Florida lawmakers consider special session on property insurance

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida lawmakers are contemplating holding a particular session to deal with non-public property insurance coverage as many householders see their charges rise or their insurance policies being dropped.

State Sen. Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg, is looking on lawmakers to deal with the rising drawback.

“Florida’s property insurance coverage market is in collapse proper now,” Brandes mentioned. “What we see is firms pulling out of the state, charges going by the roof.”

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He obtained sufficient assist from lawmakers to immediate the Florida secretary of state to ballot members of the Home and Senate and ask if a particular session must be held to deal with non-public property insurance coverage.

The letter was despatched to lawmakers on Thursday.

“I believe the Home and Senate ought to come collectively and cross a invoice that’s going to decrease charges for shoppers,” Brandes mentioned.

State Rep. David Smith, R-Winter Springs, helps the particular session.

“I believe it’s one thing that we should be doing,” Smith mentioned.

Throughout a information convention on Monday, Gov. Ron DeSantis mentioned he helps Brandes’ efforts.

“Clearly we’ve got dysfunctions in that market that may very well be mounted,” DeSantis mentioned.

Whereas State Sen. Linda Stewart, D-Orlando, agrees, she thinks extra work must be carried out earlier than a particular session is held.

“I’m for a particular session, however I’m for a particular session on the proper time when we’ve got every thing ironed out,” Stewart mentioned.

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Stewart despatched a letter on Friday to State Sen. Jim Boyd, the chair of the Senate Committee on Banking and Insurance coverage. She is asking for a workshop to be held with key stakeholders, together with lawmakers, legal professionals, insurance coverage firms, and roofers.

She mentioned three insurance coverage payments handed within the Senate, however died within the Home through the common session. She mentioned she would first prefer to work on bipartisan laws that might be supported by all earlier than holding a particular session.

“I wish to see a particular session, however I would like the particular session to truly accomplish one thing and imply one thing, and except we’ve got a workshop to work by these points that we had two months in the past, I don’t assume we are able to get to that time,” she mentioned.

In response to the letter despatched to lawmakers from the secretary of state, legislators are requested to answer the particular session ballot by midday on Monday. However based on state regulation, they’ve 60 days to reply.

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Brandes mentioned three-fifths of the Home and three-fifths of the Senate have to vote sure to ensure that a particular session to be held. He’s hoping that may occur earlier than hurricane season begins on June 1.