Florida Chamber
Passidomo visited the Florida Chamber of Commerce in Tallahassee to discuss her ideas on common sense legal reforms to benefit both consumers and small businesses by developing fair resolution process in legal cases, in the latest edition of The Florida Chamber’s Bottom Line, SaintPetersBlog.com’s Phil Ammann reports.
Nursing-Home Lawsuit Reform Ready For House Vote
A proposal to increase restrictions on lawsuits over injuries incurred by nursing home residents passed House Judiciary Committee on Friday, SaintPetersBlog.com reports.
House and Senate budgets close as chambers prep spending plans
Budget bills released by the House and Senate on Friday provide more money for education and health and human services, at least $500 million in tax and fee cuts, no raises for most state workers and full funding for the state transportation work plan, The Florida Current’s Gray Rohrer reports.
Campaign shakeup: Rick Scott’s fundraising chief quits amid disagreements
In a campaign shakeup, Gov. Rick Scott’s top fundraiser – billionaire healthcare CEO Mike Fernandez – abruptly quit his post late Thursday after weeks of behind-the-scenes disagreements, the Miami Herald’s Marc Caputo blogs on “Naked Politics.”
Bill augmenting juvenile life sentences passes House Judiciary Committee
A bill that would restructure youngsters sentenced for the most heinous crimes passed the House Judiciary Committee, The Florida Current’s Arek Sarkissian reports.
Reclaimed water bills better for environmentalists after a single word is removed
Bills that would require a study on expanding the use of treated wastewater are heading to the House and Senate floors with environmental groups having dropped their concerns — largely because one word was taken out and replaced with a comma, The Florida Current’s Bruce Ritchie reports.
Pinellas County now ground zero in Florida’s fight over voting
Florida’s new battleground over voting is the unlikeliest of places: a cozy branch library in Pinellas Park, writes Steve Bousquet for Tampa Bay Times.
Florida Lawmakers Chipping Away at Vestiges of Growth Management
One of the last vestiges of a growth management system established decades ago in Florida to promote better community planning is under fire from lawmakers once more seeking to boost the economy, Halifax News’ Zac Anderson reports via the Lakeland Ledger.
Colleen Burton and John Hugh Shannon Get Set to Run for Open House Seat in Polk
With Seth McKeel headed out of Tallahassee due to term limits, two Polk County Republicans are set to duel in what should be one of the most competitive legislative primaries in Florida this year, Jeff Henderson reports for SunshineStateNews.com.
Unless FSU Calls, Expect John Thrasher to Stay in the Senate
Florida Senator John Thrasher’s name has gotten some buzz as the next president of Florida State University and, with no chance to become Senate president, it would be a nice feather in his cap to end his career, Jeff Henderson writes for SunshineStateNews.com.
Tax exemption for all-star games hits home run with House committee
An extension of admissions-tax exemptions to cover professional sports all-star games was a home run at the House Economic Affairs Committee, passing Friday unopposed, SaintPetersBlog.com’s Phil Ammann reports.
Haigood Appointed to Texas Windstorm Insurance Association Board
Texas Commissioner of Insurance Julia Rathgeber appointed Lyndell Haigood to serve on the board of directors of the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association for a term to expire in March 2015, Insurance Journal reports.
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