Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Michael MolineJanuary 19, 2017

A state appeal court panel appeared skeptical Thursday of the Office of Insurance Regulation’s arguments that trade-secrets protections don’t exempt State Farm Florida from having to turn over business information for public scrutiny. The judges wondered whether the plain language of the trade-secret exemption in Florida’s public records law doesn’t protect the information at issue […]

Michael MolineJanuary 18, 2017

Proposed reforms to Florida’s continuing care retirement community regulations ran into heavy flak Wednesday during an advisory council meeting, with the body’s president lamenting a breakdown of trust in the Office of Insurance Regulation. Joel Anderson, chairman of the Governor’s Continuing Care Advisory Council, complained that office staff unexpectedly unloaded a 61-page rewrite of the statute governing […]

Michael MolineJanuary 13, 2017

Despite broad consternation over rising workers’ compensation insurance rates, Florida’s market is relatively stable and competitive, according to an analysis released Friday by the Office of Insurance Regulation. The market “is served by a large number of independent insurers and none of the insurers have sufficient market share to exercise any meaningful control over the […]

Michael MolineJanuary 12, 2017

State regulators and an organization that proposes workers’ compensation coverage rates in Florida defended themselves in pleadings to a state appeals court this week, seeking to overturn a lower court ruling that they had violated open-government laws. Attorneys for the National Council on Compensation Insurance, or NCCI, submitted their arguments in a brief filed Wednesday with […]

Michael MolineDecember 12, 2016

A state appeal court has set up an expedited hearing schedule in a challenge to Florida’s 14.5 percent increase in workers’ compensation insurance premiums. The 1st District Court of Appeal gave the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation and the National Council on Compensation Insurance, or NCCI, until Jan. 11 to file its arguments on the […]

Michael MolineDecember 9, 2016

The public will suffer irreparable harm unless a state appeal court stays Florida’s 14.5 percent increase in workers’ compensation insurance premiums, attorneys challenging the increase said in court papers this week. The National Council on Compensation Insurance, or NCCI, “cannot possibly demonstrate a likelihood of prevailing on appeal with respect to the trial court’s detailed, well-reasoned […]

Staff ReportsDecember 7, 2016

State regulators cleared three private insurance companies to assume policies now provided by Citizens Property Insurance Corp., Florida’s state-run insurer of last resort. Effective in February, Avatar Property and Casualty Insurance Co. can take nearly 11,000 commercial and personal residential policies. Safepoint Insurance Co. was cleared to accept 15,000 policies, and Southern Oak Insurance Co. […]

Michael MolineDecember 5, 2016

Business leaders emphasized the risk rising workers’ compensation costs pose to Florida’s economic competitiveness during an Associated Industries of Florida-sponsored discussion Monday. “There are other governors competing against our governor for the next plant, the next manufacturing facility, the next high-tech jobs,” said Tom Feeney, president and chief executive officer of the business lobby. “They […]

Michael MolineNovember 29, 2016

The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation has appealed a trial court ruling blocking a 14.5 percent increase in workers’ compensation insurance premiums, putting that ruling on hold pending review by a state appeals court. The office filed its notice of appeal Monday with the 1st District Court of Appeal. Leon County Circuit Judge Karen Gievers ruled on […]

Michael MolineNovember 23, 2016

A circuit court judge Wednesday struck down a 14.5 percent increase in workers’ compensation insurance rates due to begin taking effect next month, ruling that a ratings agency violated the Sunshine Law in preparing its rate proposal. Judge Karen Gievers said the National Council on Compensation Insurance, or NCCI, failed to open its deliberations to the […]

Tag: Florida Office of Insurance Regulation

Court question’s insurance office’s claim to State Farm sales information

Council sees breakdown of trust with Office of Insurance Regulation

Insurance office finds workers’ compensation market stable, competitive

Ratings agency warns in brief against ‘dramatic expansion’ of Sunshine Law

Appeals court sets speedy arguments over workers’ comp premium hike

Sunshine Law invoked in arguments over workers’ comp rate increase

Regulators OK private insurers to assume Citizens Insurance policies

AIF emphasizes job-killing aspect of Florida’s workers’ comp increases

Insurance office appeals ruling blocking workers’ comp premium hike

Judge voids 14.5 percent workers’ comp rate increase