Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report – Thursday, April 20, 2017
Apr 20, 2017
Florida House Votes to Repeal PIP Auto Insurance
The Florida House on Wednesday overwhelmingly approved a Proposal that would Repeal the State’s longstanding “No Fault” Auto Insurance System. THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA reports via the Sun-Sentinel.
· Fed-Up Drivers Cheer as Florida House Votes 89-29 to End “Double Tax” PIP Plan
· Florida May Scrap Auto Insurance Law
Florida’s Public Property Damage Strategy Praised By National Group
Florida’s strategy for dealing with Property Insurance in a State at high risk of Hurricanes is getting high praise from a Flood Insurance Work Group of the American Academy of Actuaries. The Tampa Bay Times reports.
· Click Here to Access the Report
Sea-Level Rise Creates Fears of Drop in Florida Coastal Property Values
Climate Change and Rising Sea Levels are generating concerns over Coastal-Property Demand in Florida. When the Sea Level is high enough that Residents’ boat masts are unable to clear bridges on their way to the ocean, Coral Gables Mayor Jim Cason believes Coastal Home Values will drop and Banks will refrain from writing 30-year mortgages for such properties. Bloomberg reports via the PCI SmartBrief.
· The Nightmare Scenario for Florida’s Coastal Homeowners
Not Yet Dead: Insurance Claims Reform Bill Advances in State House
An effort to stem Claims Abuses blamed for driving up Homeowner Insurance Rates isn’t dead yet in the State Legislature. Ron Hurtibise reports for the Sun-Sentinel.
Velocity Risk Underwriters Launches Landlords Policy in Florida
Velocity Risk Underwriters has expanded its Florida products to include a Landlords Policy for Rental Properties (DP-3) for Annual, Seasonal, and Vacation rentals. Insurance Journal reports.
Judge Blocks City of Miami From Targeting Airbnb Hosts
A Miami-Dade Judge has temporarily blocked Miami’s City Government from going after thousands of Airbnb Hosts accused of Illegally Renting their Homes by the day and week. The Miami Herald’s David Smiley reports.
Will Florida Legislature Support Sober Home Cleanup Bills?
Bills Filed by Palm Beach County Lawmakers that would target Unethical Marketing Practices in the Drug-Treatment Industry, moving forward with Statewide Support and the Governor’s backing, have advanced to the Floor in the State House and Senate. Lulu Ramadan reports for the Palm Beach Post.
Lawmakers Poised to Address Septic Tanks
This probably won’t be the year Florida Lawmakers force Septic Tank Inspections to protect waterways, but they are on the path to get an accurate account of how many exist in the State. Isadora Rangel reports for TCPalm.com.
It’s Up To Rick Scott Now: Should Local Governments Be Allowed To Regulate Uber?
Years of fighting between Local Governments, the Legislature and Ride-Sharing Companies such as Uber and Lyft could soon come to an end. Michael Auslen and Christopher O’Donnell report for the Miami Herald.
Businesses Like House Workers’ Comp Bill; Workers, Lawyers Don’t
Nearly a year after a Florida Supreme Court Ruling rocked the State’s Workers Compensation Insurance System, the House on Wednesday overwhelmingly approved a Bill aimed at holding down Insurance Rates for Businesses. THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA’s Brandon Larrabee reports via the Palm Beach Post.
· Senate Workers’ Comp Sponsor Open to Compromise as Bill Heads to Floor
Venice Hospital Fight Highlighted as Deregulation Bill Passes House
New Hospitals – including Two Proposed in Southern Sarasota County – could be built without permission from the State under Legislation that passed the Florida House Wednesday. The Sarasota Herald-Tribune’s Zac Anderson reports.
Florida’s New Tactic to Fight Zika: Release of 20K Bacteria-Infected Mosquitoes
The Keys trial is MosquitoMate’s second U.S. Test with Aedes Aegypti Mosquitoes, after a similar trial in Clovis, California, last year. Stock Island is about 130 miles southwest of Miami, where Aedes Aegypti Mosquitoes were blamed for spreading the Zika virus last year. Insurance Journal reports.
Senate Sets Tight Timeline on Frank Artiles Investigation
Senate Rules Chair Lizbeth Benacquisto has appointed the Chamber’s Top Lawyer to Investigate a Complaint by next Tuesday. FloridaPolitics.com’s Jim Rosica reports.
Speaker Seeks More Details On Use Of Secret State Money
Florida House Speaker Richard Corcoran noted in a Letter he would withhold money from FSU’s Budget next year if details were not provided. Arek Sarkissian reports for the Naples Daily News.
An Updated Draft of Rules Governing the Election of the Republican’s Freshman Caucus Leader — and eventual Speaker of the House — moves up the organizational meeting and stipulates a Member found in Violation of Republican Conference Rules would be Ineligible for Consideration. FloridaPolitics.com Publisher Peter Schorsch writes about the development.
Insurance Industry Wants FSOC to Maintain Insurance Expertise as Woodall Due to Exit
Insurers want to prevent the Loss of Insurance Expertise on the Financial Stability Oversight Council when Independent Voting Member Roy Woodall’s Six-Year Term Expires in September. “Treasury doesn’t have that much experience in Insurance, so it makes the Insurance Expert particularly important.” said Dave Snyder of PCI. Reuters reports via the PCI SmartBrief.
Surplus Lines Insurance Bills Advance in Texas Legislature
The Texas Legislature has pushed Several Bills related to the Excess and Surplus Lines Industry out of Committee. Insurance Journal reports.
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