Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report: Thursday, January 30

Jan 30, 2014

 

To go directly to the section of your choice, click on a hyperlink below.  Other hyperlinks to meeting information, bills and news are noted in bold type.

 

 

 

Daily Florida Insurance-Related Events

 

There are no insurance-related events scheduled for today.

 

 

Daily Florida Insurance-Related News


No more fast track review for residential property insurance policies

Insurance companies looking to make changes to the residential homeowners’ policies they offer no longer have a fast-track review process by regulators to get the new policies to the marketplace, The Florida Current’s Gray Rohrer reports.

 

Florida may chase federal discounts as flood insurance rates rise

For years, the federal government has rewarded towns with smart flood management strategies by giving their residents discounted flood insurance rates, Tampa Bay Times’ Anna Phillips reports.

 

Support Soars for Rick Scott’s Sales-Tax Break on Hurricane Items

Florida Governor Rick Scott’s proposal this week for a 15-day sales tax holiday for hurricane supplies starting June 1 is getting the support of the Republican leadership in the Legislature and the leadership of the business community, SunshineStateNews.com’s Kevin Derby reports.

 

Dixon Hughes Goodman’s Florida Presence Expands to Tampa Bay Area

Dixon Hughes Goodman, the largest public accounting firm based in the Southern U.S., expanded its presence in the Florida market by adding an office in the greater Tampa Bay area, an addition to its already existing presence in Jacksonville.

 

Weatherford:  Medicaid expansion not “dead,” but still unlikely

House Speaker Will Weatherford on Wednesday said Medicaid expansion wasn’t a dead issue for the upcoming legislative session, but also didn’t say he’d back down from his refusal to accept federal money to do it, the Tampa Tribune reports.

 

House bill provides framework for telemedicine

State Representative Travis Cummings filed HB 751 Tuesday to set some ground rules for telemedicine in Florida, Peter Schorsch reports for SaintPetersBlog.com.

 

Governor Scott releases $74.2 billion budget plan for next fiscal year

Florida Governor Rick Scott unveiled a $74.2 billion budget plan for the 2014-2015 fiscal year Wednesday during the annual Associated Press Florida Legislative Planning Session press conference at the Capitol, The Florida Current’s Gray Rohrer reports.

 

Florida Supreme Court’s next chief justice is Jorge Labarga, first Cuban-American to hold post

Justice Jorge Labarga will be the Florida Supreme Court’s next leader, Associated Press reports via SunshineStateNews.com.

 

Legislative Leaders Offer Sneak Peek at 2014 Agenda

The leaders of the Florida Legislature offered a glimpse at the upcoming legislative session as Republicans and Democrats ready their proposals and bills, Kevin Derby reports for SunshineStateNews.com.

 

Charlie Crist Posts 8-Point Lead Over Rick Scott in Q-Poll

A poll of registered Florida voters from Quinnipiac University released Thursday morning finds former Gov. Charlie Crist, the favorite for the Democratic nomination despite spending most of his political career as a Republican, leading Gov. Rick Scott 46 percent to 38 percent, Kevin Derby reports for SunshineStateNews.com.

 

Louisiana Citizens Insurance Appealing Order to Return Application Fees

Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corp. is appealing an order to return $16 million to homeowner customers who, for years, were charged a $65 application fee without their knowledge, Associated Press reports via Insurance Journal.

 

NARAB Bill Under White House Scrutiny

The White House has expressed concerns about some technical provisions of legislation that would re-establish the National Association of Registered Agents and Brokers (NARAB), Arthur Postal reports for National Underwriter’s PropertyCasualty360.com.

 

SEC issues risk alert on alternatives due diligence

The Securities and Exchange Commission’s Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations issued a risk alert on Tuesday warning advisors to be careful when recommending alternative investments like hedge funds, private equity funds or funds of private funds to clients, Danielle Andres reports for LifeHealthPro.com.

 

 

 

Click here to follow Colodny Fass& Webb on Twitter (@CFTLAWcom)

 

 

 

To unsubscribe from this newsletter, please send an e-mail to Brooke Ellis at bellis@cftlaw.com.