Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report: Thursday, February 6
Feb 6, 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
9:00 a.m. — Florida Cabinet meeting. Agenda includes a report on the impact of flood insurance rate hikes. To view the complete agenda, click here.
9:00 a.m. — Florida Senate General Government Appropriations Subcommittee meeting. Agenda includes consideration of the following bills:
- CS/SB 542 relating to Flood Insurance by Senator Jeff Brandes and the Senate Committee on Banking and Insurance
- SB 444 relating to Workers’ Compensation by Senator Bill Galvano
Daily Florida Insurance-Related News
Bill to move sinkhole claims through Citizens-approved contractors clears Senate panel
Homeowners insured by state-backed Citizens Property Insurance Corp. would not be able to choose their own contractors or neutral contractors to fix sinkhole damage to their homes in a bill that passed through the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee on Tuesday, The Florida Current’s Gray Rohrer reports.
Governor Scott’s hurricane preparedness sales tax holiday numbers put hitch in bill
Governor Rick Scott’s vision of a 15-day sales tax holiday for generators, battery-powered radios and other items related to hurricane readiness saw a hiccup this week as lawmakers stumbled over his overly optimistic estimates of how much the holiday would save consumers, The Florida Current’s Gray Rohrer reports.
Appeals court rules in favor of red-light camera notices
The Fourth District Court of Appeal ruled constitutional the Florida law requiring red-light camera violations to go to the first listed owner on a vehicle registration, Peter Schorsch reports for SaintPetersBlog.com.
President Obama nominates 4 to Florida federal bench
President Barack Obama has nominated four people to serve as federal judges in Florida’s middle and southern districts, the Associated Press reports via the Tampa Tribune.
Florida House panel moves on homeowner association managers bill
Two proposed committee bills protecting community association managers took their first steps Wednesday, receiving unanimous support from the House Civil Justice Subcommittee, The Florida Current’s Gray Rohrer reports.
Florida Senate committee approves communications tax cut
As legislative leaders join Gov. Rick Scott in calling for $500 million in cuts to taxes and fees this year, a Senate committee Tuesday approved a reduction in communications service taxes, Peter Schorsch reports for SaintPetersBlog.com.
Senate Fast Tracks State-Run Tech Agency
The Senate is once again trying to upload an information-technology agency to oversee large computer projects and set tech policy for the state government, THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA’s Jim Turner reports via SunshineStateNews.com.
Negron wants to review 4-year degree programs at state colleges
Senate Appropriations Chairman Joe Negron, R-Stuart, said Wednesday he will push to bolster Florida’s university system during the upcoming legislative session, in part by considering whether state colleges are offering too many four-year degrees, THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA’s Brandon Larrabee reports via the Florida Times-Union.
Republican incumbent David Santiago draws Democratic challenger in House District 27
Controversial DeBary Mayor Bob Garcia has finally filed to run in House District 27 as a Democrat, setting up a showdown with incumbent Republican David Santiago.
Florida race could be national indicator
Because it is this year’s first federal election, attention must be paid to the March 11 voting to fill the congressional seat vacated by the death in October of Florida Republican C.W. “Bill” Young, who served in Congress 43 years, TheSpectrum.com’s Editorial Board explains.
State v. Federal Regulation Debate a Relic, Says Federal Insurance Office Chief McRaith
The state versus federal oversight discussion is a “binary debate” that is a relic of a bygone era, the director of the Federal Insurance Office told lawmakers at a Congressional hearing Tuesday, Elizabeth Festa reports for Insurance Journal.
- Randy Neugebauer: It’s still not clear what value the Federal Insurance Office brings
- Neugebauer to FIO (March 2013): I’m concerned about IAIS proposal
Key House Republicans Oppose Delaying Flood Insurance Increases
The effort to delay huge increases in insurance premiums for homeowners in flood-prone areas faces a skeptical House chairman who is largely standing behind the changes Congress oversaw in the nation’s flood insurance program less than two years ago, the Associated Press reports via Insurance Journal.
Citi to Pay $110 Million in Force-Placed Insurance Settlement
Citigroup Inc. has agreed to pay $110 million to thousands of homeowners who were forcibly charged expensive property insurance premiums, a court filing showed, as several U.S. banks and insurers were criticized by regulators over such practices, Reuters’ Sakthi Prasad reports via Insurance Journal.
PCI Bolsters Washington Operations with 3 Hires: Glassic, Austin, Gray
The Property Casualty Insurers Association of America (PCI) said it has added three new hires, Insurance Journal reports.
National Tornado Summit Focused on Catastrophe Preparedness, Response
The third annual National Tornado Summit being held Feb. 10 and 11 in Oklahoma City will bring together insurance industry professionals, emergency managers, policymakers and weather experts, Insurance Journal reports.
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