Lawmakers could have long week ahead at Florida Capitol

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Florida lawmakers return to the Capitol this coming week to take up one other particular legislative session — this time, coping with property insurance coverage.

Customers have complained about dropped insurance policies and exorbitant price will increase, but it surely’s unclear what sort of resolution lawmakers will provide you with.

“The charges are rising, they’re skyrocketing by means of the roof,” stated State Rep. Tracie Davis, D-Jacksonville.

The storm has been constructing for years.

“Little question we’ve bought a critical disaster right here in Florida,” stated Jerry Holland, Duval County property appraiser.

The roof on a house or different constructing is only one facet of the insurance coverage disaster within the Sunshine State.

Holland says a giant a part of the disaster comes from how residence claims are dealt with and the method referred to as “project of advantages” (AOB) — when a contractor takes over a buyer’s declare.

Holland says Florida has just a little greater than 8% of home-owner claims within the U.S. Nevertheless, he says 76% of the authorized claims come from the state.

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He factors again to the AOB course of. False claims for restore additionally consider.

“I imply, it’s not the hurricanes,” Holland stated. “It’s actually, you understand, building prices have gone up 30%. That’s an elevated value for the insurance coverage corporations.”

“We’ve seen values go up greater than 11% this yr, you understand, on taxable values,” Holland added. “All that performs into it, but it surely looks as if the litigation value is what’s actually the massive issue with the insurance coverage corporations.”

Davis will journey to Tallahassee subsequent week to work on the answer. She stated lawmakers can be engaged on methods to guard shoppers.

“It’s about incentivizing our builders to create some extra multifamily housing, to create extra inexpensive dwelling conditions, and, you understand, we’ve bought to know, our insurance coverage corporations have to know that, you understand, these claims are going to be made and so they should be ready for paying these shoppers as a result of it’s not going to cease,” Davis stated.

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The particular session begins Monday. One lawmaker stated they’ve been advised to plan on spending all week in Tallahassee to provide you with a plan.