George Colella: A hard truth from the road — the lies behind Florida’s insurance ‘reforms’

As the National President of Born to Ride for 45, I’m here to tell you what I saw in Tallahassee this week. I rode all the way to the Capitol with my brothers and sisters to fight for affordable auto insurance in Florida in support of HB 1181. Why? Because Florida’s current system is a raw deal for us and it’s time for change.

It’s been suggested that we were at the Capitol doing the bidding of other organizations – LIES. I stand with and for the 1.5 million bikers in Florida – add in their wives and children and you’re talking about 3 million residents of this state. That’s 3 million voters that are paying attention.

Here’s the truth: when my fellow bikers get maimed, there’s no one else left to turn to, no one else fighting for us. That’s why I’m out there fighting for real change. Changes that mean everyone is responsible on Florida roads.

What I saw this week in Tallahassee made me mad. We the people – regular Floridians – are going up against a corporate insurance industry that’s been protected by a bureaucracy that coddles the rich and powerful, backed by a couple of high-level politicians. And what’s at stake? Our ability to afford to live in Florida.

This isn’t just about repealing PIP. It’s about a no-fault system that’s rigged against working-class people, the ones struggling with inflated insurance premiums, while the big corporations cash in and no one takes responsibility. And boy, have they cashed in. It’s time for a responsibility-based system that protects everyone on the roads when they are injured in an accident and puts some money back where it belongs – in the people’s pockets!

Testifying before lawmakers, I showed them my pocket Constitution and reminded them they swore an oath on it, an oath to “We the People.” Not, we the insurance companies.

I was also in Tallahassee in 2023 when lawmakers passed the “reforms” they’re now trying to tell us worked. They didn’t work for anyone other than insurance executives.

Florida has the highest rates in America, and they haven’t gone down. No one’s rates have gone down, and now they’re trying to block a bill that would eliminate a garbage insurance requirement that doesn’t protect anyone – especially not guys and gals who ride. I’m willing to bet it does protect insurance companies’ bottom line, though!

I don’t know what “consumers” the insurance industry and politicians are talking to when they claim these reforms are a “win.” Everyone I know is still getting hammered with higher costs — again, the highest in the nation.

President Donald Trump told it to us straight during the campaign. He noted that we “have the highest insurance in the nation, and the bill they passed made it good for the insurance companies.” And make no mistake—those rates specifically discriminate against freedom bikers like us.

The so-called “reforms” didn’t reduce anything. They’ve only continued to stack the deck in favor of the insurance companies while leaving regular Floridians to pick up the tab. Nothing’s gotten better. It’s just the same old scam. You know what they say about lipstick on a pig, right?

And trust me, I know Donald Trump. Using his name to justify these so-called reforms is not right. What he said was the truth: Florida’s reforms were the most significant insurance industry bailout and a total SCAM!

He said in 2024, “Your automobile insurance is up 73%. VOTE FOR TRUMP, I’LL CUT THAT NUMBER IN HALF!” HB 1181 is the harbinger of that. We need a system for the people, not for the profits. Nothing has changed for the better. The system’s more rigged, complicated, and less accountable than ever.

The only people benefiting from these “reforms” are the corporate elites and a few politicians. Meanwhile, Floridians are still struggling to afford basic insurance. We were promised relief, not a scam.

But here’s the good news: Byron Donalds will change that, so I support him for Governor.

It’s time for leadership that fights for the people and an affordable Florida. Leadership that embraces the Constitutional oath of “for the people.”

Because when they don’t, we the people will be watching, and we will keep riding.

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George Colella is the National President of Born to Ride for 45.