Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Tuesday, April 15

 

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House Measure Would Lessen Storm Insurance Bite

Home insurers would be able to purchase less state backup insurance under a measure approved by a House panel in hopes it will spare Floridians from big insurance assessments if there is a major hurricane.

Florida catastrophe fund cut gets panel’s OK

The House Policy and Budget Council gave the nod Monday to a bill that would reduce the size of the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund by $3 billion.

Fla. Senate May Drop Insurers’ Antitrust Protection

Florida lawmakers are considering legislation that would revoke the insurance industry’s antitrust protections in the state as part of an effort to resolve the difficulties facing the state’s insurance market.

Allstate seeks rehearing on license suspension

Allstate Floridian has asked the First District Court of Appeal in Tallahassee for a rehearing on its recent decision upholding a suspension of Allstate’s license to write new business in Florida.

Florida Court: Allstate Insurance Back in Business–Again

Allstate Insurance Co. filed a motion Monday with Florida’s First District Court of Appeal requesting a rehearing of an opinion the court issued on April 4, which lifted a stay of suspension to write new business.

Allstate seeks rehearing; continues to write new business

Allstate’s sales agents in Florida can keep writing new policies after the company asked an appeals court to rehear its suspension by state insurance regulators.

Nationwide dropping coverage for thousands of Florida homeowners

Another big Florida property insurer is dropping customers to reduce its storm risk statewide.

Future of emergency network in doubt

A congressional panel wants to know why a plan aimed at using public airwaves and private money to create a nationwide emergency communications network failed to attract any interest in an otherwise successful spectrum auction.

Congressmen, Martinez disagree on fate of catastrophe fund bill

Republican Sen. Mel Martinez of Florida is in a position to help move along a bill that could lower property insurance rates in disaster-prone states, but hasn’t been aggressive enough in doing so, said the two Democratic House members sponsoring the legislation.

COMMENTARY: Freezing rates may put us in hot water later

Keeping insurance rates down is a key political issue in a South Florida Senate race. And that means trouble for us.

New Storm Monitoring Technique Adopted by Hurricane Forecasters

The National Hurricane Center will implement a new technique this summer, developed by researchers at the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) and the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL), to continually monitor landfalling storms in the United States.

State may give residents break on storm supplies

Florida residents would again be able to buy some hurricane supplies tax free under a measure approved unanimously by a House committee.

CHARLIE CRIST: Provide Basic Fla. Health Insurance

Advances in health care have given us longer lives and improved the quality of those bonus years.

Florida Senator Mike Fasano supports Space Coast funds

A powerful Senate chairman had encouraging words Monday for Space Coast lawmakers who have had little luck finding $15 million in state tax incentives that they say is needed to rescue the industry.

Commission rejects limiting Florida tax revenues

Proposal paving way for Internet sales tax gets OK

A powerful tax commission Monday rejected a proposal to limit state and local tax revenues.

Update: Tax-swap proposal hearing scheduled for Friday

The chairman of the Senate’s tax-writing committee told a powerful state commission on taxation today that he will hold hearings Friday on its proposal to swap a sales-tax increase for property tax reductions.

Options shrink for property tax reform in Florida

Just last month it looked as if Florida voters could have two choices for reforming the property tax system in November. Now, it’s possible they could have none.

Ethanol’s first flow via central Florida

Florida will soon be home to the nation’s first ethanol pipeline.

Berkshire Hathaway CEO Resigns

Brandon, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of General Re Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., has decided to resign effective today.

Georgia Lawmakers Vote to Give Insurers a Tax Break

Georgia lawmakers couldn’t agree on cuts to property or incomes taxes this legislative session. But they did manage to usher through legislation to provide $146 million to insurance companies over five years.

California Names New Associate Insurance Commissioner and Press Secretary

California Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner announced that Darrel Ng will serve as associate insurance commissioner for communications and press relations, and press secretary.

 

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