Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report–Tuesday, August 5, 2014
Aug 5, 2014
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Daily Florida Insurance-Related Events
There are no events scheduled for today.
Daily Florida Insurance-Related News
Florida Escapes Kiplinger/National Weather Service Top 10 Disaster States List
Some locations experience more than their fair share of severe weather. While no location is completely safe, read which 10 states have suffered the biggest estimated property losses from disasters during the past eight years, according to Kiplinger and the National Weather Service via National Underwriter’s PropertyCasualty360.com.
Florida Association for Insurance Reform defends Citizens Property Insurance
The recent Palm Beach Post article critical of Citizens Property Insurance Corporation’s alleged lavish travel junkets to buy reinsurance was unbalanced, unfair, and frankly over-the-top, writes Florida Association for Insurance Reform President Jay Neal in a letter to the Bradenton Herald.
Could Citizens Become Too Competitive in Florida?
Florida’s state-backed property insurer’s proposed rate reduction is raising questions about whether it will make the insurer competitive with the private market, Michael Adams reports for Insurance Journal.
Savannah-based company skirts Florida law
Savannah-based TMX Finance, which has opened 26 InstaLoan stores across Florida, skirts the ban on triple-digit interest rates by offering loans larded with costly and nearly useless insurance products, Paul Kiel reports for BusinessinSavannah.com.
Health insurers raise 2015 Florida exchange rates
Eight insurance companies are raising the price of health plans and three are lowering them in Florida through the Affordable Care Act exchange, state insurance officials said Monday. But whether you’ll pay more or less depends on a complex formula including where you live and how companies are competing in that market, Associated Press’ Kelli Kennedy explains via SaintPetersBlog.com.
Special Session on Redistricting Officially Called, Starts Thursday
On Monday, Florida Senate President Don Gaetz, R-Fort Walton Beach, and Florida House Speaker Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel, officially called a special session to redraw congressional districts after a Leon County circuit judge ruled their previous efforts failed to pass constitutional muster, Kevin Derby reports for SunshineStateNews.com.
- State lawmakers plan quick fix for election maps
- Tampa Bay lawmakers lead work on political maps
- Are legislators headed for stand-off with judge and more litigation?
- Thousands of Volusia County mail-in ballots returned as undeliverable
- Redistricting–What’s Next?
Same-sex marriage ban struck down in Broward County
A third judge in Florida has overturned the state’s ban on same-sex marriage in a single county but stayed his decision pending an appeal, Associated Press’ Jennifer Kay reports via SaintPetersBlog.com.
Florida doctors’ group comes out against medical marijuana
Raising concerns about public health risks of “unintended consequences,” the Florida Medical Association has announced its opposition to Florida’s proposed medical marijuana initiative, Amendment 2, Todd Powers reports for Orlando Sentinel’s “Central Florida Political Pulse” blog.
Randolph Bracy, Richard Stark file for re-election in 2016
Democratic incumbent state Reps. Randolph Bracy and Richard Stark each opened campaign accounts to run again in 2016, according to the Florida Division of Elections, Phil Ammann reports for SaintPetersBlog.com.
New Force-Placed Insurance Rules Prompt $100 Million Agency Sale
One of the country’s largest overseers of troubled home loans, Nationstar Mortgage Holdings Inc., is quietly trying to sell a $100 million insurance agency that doesn’t appear to exist, Associated Press’ Jeff Horowitz reports via Insurance Journal.
Insurance Industry Hurricane Tour of Texas Coast to Begin August 18
The insurance industry wants Texas coastal residents to know about hurricane preparedness and insurance coverage for future hurricanes, Insurance Journal reports.
Five GOP Candidates Vying for Kansas Insurance Commissioner Post
Five Republicans are running for Kansas insurance commissioner and seeking to replace retiring three-term GOP Commissioner Sandy Praeger, Insurance Journal reports.
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