Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report–Thursday, February 19, 2015
Feb 19, 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
9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.–Florida Commission on Hurricane Loss Projection Methodology Flood Standards Development Committee. To access the agenda and meeting materials, click here.
10:00 a.m.–Florida Workers’ Compensation Joint Underwriting Association Board of Governors meeting. To view the meeting notice, click here.
3:00 p.m.–Florida Department of Financial Services–Division of Insurance Fraud meeting. Review applications for the Anti-Fraud Reward Program and discuss reward amounts. Teleconference: (850) 413-1558; conference ID: 51700. To view the agenda, click here.
Daily Florida Insurance-Related News
Tobacco industry re-ignites litigation fight with Florida’s trial lawyers
The powerful cigarette industry re-ignited Florida’s tobacco wars Wednesday with a one-sentence bill that would strip away the right of thousands of Florida victims from collecting millions in damages. The Miami Herald’s Mary Ellen Klas reports via the “Naked Politics” blog.
Florida eclipses California with more consumers buying insurance on health-law marketplaces
Florida has eclipsed California to become the state with the highest number of consumers buying health coverage through new insurance markets under the Affordable Care Act, according to federal statistics released Wednesday. The Associated Press’ Kelli Kennedy reports via the Minneapolis Star-Tribune.
Weeks after data breach, Anthem Inc. acquires Florida’s Simply Healthcare
On the heels of a data breach that put the personal information of millions of people at risk across the nation, healthcare corporation Anthem, Inc. announced Wednesday that it will acquire Florida managed care company Simply Healthcare, adding another 200,000 Floridians to its network. The Miami Herald’s Chabeli Herrera reports.
New York insurance brokerage and reinsurer opens Miami office
Integro Ltd., a New York-based international insurance brokerage, reinsurance, and risk management firm, has opened its first Florida office in Miami to capitalize on business in the state, the South Florida Business Journal’s Nina Lincoff reports.
Uber wants to hear your favorite Florida Uber story
With just two weeks until the 2015 legislative session, the rideshare company Uber is looking to drum up support from Florida users. Janelle Irwin reports for SaintPetersBlog.com.
Reggie Fullwood Wins Special House Election to Return to Tallahassee
A familiar face is returning to Tallahassee as Democrat Reggie Fullwood won a special election for the Florida House seat he was forced to vacate after he failed to make the ballot last year due to papers not being filed correctly. Kevin Derby reports for SunshineStateNews.com.
More than 82,000 votes didn’t get counted in governor’s race, but did it really matter?
Consider this the last word on the 2014 governor’s race between Charlie Crist and Rick Scott, Gary Fineout explains.
Appeal Court Upholds Florida’s Ban on Open-Carry, But Case Appears Headed For Supremes
A court in St. Lucie denied various motions in a case about Florida’s Open Carry ban, but certified three questions to the 4th District Court of Appeal in West Palm Beach, including a direct question about the constitutionality of the ban and its perceived vagueness, FlaglerLive.com reports.
Amendment 1 could help pay for water projects, House Speaker says
The Florida House has received $1.2 billion in funding requests for local water projects and some of those could receive money from Amendment 1, House Speaker Steve Crisafulli said Wednesday. Bruce Ritchie reports for SaintPetersBlog.com.
- Nobody Wants Dirty Water, Says House Speaker In Response To Amendment 1 Rally
- Putnam looks to shift oversight of state water to his department – away from Scott
Frankel tells mayors she’s seeking federal help on sober home regulations
U.S. Representative Lois Frankel, D-West Palm Beach, told a group of mayors and other municipal officials from her district on Wednesday that she has asked Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julian Castro and officials in the Justice Department about ways to help local governments regulate sober houses without running afoul of federal law. The Palm Beach Post’s George Bennett reports for the “Post on Politics” blog.
Jeff Atwater Brings In New Team Members
Florida CFO Jeff Atwater announced some changes in his leadership team on Wednesday, Kevin Derby reports for SunshineStateNews.com.
Scott’s jobs czar Panuccio is in Latvala’s doghouse
Florida House Speaker Steve Crisafulli, R-Merritt Island, has criticized Governor Rick Scott’s administration, saying officials are not complying with a 2014 law that requires the Department of Economic Opportunity to evaluate and rank applications for highly-sought sports stadium grants.
Publix, Wal-Mart at Odds over Separating Liquor, Groceries
A wide-ranging alcohol measure that would allow shoppers to pick up fifths of Jack Daniel’s in the same stores where they buy groceries passed its first House test Wednesday over the objection of Florida’s largest grocer. THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA’s Jim Turner reports via SunshineStateNews.com.
Florida beer battle is at a turning point
Legislation that would put taprooms – also called tasting rooms – on more solid legal footing passed its first Senate committee unanimously Wednesday, with top Republicans pushing for the measure. The Sarasota Herald-Tribune’s Zac Anderson reports via the “HT Politics” blog.
White House hosts Tampa forum on seniors’ priorities
An event Thursday in Tampa comes amid a historic demographic shift in the U.S. as the massive baby boom generation moves closer to old age, the Sun-Sentinel reports.
Report Challenges Eliminating Deductibility of Foreign Reinsurance Premiums
A report from the Tax Foundation challenges recent tax proposals, including the White House’s 2015 budget, which have included provisions to limit deductions of “legitimate business costs for tax purposes.” Insurance Journal reports.
California Commissioner Tells Insurers to Cease Price Optimization
California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones on Wednesday issued a notice to property/casualty insurers doing business in California advising them that so-called “price optimization” in rate making is unfairly discriminatory and violates the law, Insurance Journal reports.
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