Legislative Session Update | April 11

Budget negotiations continue and legislation is moving in both chambers as the 6th week of Florida’s legislative session wraps up. The House and Senate advanced their respective state budget plans this past Wednesday. The proposals remain billions of dollars apart and also differ from the Governor’s plan for the upcoming fiscal year. With session scheduled to end May 2, lawmakers have until April 29 to finalize the budget, allowing for the required 72-hour “cooling off” period after the final budget is presented before a final vote can be taken.

The House bill proposing to repeal Florida’s motor vehicle no-fault auto insurance, HB 1181, did not advance any further in the House this week. Likewise,  the Senate measure, SB 1256, has  not moved forward at all. The Legislature agreed in 2021 to repeal the no-fault system and the minimum mandated coverages and return to a fault-based system, but Governor DeSantis vetoed the bill. Following his State of the State speech in March, the Governor indicated he had not changed his mind, stating he did not want to do anything that would raise rates.

HB 1437 still has not moved since mid-March when it was reported favorably in the House Civil Justice & Claims Committee. The bill would award attorney fees and costs to prevailing parties in lawsuits for overdue medical benefits under PIP policies. The companion Senate bill, SB 1840, has not been heard in any of its three Senate committees. 

Legislation to allow policyholders to recover attorney fees when they prevail in disputes against insurers, HB 1551, has passed two of its assigned House committees but has not moved in recent weeks. The Senate has not held any hearings on its bill, SB 426. Similarly, a bill to allow plaintiff and defense attorneys to present what they determine to be the best evidence of damages, letting the judge or jury weigh all admitted evidence, HB 947, remains in its final House committee while the Senate companion, SB 1520, has not moved.

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