Florida Insurance Council - Covering Florida Since 1962
By: Katrina Callaway, FIC General Counsel On January 30, 2020, the House Judiciary Committee approved a committee bill (PCB JDC 20-05) to make appeals of most county court cases go directly to the District Court of Appeal, rather than the circuit court. The bill is consistent with recommendations recently made by the Judicial Management Council’s…
By: Katrina Callaway, FIC General Counsel On January 28, 2020, House and Senate committees approved the DFS Consumer Protection bills, HB 1137 and SB 1492. A strike all amendment (678807) was approved for the House bill. The amendment alleviates some of the concerns about the bill raised by property insurers, however, some problems still…
By: Katrina Callaway, FIC General Counsel HB 1409 creates a public records exemption for certain sensitive business information held by the Department of Financial Services (DFS) which is protected from public records disclosure requirements if held by the Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR). Disclosure of the exempted information, which includes Own-Risk and Solvency Assessment (ORSA)…
By: Katrina Callaway, FIC General Counsel The Senate Judiciary Committee approved SB 1510 during its meeting on January 21, 2020 with a strike all amendment. The amended bill repeals the appellate jurisdiction of circuit courts for appeals of most cases from county courts. Under the bill, most appeals from the county courts will go…
By: Katrina Callaway, FIC General Counsel The OIR backed credit for reinsurance bill that incorporates substantive provisions from the 2017 Covered Agreement between the U.S. and the European Union (EU) passed its first Senate committee on January 21, 2020. SB 1376 was not amended. It enacts the 2019 changes to the NAIC Credit For Reinsurance…
By: Katrina Callaway, FIC General Counsel A tort reform bill relating to asbestos trust claims putting the business and insurance communities against the trial bar passed its first House committee on January 16, 2020 when the House Civil Justice Subcommittee approved HB 741 with a partyline vote of 10-5. One clarifying amendment was adopted to the…
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 13, 2020 Contact: Patti Butchikas / Phone: (850) 914-6300 / Patti.Butchikas@myfloridahouse.gov Panama City, FL – Rep. Jay Trumbull Puts Constituents First; Unveils Consumer-Focused, Free-Market Property Insurance Reform Legislation While thousands of victims of Hurricanes Irma and Michael still have open insurance storm-related claims, Rep. Jay Trumbull of Panama City today announced…
By: Katrina Callaway, FIC General Counsel During its meeting on January 16, 2020, the House Commerce Committee unanimously passed the loss run statement bill, HB 269, with a strike all amendment to bring the House bill in line with the Senate companion. The bill requires virtually all insurers, including surplus lines, to provide a free…
By: Katrina Callaway, FIC General Counsel HB 799 and HB 801 revamp Florida’s trade secret protection laws. On January 16, 2020, they were heard for the first time in committee and passed. One technical amendment was adopted to HB 801, but it was not insurance-related. The bills have two committees left. HB 801 repeals most…