Latest Florida Headlines

All the headlines from our Florida Topic Page, ordered by recency.

Low Lake Okeechobee Levels Threaten Fla. Farmers

Aug 9 2007 // Farmers around Lake Okeechobee will face serious financial difficulties if officials can’t figure out a way to get its water level up, state Agriculture Commissioner Charles Bronson said Tuesday. He said the drought...

New Insurance Fraud Director Installed in Florida

Aug 8 2007 // A 30-year law enforcement veteran will run Florida’s Department of Financial Services Division of Insurance Fraud – a statewide agency that investigates fraud in all lines of insurance. Vicki Cutcliffe most...

It Figures

Aug 6 2007 // $5 billion The amount Florida officials said they are considering borrowing to make sure the Hurricane Catastrophe Fund will have enough to pay claims in the event of a large hurricane. 50,000 The number of...

Putting Florida’s rate filing and reinsurance controversy in context

Aug 6 2007 // Currently underway in Florida is a controversy over the amount of private reinsurance homeowners insurers should purchase in addition to the now expanded $28 billion in reinsurance available from the Florida Hurricane...

Commercial lines insights of top agencies

Aug 6 2007 // While much of the talk about the current commercial and professional lines market turns to insurers lowering their prices, the soft market is requiring agents to raise their agencies’ level of attention paid to...

More Fla. mobile home owners skipping insurance

Aug 6 2007 // More than half of Florida’s 800,000 mobile homes are no longer covered by homeowner’s insurance — another sign of the state’s soaring insurance costs. The number of insured Florida mobile homes...

Figures

Aug 6 2007 // $5 billion The amount Florida officials said they are considering borrowing to make sure the Hurricane Catastrophe Fund will have enough to pay claims in the event of a large hurricane. 50,000 The number of...

Putting Florida’s rate filing and reinsurance controversy in context

Aug 6 2007 // Currently underway in Florida is a controversy over the amount of private reinsurance homeowners insurers should purchase in addition to the now expanded $28 billion in reinsurance available from the Florida Hurricane...

Commercial Lines Leaders

Aug 6 2007 // About the Commercial Lines Leaders: The Commercial Lines Leaders in this special feature are taken from Insurance Journal’s Top 100 Property Casualty Independent Agencies as reported in April. This list utilizes only...

Commercial lines insights of top agencies

Aug 6 2007 // While much of the talk about the current commercial and professional lines market turns to insurers lowering their prices, the soft market is requiring agents to raise their agencies’ level of attention paid to...

Disaster Response Legislation Signed in Florida

Aug 2 2007 // Gov. Charlie Crist ceremonially signed two bills Wednesday to provide aid to Floridians preparing for and recovering from natural disasters. Senate Bill 2482 – relating to tax administration provides $1.2 million in...

Fla. Gov.Suggests Property Insurers not Following Rate Savings Law

Aug 2 2007 // Gov. Charlie Crist suggested Tuesday that some property insurers may be deliberately flouting a new state law that requires them to buy cheaper reinsurance and pass the savings on to consumers. Crist said he was concerned...

Developer Pulls Out of Fla. Barrier Island Project

Aug 1 2007 // The Florida Coalition for Preservation was glad to hear that the developer of the Briny Breezes, Fla., redevelopment plan, Boca Raton-based Ocean Land Investments, has pulled out of the multimillion dollar deal to jam the...

Florida’s Self-Employed Reminded About Open Season

Aug 1 2007 // August is open enrollment month for single-group employers to get health insurance or switch plans on a guaranteed-issue basis, meaning insurers and Health Maintenance Organizations must offer coverage without regard to...

Florida Opens Giant Warehouse to Stockpile Disaster Supplies

Jul 31 2007 // Florida opened a 200,000 square-foot warehouse and joint command center last week for disaster response, which will hold millions worth of stockpiled commodities. The warehouse, located in an industrial park not far from...

Fla. Gov. Opens State Response Center for Disaster Preparedness

Jul 30 2007 // Florida Gov. Charlie Crist proclaimed July 26 “Get a Plan Day” by announcing the grand opening of Florida’s State Response Center in Orlando. Crist stressed the importance of disaster preparedness by...

Florida Sinkhole Policy Changes to Highlight Citizens’ Forum

Jul 26 2007 // Changes in sinkhole coverage made during Florida’s regular and special legislative sessions affect residents in Pasco and Hernando counties. Citizens policyholders in those counties will automatically be provided...

Still time to register for Private Sector Summit on Florida property insurance market

Jul 26 2007 // Property insurers in Florida are facing a crisis as they try to deal with the impact of drastic changes imposed on them with the recent enactment of the property insurance law (HB 1A) that contains new mandates. How to...

More Fla. Mobile Home Owners are Skipping Insurance

Jul 25 2007 // More than half of Florida’s 800,000 mobile homes are no longer covered by homeowner’s insurance – another sign of the state’s soaring insurance costs. The number of insured Florida mobile homes...

Associated Industries of Florida Forms Financial Security Council

Jul 25 2007 // Formation of a Financial Security Council will provide an opportunity for business leaders across Florida to focus on key financial service issues such as development of public policy recommendations on property insurance,...