Florida Insurance Council - Covering Florida Since 1962
By: Katrina Callaway, FIC General Counsel The Senate construction defect statute of repose bill, SB 536, made it through another committee on February 6, 2018. The bill has one committee left. The applicability provision in the bill was changed in committee. The amended bill applies to any action commenced on or after July 1, 2018…
By: Katrina Callaway, FIC General Counsel This year’s Senate insurance omnibus bill, SB 784, passed its first (of three) committee in the Senate on February 6, 2018. A strike all amendment was adopted to essentially match the Senate bill with the House bill. The amended bill covers a myriad of insurance topics: Surplus Lines…
By: Katrina Callaway, FIC General Counsel SB 762, which expands they kinds of allowable gifts insurers or agents can give, was unanimously approved by its second Senate committee on February 6, 2018. The committee adopted one amendment to remove the funeral related gift provisions from the bill due to “unintended consequences.” That provision would…
By: Katrina Callaway, FIC General Counsel This year’s insurance omnibus bill, HB 465, passed its last committee in the House on February 1, 2018. The bill will now be heard on the House floor when set by the Rules Committee. Two amendments were adopted to the bill. One amendment removed the provision in the bill…
By: Katrina Callaway, FIC General Counsel HB 1369 addresses several issues related to claims and lawsuits against nursing homes and assisted living facilities. The insurance part of the bill requires a nursing home to maintain professional liability only in an amount no less than $2 million per claim with a minimum aggregate of not less…
By: Katrina Callaway, FIC General Counsel A Senate bill making significant changes to the mediation process that are not beneficial to the insurance industry was postponed a third time in its first committee, the Senate Judiciary Committee. The bill sponsor, Sen. Steube, who also chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee, postponed the bill for the…
By: Katrina Callaway, FIC General Counsel A Senate bill making significant changes to the mediation process that are harmful to the insurance industry was postponed a second time in its first committee, the Senate Judiciary Committee. The bill sponsor, Sen. Steube, who also chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee, postponed the bill without explanation during the…
By: Katrina Callaway, FIC General Counsel The Senate construction defect statute of repose bill, SB 536, was significantly amended on January 25, 2018 when it was heard and approved by its first committee of reference. The bill has two committees left. This is the second year bills have been filed on the statute of limitations…
By: Katrina Callaway, FIC General Counsel The House Civil Justice and Claims Subcommittee postponed a vote on the mediation bill, HB 1043, at the request of the bill sponsor. No explanation for the postponement was provided. HB 1043 has concerned many in the insurance industry and in organizations that advocate for tort reform as…
By: Katrina Callaway, FIC General Counsel SB 762, which expands they kinds of allowable gifts insurers or agents can give, was unanimously approved by its first Senate committee on January 23, 2018. The committee adopted a strike all amendment (#242446) which essentially matched the Senate bill with its House companion bill, HB 483. The…