Category: Florida Insurance and Political Headlines

A bill aimed at prevented insurance companies from cancelling, non-renewing or increasing consumers’ insurance premiums for filing a towing or roadside assistance claim failed to advance in Oklahoma’s legislative session, so the state’s insurance commissioner plans take regulatory action. https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/southcentral/2018/05/07/488492.htm

Puerto Rico governor Ricardo Rosselló has introduced proposed legislation to grant international insurers and reinsurers greater access to the local market, James Young reports for BNAmericas.com. Jamaica looks at cat bonds, other tools to confront disasters   http://www.bnamericas.com/en/news/insurance/puerto-rico-governor-submits-bill-to-open-insurance-market/

Competing constituencies help account for the difficulty states have had in regulating and taxing the short-term rental industry, even as some cities have taken action to regulate short-term rentals.  RouteFifty.com notes the Stateline article. https://www.routefifty.com/management/2018/05/states-struggle-to-regulate-airbnb/148001/

Lawsuits against property and casualty insurers with the largest market shares in Florida increased sharply in the first quarter of 2018 compared with the same period last year, and Hurricane Irma claims are to blame, insurers say.  Ron Hurtibise reports for the …

Florida Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jimmy Patronis sent a  letter to Citizens Property Insurance Corporation President and CEO Barry Gilway today regarding the lack of a requirement for those lobbying the Corporation. The letter can also be found here.  Capital Soup …

As the century rolls on, if their forecasts prove accurate, Floridians getting mortgages on waterfront property may want to consider whether their homes will even be accessible or habitable by the time they make their final payment.  Dale White reports …

Fallen trees and uncollected debris stacked along roads were among the biggest impediments — along with traffic, wind and flooding — to power restoration following Hurricane Irma, according to officials from Florida Power & Light, Duke Energy Florida, Tampa Electric, …

Large electric customers and local governments complained about communications meltdowns and urged large-scale “undergrounding” of Florida’s electric infrastructure, FloridaPolitics.com’s Michael Moline reports. http://floridapolitics.com/archives/262804-customers-clamor-for-undergrounding-during-psc-storm-hardening-workshop

A lawyer for the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has told a Tallahassee judge that “at least two federal agencies” and Miami-Dade police are pursuing criminal investigations into March’s collapse of a pedestrian bridge at the Florida International University campus.  Jim Rosica reports for FloridaPolitics.com. …

Willful burning of forest, grass or woodlands not owned by the person do the burning is a felony punishable by a fine of up to $5,000, five years in prison or both.  Mark Skoneki reports for the Orlando Sentinel. http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/politics/political-pulse/os-wildfire-arson-reports-20180504-story.html