Category: Florida Insurance and Political Headlines

Citrus canker has led to more than a 70 percent reduction in Florida’s annual citrus crop while nearly tripling the cost of production.  Kevin Bouffard reports for the Lakeland Ledger. http://www.theledger.com/news/20180310/new-cash-crop-frostproof-citrus-grower-looking-to-try-bamboo-to-offset-losses

In an effort to shore up the newly-enacted law limiting gun sales, an influential member of the Constitutional Revision Commission has proposed an amendment that will prevent future constitutional challenges to the law.  The Miami Herald’s Mary Ellen Klas reports …

The Bradenton Herald’s Hannah Morse recounts how Manatee County is picking up the pieces. http://www.bradenton.com/news/local/article204494959.html

Florida’s $88.7 Billion Budget is Ready and Headed for Sunday Vote Following the destruction of Hurricane Irma and the arrival of thousands of Puerto Rican Residents after Hurricane Maria, Lawmakers had vowed to increase money available for apartments and lower-cost …

Following the destruction of Hurricane Irma and the arrival of thousands of Puerto Rican residents after Hurricane Maria, lawmakers had vowed to increase money available for apartments and lower-cost housing, but the Parkland response changed that and many other spending …

A bill passed by Florida lawmakers empowering some personnel in public schools to carry firearms to guard against attacks like last month’s massacre near Miami could expose these employees to potentially costly civil lawsuits, legal experts said.  Reuters’ Tina Bellon …

This marks a second term as chief justice for Canady, 63, who led the court in 2010 to 2012.  Suzie Schottelkotte reports for the Winter Haven News Chief. http://www.newschief.com/news/20180308/lakelands-canady-named-chief-justice-of-florida-supreme-court

Continuing a trend, the Florida Senate on Thursday gave final approval to a bill that would start the 2020 Legislative Session, THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA reports via FloridaPolitics.com. http://floridapolitics.com/archives/258451-early-start-approved-2020-session

Florida Leads the Nation in Home Insurance Costs According to a New Study from Insurance.com, Florida Homeowners pay an average of $3,575, which is 191 percent higher than the national average of $1,228.   National Mortgage Professional News reports. More Than $8.4M …

Millions more on life-saving drugs and treatment were likely to be spent on the opioid crisis, but that disappeared after the Parkland massacre.  The Tampa Bay Times’ Lawrence Mower reports for “The Buzz” blog. http://www.tampabay.com/florida-politics/buzz/2018/03/08/legislators-set-to-approve-massive-opioid-bill-but-lawmakers-wish-it-did-more/