Florida Claims Bill Advances In House, But Senate Not Cooperating

It looks like South Florida homeowners should brace themselves for another year of property insurance rate hikes. A legislative bill aimed at driving down costs for insurance companies, and protecting homeowners from endless rate increases, on Tuesday advanced to a final reading in the state House of Representatives. But its passage would be largely symbolic because there’s no companion bill up for consideration on the final day committees are scheduled to meet in the Senate. Barring an emergency measure, that guarantees no reform will be enacted for a fifth-straight year to address an issue the insurance industry says is responsible for widespread rate hikes over the past two years.