Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Michael MolineAugust 1, 2018

A new law extending mental health treatment to firefighters, police officers, and other first responders with PTSD ranked Florida among the bellwether states in a survey of trends published by a national workers’ compensation ratings agency. The Regulatory and Legislative Trends Report, compiled by the National Council on Compensation Insurance, or NCCI, cites SB 376, […]

Michael MolineApril 3, 2018

Sens. Dorothy Hukill and Kathleen Passidomo are the Personal Insurance Federation of Florida’s Legislative Champions for 2018. The organization recognized the pair “for work on issues impacting Florida insurance consumers” during the 2018 Legislative Session. “The consumer protections that did occur this year would not have been possible without the initiative of these lawmakers,” PIFF […]

Danny McAuliffeApril 2, 2018

Those backing a move to include LGBT protections under the 1992 Florida Civil Rights Act have a message for legislative leadership: We’ll be back. Just nine days into the 2018 Legislative Session, 40 percent of the Legislature had publicly supported bills that would have codified in statutes nondiscrimination protections for sexual orientation and gender identity. […]

Michael MolineFebruary 28, 2018

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A budget subcommittee voted Wednesday to kill the Senate’s no-fault insurance repeal bill. But the condition is not necessarily terminal. The panel’s chairwoman voted no even though she favored the measure and then moved to pass it temporarily. That would allow her to call for additional hearings on the bill later on, when perhaps it […]

Michael MolineFebruary 28, 2018

An advertising onslaught against the Senate version of no-fault auto insurance repeal broadened Wednesday, even as a committee prepared to take up an amendment dropping a requirement that motorists buy mandatory medical coverage. That mandate was among the business community’s principal objections to the bill. The amendment also contains language intended to discourage lawsuits alleging […]

Staff ReportsFebruary 27, 2018

A business group pushing the House version of assignment of benefits reform is releasing video testimonials by consumers who feel they were harmed by AOB abuse. “I basically signed my life away,” said Darleen Masturzo of Davenport, one of the consumers. “For anyone who doesn’t believe AOB abuse is causing hardship and stress for consumers, […]

Michael MolineFebruary 21, 2018

PIP repeal is not officially dead, but it wasn’t looking at all well Wednesday after a key Senate committee adjourned its last meeting of Session without taking up the matter. “It is referenced to this committee, but was not on this agenda. In theory, it makes the prospects of that policy change happening obviously very […]

Michael MolineFebruary 14, 2018

Legislation to bar health insurers from retroactively denying claims passed the House Appropriations Committee Wednesday, after the sponsor promised to keep massaging language allowing insurers to tip off providers that a patient might not be covered. The committee had been poised to vote on updated language allowing insurers to inform doctors that a patient’s policy […]

Michael MolineFebruary 13, 2018

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Policyholders would see a bold 18-point type warning when their hurricane coverage won’t pay for flood damage under legislation that cleared a Senate panel Tuesday. The Senate Community Affairs Committee OK’d the bill (SB 1282) 6-0. The idea is to spare policyholders any nasty shocks following a hurricane or other natural disaster, said the sponsor, Miami Democrat […]

Michael MolineFebruary 12, 2018

One argument in the debate over repeal of Florida’s no-fault auto insurance system isn’t finding much love in the Legislature — that the real key to lower premiums is reform of the legal rules governing coverage disputes that do land in court. People injured by covered motorists can resort to the tort system if carriers […]

Tag: 2018 Session

Florida ranks high in workers’ comp legislation, survey shows

Dorothy Hukill, Kathleen Passidomo recognized for roles in insurance debate

The fight for LGBT civil rights will return next legislative session

Senate subcommittee puts PIP repeal legislation on life support

Senate amendment would drop ‘med pay’ mandate, as attack on PIP repeal bill widens

Coalition enlists consumer testimony in support of AOB reform

Prospects for PIP repeal dive as Senate panel disdains the legislation

Insurance retroactive denial ban clears another House committee, despite qualms

Flood insurance ‘warning’ clears second committee

Tort reformer William Large keeps plugging away for PIP bad-faith revamp