Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report – Monday, May 02, 2016
May 2, 2016
Scott, Cabinet Go In-House for Insurance Commissioner
Remaining in-house, Gov. Rick Scott and state Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater — in their third attempt to reach a joint recommendation on the high-profile job — agreed to promote Deputy Commissioner David Altmaier to become the state’s top insurance regulator. THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA’s Jim Turner reports via SunshineStateNews.com.
- Florida Picks Deputy Altmaier to Be Next Insurance Commissioner
- David Altmaier named Insurance Commissioner
- Eye of the storms: Florida insurance commissioner wields far-reaching power
- David Altmaier’s quick rise to state insurance commissioner
- Insurance interests “look forward” to new commissioner
- Atwater defends “transparent” process
Florida Braces for Rate Hikes, Litigation After Workers’ Compensation Fee Ruling
The Florida Supreme Court’s ruling that the state’s current attorney fee limits are unconstitutional will have serious ramifications on the workers’ compensation market in the state, according to Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty and other workers’ compensation experts. Insurance Journal’s Amy O’Connor reports.
Pot, Solar Energy Bills on Florida’s November Ballot
As Floridians go to the polls to pick a president and a U.S. senator this fall, they also will vote on five constitutional amendments, including a medical marijuana measure and two proposals on solar power. The Sarasota Herald Tribune’s “HT Politics” blog reports.
Tampa’s New Pot Law has Schools Revisiting Rules for Staff, Students
City officials toiled over the details for months before adopting a law decriminalizing possession of small amounts of marijuana. The Tampa Tribune’s Anastasia Dawson reports.
Alan Grayson Introduces the Zombie Property Act
Alan Grayson says there are too many vacant or “zombie” homes in Florida and around the nation that are destroying local property values, Mitch Perry reports for FloridaPolitics.com.
Daniel Horton Drops Senate Bid, Seeks Keys House Seat Instead
After talking with his primary opponent and Democratic Party officials in recent weeks, Democrat Daniel Horton is dropping his bid for a competitive Senate seat in South Florida and is turning his ambitions to a state House seat, the Miami Herald’s Kristin M. Clark reports via the “Naked Politics” blog.
Two Florida House Candidates have Identified as Independents
As voters increasingly choose not to identify with either major political party, the two candidates running for a state House seat covering northern Sarasota County both may be poised to appeal to those fed up with partisan politics. The Sarasota Herald Tribune reports via the “HT Politics” blog.
Failing Florida Treatment Plant Pumped Sewage into Mangroves
State inspectors say a failing sewage plant in southwest Florida pumped hundreds of thousands of gallons of inadequately treated liquid sewage into nearby mangroves earlier this year. The Orlando Sentinel cites the Naples Daily News story.
Senate Chamber Gutted, Reconstruction Moves Full Speed Ahead
The Florida Senate is having a facelift, waving goodbye to its 1970s look after spending $5 million in renovations this summer, Allison Nielsen reports for SunshineStateNews.com.
Virginia Reminds Insurers: Rates, Rating Rules Must Be Cost-Based
Virginia Insurance Commissioner Jacqueline Cunningham has issued an administrative letter this month reminding insurers to review the rate standards outlined in Virginia Code § 38.2-1904 to ensure compliance, Insurance Journal reports.
Oklahoma Commissioner to Insurers: Pay Roof Repairs that Meet Building Codes
In the midst of storm season, the Oklahoma Insurance Department is reminding insurance companies to cover roof repairs that meet state or local building codes. The agency issued a bulletin to insurers on April 25 after receiving multiple consumer complaints, Insurance Journal reports.
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