Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report – Thursday, March 10, 2016

 

Florida Supreme Court hears Ocala woman’s case against Insurance Company

A Marion County woman’s case made it to the Florida Supreme Court on Wednesday.  The seven justices spent part of the morning listening to arguments in her case against an insurance company that had provided coverage against sinkholes.  Nicki Gorny reports for the Ocala Star-Banner.

 

Citizens Insurance Changes Bouncing Between Chambers

Florida lawmakers are trying again on Citizen’s property insurance reforms after Governor Rick Scott vetoed last year’s proposal.  The changes would put new restrictions on private companies taking policies out of the state’s insurer of last resort.  Nick Evans reports for WFSU.org.

 

Florida Legislature sends Tax Proposals to voters

Florida voters will be asked to vote on three constitutional amendments dealing with taxes, the Associated Press reports via the Lakeland Ledger.

 

Dr. John Armstrong will not be confirmed as Surgeon General

Armstrong, who was appointed by Governor Rick Scott in 2012 to run the Department of Health, has had his confirmation stuck in the Senate Ethics and Elections Committee, where he did not have the votes needed to advance to the full Senate.  The Tampa Bay Times’ Michael Auslen reports via “The Buzz” blog.

 

Florida Legislature unanimously approves a host of Environmental Regulations

HB 589 sponsored by State Representative Cary Pigman in part makes it easier to obtain a water well contractor license; changes regulations around phosphate mines; allows more activities to contribute to the state’s water credit trading program; provides more oversight for stormwater management construction; and allows funds in the state’s solid waste landfill closure account to pay for a wider range of activities.  Phil Ammann reports via FloridaPolitics.com.

 

Scott to sign Bill to end Juvenile Detention Dispute

The Florida House unanimously passed a bill that would end years of legal wrangling between the state and counties over juvenile-detention costs, THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA’s Margie Menzel reports via the Lakeland Ledger.

 

Florida Legislature criminalizes violent threats against law enforcement officers

Florida lawmakers are honoring the wishes of the widow of slain Leon County Sheriff Deputy Chris Smith.   A bill making it a felony to threaten violence against a law enforcement officer has cleared both the House and Senate.   James Call reports for the Tallahassee Democrat.

 

Florida Battle Over Law Limiting Doctors’ Gun Speech Rages On

Florida’s “Docs versus Glocks” Law is the only one of its kind in the nation, the Associated Press’ Curt Anderson reports via Insurance Journal.

 

Forfeiture reform headed to Governor Scott, but is it in the 2016 mix?

A bill requiring that law enforcement charge someone with a crime before seizing their assets, among other reforms, has been largely credited to Senator Jeff Brandes and the compromise he negotiated between the Florida Sheriffs and liberal- and libertarian-minded reform advocates, FloridaPolitics.com’s Peter Schorsch reports.

 

Shacking up in Florida may soon be legal

The Florida House of Representatives  approved repealing a law dating to 1868 that makes it a crime for men and women to live together if they are not married.  THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA’s Jim Saunders and Tom Urban report via the Miami Herald.

 

What CEOs would tell Florida lawmakers in one sentence

The Miami Herald asks South Florida CEOs what they’d like to tell lawmakers.

 

U.S. Senate Bill Would Require Testing Drone Operators on Rules of the Sky

All U.S. drone operators would for the first time have to prove they understand aviation regulations under broad legislation introduced Wednesday in the Senate.  Bloomberg’s Alan Levin reports via Insurance Journal.

 

 

 

 

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