Latest news with #CitizensPropertyInsurance
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Around 13K policies removed from Florida's Citizens Property Insurance over the last week
Fewer homeowners in Florida are being allowed to use Citizens Property Insurance. On Friday, the state's insurer of last resort had just over 840,000 policies. That's about 13,000 fewer than a week earlier. The decrease came after three private insurers were approved to assume some Citizens policies. It's part of a program called 'depopulation.' Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
CBS News
06-03-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Florida bill could strip insurance from noncompliant condo associations
A proposed Florida bill could strip state-backed Citizens Property Insurance from condo associations that fail to complete mandatory structural integrity reserve studies, potentially leaving thousands of residents without coverage. New penalties for noncompliance The bill, introduced by state Rep. Vicki Lopez, would penalize condo associations that have not completed the required studies, which assess a building's structural integrity and mandate financial reserves for necessary repairs. The deadline to complete the study was Dec. 31, but many buildings have yet to comply. "Our board is doing everything they can to keep us afloat, and at the same time, the people in the buildings that don't attend these meetings just don't understand," said Tony Fratianni, a resident of the Sunrise Lakes condo community in Sunrise. "I don't know if you can get water from a stone." Widespread impact in South Florida A recent study by the Miami Association of Realtors found that only 44% of condo buildings in Miami-Dade County and 41% in Broward County have completed their studies. If the bill passes, thousands of condo owners could be left scrambling for insurance in an already tight market. "We're not asking for safety to be ignored. We're asking for elderly communities to be listened to," said Walter Raser, a concerned resident. "In this situation, safety should not override the cost. It's literally gonna cost people their homes." Market uncertainty and rising costs Peter Zalewski, who runs a firm analyzing South Florida's condo market, warned that if Citizens drops coverage, private insurers are unlikely to step in. "If Citizens is saying, 'No, we're not gonna insure you,' I can bet the house the private sector is not going to insure," Zalewski said. Citizens Property Insurance currently covers 18,468 condo buildings with an association, more than half of which are in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties. Zalewski predicts that if many owners lose coverage, those who retain it may face higher premiums to offset the increased risk.
CBS News
06-03-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Florida legislative bill could strip insurance from non-compliant condo buildings
A new bill in the Florida Legislature could leave thousands of condo owners without state-run insurance if their buildings fail to meet structural safety requirements. The proposed measure, introduced by State Rep. Vicki Lopez, would strip Citizens Property Insurance from condominiums that have not completed a required structural integrity reserve study (SIRS), a move that has some residents concerned about affordability and coverage. Condo owners struggle with compliance Tony Fratianni, who lives in the Sunrise Lakes condo community, said his homeowners association has yet to complete the study, which was required by Dec. 31. The SIRS mandate forces condo associations to assess their buildings, establish reserves and fund necessary repairs, costs that fall directly on unit owners. "Our board is doing everything they can to keep us afloat and at the same time, the people in the buildings that don't attend these meetings just don't understand," Fratianni said. "I don't know if you can get water from a stone." Walter Raser, another condo owner, worries the bill could financially devastate elderly residents. "We're not asking for safety to be ignored. We're asking for elderly communities to be listened to," Raser said. "In this situation, safety should not override the cost. It's literally going to cost people their homes." Widespread non-compliance raises risks A study by the Miami Association of Realtors found that as of last month, only 44% of condo buildings in Miami-Dade County and 41% in Broward County had completed the required study. Peter Zalewski, a South Florida condo market analyst and founder of said the bill's impact could be far-reaching, even for buildings that don't currently rely on Citizens coverage. "If Citizens is saying, 'No, we're not going to insure you,' I can bet the house the private sector is not going to insure," Zalewski said. Citizens Property Insurance covers 18,468 condo buildings with associations, more than half of them in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties. Zalewski warned that if a large number of condo owners lose their coverage, those who remain insured could face steep premium increases to offset the financial risk.
