Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report: Thursday, April 23, 2015

Apr 23, 2015

 

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

 

2:30 p.m.–Florida Insurance Guaranty Association Finance and Audit Committee meeting.  Tallahassee, Florida.  To view the meeting notice, click here.

 

 

Daily Florida Insurance-Related News

 

At Everglades, Obama Warns of Damage from Climate Change Neglect 

President Barack Obama looked out on the tall grasses of the Florida Everglades Wednesday and declared that the sweeping wetlands illustrate the dangers posed by climate change.  Josh Lederman and Jennifer Kay of the Associated Press report via Scripps’ “Political Fix Florida” blog.

 

Uber battle heats up in Florida Legislature

The fight between ridesharing app companies like Uber and Lyft and traditional taxicab companies is coming to a head as the Legislature enters its final days.  Gray Rohrer reports for the Orlando Sentinel 

 

Florida lawmakers outlaw traffic-ticket quotas

Traffic-ticket quotas for law-enforcement agencies would be illegal under a bill passed by the Florida Legislature.  The Associated Press reports via the Orlando Sentinel. 

 

Rick Scott turns up the heat on Florida Senate and hospitals

With just eight days left in the 2015 Legislative Session, Governor Rick Scott has turned up the heat on the Florida Senate.  SaintPetersBlog.com’s Christine Jordan Sexton reports.

 

Charlotte’s Web challenge dismissed; Florida Department of Health ordered to respond to final one

One challenge remains to block planting Florida’s first legal marijuana crop.  And the Department of Health a deadline yesterday in its effort to defeat it and begin implementing the Compassionate Medical Cannabis Act of 2014.  SaintPetersBlog.com’s James Call reports.

 

Black caucus elects freshman State Representative Narain as next leader

Freshman House Member Ed Narain was elected chairman of the Florida Legislative Black Caucus on Monday evening, Tia Mitchell reports for the Florida Times-Union.

 

State utility regulators confirmed by Florida Senate

The Senate voted 33-1 Wednesday to confirm former State Representative Jimmy Patronis and Julie Brown to the Florida Public Service Commission.  The Associated Press reports via the Bradenton Herald.


Mississippi Attorney General Hood Sues State Farm, Alleges Katrina Claims Fraud

Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood has sued State Farm Fire and Casualty Co. for allegedly shifting hundreds of millions of dollars in Hurricane Katrina wind claims to the state by mislabeling them as flood claims, Insurance Journal reports.

 

Kansas Governor Vetos Expanded Uber Driver Regulation

Kansas Governor Sam Brownback has vetoed a bill that would have increased regulations on ridesharing companies like Uber, a decision that could face an override vote when the Legislature returns from its annual recess April 29.  Associated Press’ Nicholas Clayton reports via Insurance Journal

 

Disasters could be less disastrous

SmarterSafer Coalition, a national organization, has published a study, “Bracing for the Storm,” which provides policy suggestions from decades of disaster handling.  TheHill.com’s Alan Daley notes the story.

 

 

 

 

 

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