Staff Reports
Some of Florida’s most influential business leaders are delivering a clear message to the House: Do not drag Florida back to the bad-old-days when lawsuits became a lucrative industry for attorneys, insurance premiums soared, and trial lawyers had unchecked power.
This week, a coalition of prominent business voices in Florida united in opposition to HB 947 and an amendment to SB 832, which seeks to roll back tort reforms as an addition to the Senate’s phosphate bill.
The group says it is the second time the House has linked tort reform rollbacks to a Senate priority. Their letter warns that such a reversal would significantly increase litigation costs, undermining the reforms intended to address this issue.
HB 947 seeks to allow more evidence in personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits. This would enable court-approved evidence demonstrating the actual value of medical treatments or services, based on average insurance rates, rather than the predefined criteria — 120% and 170% reimbursement rates for Medicare and Medicaid, respectively — currently in place.
Supporters say the bill would clarify confusion over a 2023 law that aims to reduce lawsuit abuses in Florida through minor but vital tweaks. Opponents contend it will eliminate courtroom fairness by overwriting requirements for information that both sides of a case must present.
Signatories on the letter in opposition include the Associated Industries of Florida, the Florida Trucking Association, the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association, the Florida Retail Federation, the Florida Chamber of Commerce, the National Federation of Independent Business, and the Florida Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
The letter highlights early but promising results of reforms enacted in 2023: a more competitive insurance market, early signs of rate stabilization, and a legal environment that fosters business growth rather than stifling it. The groups assert that reversing these gains now would be a grave mistake.
Despite this opposition, House lawmakers continue to advocate rollbacks across multiple bills, claiming that the legislation will enhance access to the courts.
“It would change how juries assess evidence, allow inflated medical damage awards, and reintroduce one-way attorney fees,” the letter explains.
Florida’s business community is saying, in a united voice: We’ve seen this movie before, and we don’t want a sequel.
“Just two years ago, the Florida Legislature ended sham litigation practices that made billboard lawyers rich at our expense,” former House Speaker Paul Renner posted on social media earlier this month. “Auto insurance premiums are now going down for the first time in memory, saving Florida drivers millions. Billboard lawyers want those savings back in their pockets, and a vote today in the Florida House (HB 947) will give them exactly what they want. Very simply, a vote for this bill is a total giveaway to personal injury lawyers and will cost every Floridian money.”
The group cautions that HB 947 represents a “dangerous shift in ideology,” emphasizing that the proposed changes are being marketed as pro-consumer without supporting data. Signatories assert that the true motivation behind this push is straightforward: Trial lawyers seek to reclaim their substantial earnings.
Business leaders warn that rolling back tort reforms could spike insurance premiums and legal costs for businesses and consumers alike, slowing Florida’s economic momentum and undermining its status as a top destination for investment and job creation.
“This poses a significant threat to Florida’s economic leadership,” the letter concludes, renewing the call for lawmakers to reject HB 947, the amendment to SB 832, and any similar efforts they worry will take Florida backward.
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Jesse Scheckner contributed to this report.
