Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report: Tuesday, December 18

Dec 18, 2012

 

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

 

5:30 p.m.–Termite Public Workshop with State Representative Doug Broxson.  In order to further increase the chances for successful protection of homes and businesses from the aggressive Formosan termite, Representative Broxson (R-Midway) and the Navarre Area Board of Realtors® are hosting a 2nd termite public workshop for area residents.  Experienced staff from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Bureau of Entomology and Pest Control will review subterranean termite contracts and answer questions about disclaimers and exclusions that a contract may contain.  Homeowners are encouraged to bring their subterranean termite contracts to the workshop for individual review.  Location:  Navarre Community Center, 1917 Navarre School Road.  Navarre, FL  32566

 

 

Daily Insurance-Related News

 

New policy talks continue between Citizens Property Insurance, insurance regulators

The deadline for Citizens Property Insurance Corp. to respond to state regulators over a new homeowners policy came and went Monday, but little was resolved in the dispute over the rates for the new policy.

 

Brevard County gears up to be tsunami-ready

It’s a pretty remote possibility that Brevard County’s coastline will be hit with a tsunami.

 

State Representative Frank Artiles:  Insurers expect a nice Christmas gift from Citizens Property Insurance

Tis the season to be generous, and apparently the Board of Governors of Citizens Property Insurance Corp., the state’s insurer of last resort, is prepared to give a $350 million Christmas present to private insurance companies.

 

State Representative David Santiago:  Get Government Out of Property Insurance

Freshman David Santiago, R-Deltona, is pursuing an ambitious agenda for the 2013 legislative session, one that includes depopulating the state’s property insurance program, expediting the home foreclosure process, and making it easier for veterans to start new businesses.

 

Forced-placed insurer QBE could cut Florida rates 19 percent

QBE, the largest forced-placed homeowner insurance carrier in Florida, has offered to reduce its rates by 19 percent after facing criticism from Florida regulators.

 

Medicaid expansion is huge issue in Florida

Some of the state’s poorest individuals, who today aren’t considered poor enough under the state’s current Medicaid system, would be eligible to receive health care – and the federal government would give Florida billions of dollars to pay for it – if Governor Rick Scott and the Legislature agree on a plan from the White House this spring.

 

Florida Blue insurer to buy Diagnostic Clinic

Florida Blue, one of the largest insurers, said Monday it is purchasing the Diagnostic Clinic, one of the largest doctors’ practices in Pinellas County.

 

State Representative Dennis Baxley:  Gun-free zones create “sterile” targets

The chair of the House Judiciary Committee said more people carrying guns might prevent massacres like the one that occurred in Newtown, Conn., on Friday.

 

Florida Democratic Party chairman race down to two

The decision by Annette Taddeo to withdraw from the race for Florida Democratic Party chair over the weekend has turned the race into a two-person battle, with Allison Tant of Tallahassee and Alan Clendenin of Tampa left to vie for the position.

 

Former Governor Charlie Crist to testify in U.S. Senate about Florida election law

Former Florida Governor Charlie Crist will testify about the electoral process in Florida on Wednesday before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee in Washington.

 

Florida’s springs face crisis from pollution, declining flows

Florida’s springs are places of visual magic, as two paddlers discovered recently at Rainbow Springs in Marion County.

 

U.S. Senate takes up $60 billion Sandy bill amid charges of waste

The U.S. Senate on Monday began debating a $60.4 billion aid bill to rebuild communities devastated by Superstorm Sandy amid criticism by conservative groups who said the measure was loaded with wasteful, non-disaster spending.

 

Coastal lawmakers talk agenda for windstorm insurance

Legislators on Monday unveiled a plan to increase the Texas windstorm insurance war chest and help lift the financial burden from the shoulders of Texas’s coastal homeowners.

 

Insurance rater Best raises U.S. asbestos losses estimate to $85 billion

Insurance rating firm AM Best on Monday raised to $85-billion its estimate for losses that U.S. property and casualty insurers can ultimately expect from lawsuits brought by victims of asbestos exposure.

 

 

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