Category: Insurance Regulatory News

Federal investments in research and development (R and D) have historically supported the security of the nation, the protection of public health and the environment, the growth of new industries, and the employment of millions of Americans.

The legislation, one of House Speaker Richard Corcoran’s priorities, would have ended the state’s no-fault auto insurance law and moved Florida to an at-fault system similar to those in 38 other states.  The Tampa Bay Times’ Elizabeth Koh reports for …

A measure aimed at toughening Florida’s texting-while-driving law was positioned Wednesday for a final House vote, but has run into trouble from lawmakers worried it may be used to target black motorists.  John Kennedy reports via the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. http://www.heraldtribune.com/news/20180228/tougher-texting-while-driving-bill-hits-florida-senate-opposition

Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis, also the state’s Fire Marshal, Thursday applauded a Senate panel’s unanimous approval of a workers’ compensation insurance bill that could provide expanded benefits to first responders with job-related post-traumatic stress disorder, FloridaPolitics.com reports. http://floridapolitics.com/archives/257780-jimmy-patronis-cant-stop-wont-stop-first-responders

The roofing company owner devised a scheme to conceal the amount of wages earned by undocumented employees to avoid paying more than $1.7 million in federal income, Medicare and Social Security taxes, and more than $1 million in Florida worker …

As the Legislature’s elaborate but hurried response to the massacre heads to the full House, opposition is growing. The House bill (HB 7101) is in serious trouble as members of both parties keep finding reasons to vote against it.  The …

Bills aimed at repealing city and county vacation rental rules appear to have stalled as the Florida Legislature prepares to wrap up its two-month legislative session next week.   The Sarasota Herald-Tribune’s Zac Anderson reports. Florida vacation rental bill likely dead …

Lawmakers continued negotiations Wednesday on a new $87 billion-plus state budget, after reaching agreement on several major issues, including a funding plan for public schools.  THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA’s Lloyd Dunkelberger reports via SunshineStateNews.com. http://sunshinestatenews.com/story/house-and-senate-agree-funding-plan-public-schools

Though he has spent his entire Tallahassee career in the minority party, Abruzzo gained a reputation for being able to get legislation passed in the Republican-controlled Legislature, the Palm Beach Post reports. http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/state–regional-govt–politics/democrat-joseph-abruzzo-will-not-seek-election-state-house-seat/1TomliREvg4jeRpQnCaMXK/

Corps officials believed that a storm that could spill into homes would be so rare and irregular that it did not necessitate retrofitting the dams to avoid the potential flooding and litigation, despite mounting evidence that the dams increasingly were …