Category: Florida News

Florida is the only state that lacks the legal authority to charge people banned from possessing a gun but who “lie and try” to buy one anyway.  ABC Action News reports. https://www.abcactionnews.com/longform/fl-felons-escape-punishment-when-they-lie-try-to-buy-a-gun

Passporting rules allow EU finance companies to sell their services across the 28-member bloc with a local license, rather than getting a license to operate in each member country where it does business.  Reuters’ William James reports via Insurance Journal. …

Heritage Insurance Seeking Hefty Rate Hikes, Blames Claims Fraud Industry Officials blame Insurance Fraud tied to the “Assignment of Benefits” Crisis.  They add that further Rate Hikes stemming from Hurricane Irma last year will start hitting Consumers this summer.  The …

Federal investments in research and development (R and D) have historically supported the security of the nation, the protection of public health and the environment, the growth of new industries, and the employment of millions of Americans.

The legislation, one of House Speaker Richard Corcoran’s priorities, would have ended the state’s no-fault auto insurance law and moved Florida to an at-fault system similar to those in 38 other states.  The Tampa Bay Times’ Elizabeth Koh reports for …

A measure aimed at toughening Florida’s texting-while-driving law was positioned Wednesday for a final House vote, but has run into trouble from lawmakers worried it may be used to target black motorists.  John Kennedy reports via the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. http://www.heraldtribune.com/news/20180228/tougher-texting-while-driving-bill-hits-florida-senate-opposition

Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis, also the state’s Fire Marshal, Thursday applauded a Senate panel’s unanimous approval of a workers’ compensation insurance bill that could provide expanded benefits to first responders with job-related post-traumatic stress disorder, FloridaPolitics.com reports. http://floridapolitics.com/archives/257780-jimmy-patronis-cant-stop-wont-stop-first-responders

The roofing company owner devised a scheme to conceal the amount of wages earned by undocumented employees to avoid paying more than $1.7 million in federal income, Medicare and Social Security taxes, and more than $1 million in Florida worker …

As the Legislature’s elaborate but hurried response to the massacre heads to the full House, opposition is growing. The House bill (HB 7101) is in serious trouble as members of both parties keep finding reasons to vote against it.  The …

Bills aimed at repealing city and county vacation rental rules appear to have stalled as the Florida Legislature prepares to wrap up its two-month legislative session next week.   The Sarasota Herald-Tribune’s Zac Anderson reports. Florida vacation rental bill likely dead …