Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report–Thursday, January 22, 2015
Jan 22, 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
Looking Ahead–Interim Committee Meetings
- Week of February 2, 2015
- Week of February 9, 2015
- Week of February 16, 2015
Daily Florida Insurance-Related News
Florida Governor Rick Scott Requests Search for New Insurance Commissioner, Other Agency Heads
Florida Governor Rick Scott responded to a letter from Florida CFO Jeff Atwater’s letter yesterday, saying he wanted the Cabinet’s opinions as he seeks to replace heads of three key state agencies, including state Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty.
- Florida Insurance Commissioner McCarty’s Re-appointment in Doubt
- Read CFO Jeff Atwater’s letter to Rick Scott
- Ouster of Florida’s top cop dividing Rick Scott and Republicans
- Florida Cabinet to Consider Revamp of Agency Head Hirings
- Scott sparks power struggle at top of Florida government
McCarty deserves credit for stabilizing Florida insurance market
It’s important to note that Florida’s insurance market has undoubtedly stabilized on Kevin McCarty’s watch, R-Street’s Christian Camara writes.
Homeowners insurance: Floridians pay more than double U.S. average
It’s still more expensive to buy homeowners insurance in Florida than anywhere else in the country, Tampa Bay Times’ Jeff Harrington reports.’
Florida Apartment Association Seeks Insurance Liability Study
The Florida Apartment Association will pursue an academic study of insurance liability issues to assess what steps can be taken to create a more affordable insurance market for apartment communities, Virtual Strategy magazine reports.
Bill would add boating under influence to Florida driver records
What you do on the water boating may impact you on the road behind the wheel. A Florida House member wants boating under the influence convictions to appear on a driving record just like DUIs, Isabel Mascareñas reports for WTSP-TV.
Florida is the worst state to get into a car accident, WalletHub.com study says
Getting behind the wheel in Florida is putting your wallet at risk, Michelle Quesada reports.
Florida in the Red for Highway Safety Laws
Florida’s highways lead straight to the danger zone, according to a new report on automobile safety laws released today, Allison Nielsen reports for SunshineStateNews.com.
Speed limit jumps to 70 mph on Central Florida roads
The speed limit is supposed to go up 5 mph to 70 mph on two major Metro Orlando toll roads by Saturday night, according to the Central Florida Expressway Authority. The Orlando Sentinel’s Dan Tracy reports.
As deadline nears, Uber pushes back on new rules
Just two weeks before Orlando’s new regulations take effect for Uber and other ride-hailing services, the tech giant continues to fight rules it says will hurt drivers and consumers. Mark Schlueb reports for the Orlando Sentinel.
Florida cities oppose pension bill
The Florida League of Cities, the lobbying group that represents the municipal governments, told the Senate Governmental Oversight and Accountability Committee that state municipalities would oppose a pension bill (SB 172), Sarasota Herald-Tribune’s Lloyd Dunkelberger reports for the “HT Politics” blog.
Rick Scott Wants to Cut Cellphone and TV Service Taxes by $470 Million
On Tuesday, Governor Rick Scott called for cutting Florida’s communication service tax by $470 million. Kevin Derby reports for SunshineStateNews.com.
Paul Renner Seems Headed for a Big Win in Race for Open Florida House Seat
Last year, Paul Renner lost by the narrowest of margins to Jay Fant in an ugly Republican primary for an open Florida House seat on Jacksonville’s Westside. Now, a few months later, he is the heavy favorite to win the House seat vacated by Travis Hutson’s decision to run for an open Florida Senate seat. Jeff Henderson reports for SunshineStateNews.com.
Florida’s new prisons chief promises wide-ranging changes
Florida’s new prisons chief on Tuesday promised wide-ranging changes amid the suspicious deaths of dozens of inmates in the state’s prisons, Associated Press’ Gary Fineout reports via SaintPetersBlog.com.
Bill to allow guns on Florida campuses passes first hurdle
A House committee approved a bill Tuesday that would allow guns on state university campuses just two months after a shooter wounded three people at a Florida State University library. Associated Press’ Brendan Farrington reports via SaintPetersBlog.com.
Dana Young A Florida House Power
The Florida House isn’t exactly friendly territory for female legislators, and plenty of them — usually on the Democratic side — will note that a woman has never led it as speaker. But there are plenty of women who have been moving up in the leadership ranks, including Marti Coley as speaker pro tempore last session and Dana Young
Mississippi group pushes for passage bill to disclose insurance costs
A group of lawmakers and residents from the Mississippi Gulf Coast are again pushing a bill that would require insurance companies to disclose how much they’re charging to insure property by geographic area. Jeff Amy reports for the Biloxi Sun-Herald.
Texas Windstorm Expert Panel to Discuss Work at Public Meeting
The Texas Windstorm Insurance expert panel will hold a public meeting on January 28 to inform the public about the progress of the panel’s work, to allow the public to observe the panel discussing its work, and to give the public an opportunity to comment and ask questions on the various components of the method or model, Insurance Journal reports.
IAIS Capital-Related Stakeholder Meeting on February 5, 2015
The IAIS has scheduled a meeting in Newport Beach, California for stakeholders to request any necessary clarifications of the Insurance Capital Standards consultation document published last month.
Michigan Joins International Information Exchange Agreement
Michigan’s insurance supervisor has joined an international supervisory cooperation and information exchange agreement, the International Association of Insurance Supervisors reports. There are now 45 jurisdictions admitted as signatories to the IAIS Multilateral Memorandum of Understanding, representing more than 62% of worldwide premium volume.
NAIC Names 2015 Committee Leadership
The NAIC has named its 2015 committee chairs and vice chairs, and assigned members to standing committees.
NAIC Hires International Insurance Regulatory Affairs Managing Director
The National Association of Insurance Commissioners has hired Christina Urias to the newly created position of International Insurance Regulatory Affairs Managing Director.
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