Axios
04-03-2025
- Politics
- Axios
Florida bills to watch: Condo insurance, election changes and guns
Florida lawmakers reconvene tomorrow to kick off this year's legislative session, with bills filed to enshrine " Gulf of America" in state statutes and to allow guns but not undocumented immigrants on college campuses. Why it matters: There are more than 1,300 bills for the Legislature to wade through, each with the potential to reshape our daily lives. Here are a few we're monitoring: Condo insurance: Miami Republican Rep. Vicki Lopez filed a bill (HB 913) that would revoke state-run Citizens Property Insurance coverage for condominium associations that have failed to conduct building safety inspections or structural integrity reserve studies. Most of the over 11,000 Florida condo buildings required to conduct the studies under a Dec. 31 2024 deadline haven't done so. Waste management: Amid the debate over how Miami-Dade County will replace the burned-down Doral waste-to-energy facility, state Sen. Bryan Ávila (R-Hialeah Gardens) filed SB 1008, which would prohibit building trash incinerators or waste-to-energy facilities within a half-mile of any residential property, commercial property or school. State Sen. Ana Maria Rodriguez (R-Doral) filed SB 946 to prohibit a local government from building a waste management facility within two miles of the Everglades Protection Area. Gun regulation rollback: State Sen. Randy Fine (R-Melbourne Beach) filed bills to lower the state's gun-buying age limit to 18 years old and allow concealed firearm carry on college campuses. State Sen. Blaise Ingoglia (R-Spring Hill), meanwhile, introduced legislation to ban the use of artificial intelligence to detect firearms in public areas; it would be a first-degree misdemeanor to do so. Election changes: Ingoglia also proposed a sweeping elections bill (SB 1414) that includes changes experts say would likely eliminate citizen-led ballot campaigns to amend the state constitution. It would also prohibit the use of student ID cards when voting, among other provisions. Another immigration crackdown: Fine's bill (SB 244) would prohibit state universities with acceptance rates below 85% from accepting applications from or admitting undocumented students. State Sen. Joe Gruters (R-Sarasota) filed legislation to revoke the law licenses of undocumented immigrants on Nov. 1, 2028, unless proof of U.S. citizenship is provided on or before that date. State Sen. Jason Pizzo (D-Hollywood) filed a bill to expand E-Verify – a system that verifies employees' immigration status – to all employers, with penalties of up to $10,000 in fines. State Rep. Berny Jacques (R-Seminole) filed a similar bill without the penalties. Gulf of America: State Sen. Nick DiCeglie (R-Indian Rocks Beach) wants to change all references to the Gulf of Mexico in state statutes to the Gulf of America after President Trump renamed the body of water. Insurer of first resort: A bipartisan bill (HB 13) aims to require Citizens Property Insurance Corp. to make windstorm coverage available to all homeowners statewide. How to watch: You can watch the House, Senate and committee hearings online at the Florida Channel. Plus, you can visit to track bills and receive email alerts.
Yahoo
03-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Florida's legislative session begins this week. Here are some of the key bills filed in Tallahassee
The Brief The Florida Legislature begins its annual session Tuesday in Tallahassee. Bills filed by lawmakers include changes to gun laws, banning fluoride from drinking water, and measures to address housing. The Florida House and Senate must also pass a budget during its session. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - This week, Florida lawmakers will gather in Tallahassee for their annual legislative session, with several key issues on the table. Here's a look at some of the high-profile measures the Florida Legislature will consider this year. There are multiple bills aimed at changing Florida's gun laws, including open carry, something that Gov. Ron DeSantis has publicly supported. Florida currently allows permitless concealed carry, but not open carry. RELATED: Florida lawmakers file bills to undo gun reforms passed after Parkland shooting State Sen. Randy Fine (R-Melbourne Beach) filed a separate bill that would open the door to "campus carry," meaning people could carry guns on college and university campuses. Another measure would roll back the age requirement to purchase a gun, which lawmakers increased to 21 following the 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. A measure that's been dubbed the "Florida Farm Bill" would ban local governments from using "water additives," including fluoride, in drinking water. PREVIOUS:'Florida Farm Bill' would eliminate fluoride from public water supplies statewide Florida Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson is among the leaders who have signaled support for the bill, which comes months after Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo issued guidance recommending the removal of fluoride from public water systems. Since then, several city and county governments in the Tampa Bay area and across the state have taken steps to eliminate fluoride from water supplies. A statewide ban would, of course, decide the issue for everyone. State. Rep. Berny Jacques (R-Clearwater) filed a bill that would allow local governments to designate properties for single-family homeownership, thereby limiting the ability of investors and corporations to buy houses and use them as rental properties. A separate measure would require local governments to permit what's known as accessory dwelling units, which are commonly called "mother-in-law suites." Florida's ongoing insurance crisis will come up again in Tallahassee this year, including a bipartisan bill that would make windstorm coverage through state-run Citizens Property Insurance available to all property owners statewide. Currently, Citizens' wind-only coverage plans are only available in select coastal regions of Florida. Separate legislation would strip condo associations of access to Citizens Property Insurance if they don't comply with new building safety laws passed after the 2021 Surfside condo collapse. RELATED: Many Florida condo buildings could lose state-run insurance coverage under new bill. Here's why The state recently found that more than half of all buildings that are now required to perform safety studies, along with setting aside reserves to ensure the structural integrity of their buildings in the future, haven't done so. DeSantis has proposed a $115.6 billion budget for the upcoming fiscal year, marking a slight decrease from the current fiscal year. The governor is asking for additional tax reductions and sales tax holidays, including what he calls "Second Amendment Summer," which would exempt state sales taxes on guns, ammunition and other gun-related accessories from Memorial Day through July 4. He also wants to increase pay for all state law enforcement officers and firefighters, with proposed increases ranging from 20-25%. Other proposals in the governor's budget include $29.7 billion for education – averaging $9,200 per student – along with $1.5 billion for Everglades restoration and water quality projects, and fully funding the waiting list for the My Safe Florida Home program, which offers grants for homeowners to protect their homes from future storm damage through upgrades. During the session, the Florida Legislature is required to agree on a budget, then wait through a 72-hour "cooling-off period" before the state House or Senate can vote on it. The governor then has line-item veto power once the budget reaches his desk. CLICK HERE:>>>Follow FOX 13 on YouTube What's next The 60-day legislative session gets underway on Tuesday, March 4. The Source Information for this story was gathered by FOX 13's Kellie Cowan. STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 13 TAMPA: Download the FOX Local app for your smart TV Download FOX Local mobile app: Apple | Android Download the FOX 13 News app for breaking news alerts, latest headlines Download the SkyTower Radar app Sign up for FOX 13's daily newsletter
