[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6089888,"mediaKeyId","2871225-61e3ffccc85c09f13c526dd4b7bf79e5","parentId",2871225,"title","Panel advances bill to repeal PIP and require bodily injury coverage after hours of testimony and split debate","audioSeconds",4552,"startMs",824245,"endMs",5376980,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2871225-61e3ffccc85c09f13c526dd4b7bf79e5&start=824&end=5376","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2871225-61e3ffccc85c09f13c526dd4b7bf79e5/thumbnail_824245.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6089888/Florida/Panel-advances-bill-to-repeal-PIP-and-require-bodily-injury-coverage-after-hours-of-testimony-and-split-debate","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6089888-add852d4ce4113c00eeab9daf8369685/orig.mp4?Expires=1771028364&Signature=QSrhvBfFRhmukI59VSrtZ14xdOPwUg~nOIIuufXauW6zZ~QSefSJIwwUsmlouB1kV-oCk5U6pXPRhbeRKftm3wgI5MgSfHUrBg2wOrMWjYKMQwXmH05MpSRqbLm9N24E5oPmQIQ~PrXX7DADFaVqVw6kD7O78FOi-xZzDpjlBgyAaKKPshC0-ZGIW~g7TfdhtupGCIb6UHgdHo4o1c-dd7Gfwuu0GPsvcfLDWfBIw6o~sONF1o9ir0cfqwemhqelLVSg6GleRVHJ18tm0AlCC3XjjiNQ1Gnb4T~vmR30j-F8UjZP5Wx-RUPGwZz7zmc3KpmkLUHCYtXpa1UOQMCn4Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Florida Legislature","date","2025-04-03T00:00:00Z","article","House Bill 1181, proposed by Representative Alvarez (with Representative Weinberger named in the bill caption), passed the Insurance & Banking Subcommittee after extended debate and more than two hours of public testimony from insurers, medical providers, injured‑party advocates, motorcycle groups and legal and insurance trade associations.

In his explanation, Representative Alvarez told members the bill would repeal Florida’s PIP (personal injury protection) no‑fault requirement, mandate 25/50 bodily injury (BI) minimum liability coverage and eliminate the redundant PIP health benefit. \"We're gonna mandate 25/50 coverage. We're gonna get rid of the PIP,\" Alvarez said. He said the change would hold negligent drivers accountable for injuries they cause and reduce fraud tied to the PIP system.

Nut graf: The hearing gathered sharply divided testimony. Proponents — including motorcycle advocacy groups, personal injury attorneys and injured‑party advocates — said PIP is outdated, redundant with existing health insurance, and a driver of fraud and very high premiums in Florida. Opponents — a large array of insurers, the Florida Chamber, medical provider associations, hospitals, chiropractors and others — warned repeal would raise premiums for minimum‑limit drivers, increase litigation and shift costs to health insurers and providers.

Public testimony sampled the range of views: George Feijou of the Florida Insurance Council and Katie Webb of GEICO/ APCIA testified in opposition, saying repeal would likely raise rates and destabilize the market. Laurie Muldoon (injury case manager) and attorneys who handle catastrophic cases described clients who had no BI coverage and no recovery under current law; they urged mandatory BI to ensure people harmed by negligent drivers can be made whole. Trade groups including State Farm, NAMIC and the Florida Chamber described rate decreases tied to 2023 tort reforms and warned repeal could reverse gains. Several motorcycle advocacy groups and injured‑person attorneys urged repeal, saying PIP’s $10,000 benefit is inadequate to meet modern medical costs and that BI would restore accountability.

Committee debate highlighted conflicting data and models. Alvarez acknowledged uncertainty about precise premium impacts: \"If anyone comes to you today and says they know the answer to this, I want you to tell them that you don't believe them,\" he said, calling premium estimates \"mathematical theoreticals.\" Representative Caruso and others warned repeal risks greater litigation, more uninsured drivers and higher costs for the least able to pay. Representative Pittman and others pressed for targeted changes to enforcement of uninsured motorist requirements and possible criminal penalties for persistent non‑compliance.

The subcommittee called the roll and reported HB 1181 favorably by a vote of 17 yeas and 1 nay (Representative Caruso cast the lone recorded \"no\"). The committee record shows extensive follow‑up: members asked for further actuarial analysis and raised questions about impacts for hospitals, Medicaid recipients and drivers with high health deductibles. Sponsor Alvarez said an implementation window of at least one year and required consumer notices would be part of the transition plan.

Ending note: HB 1181 will move forward with the subcommittee’s favorable report; members and stakeholders said additional technical amendments and actuarial work are likely in later stages of the process.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Insurance & Banking Subcommittee 4/3/2025","oneSentenceSummary","House Bill 1181, proposed by Representative Alvarez, passed the Insurance & Banking Subcommittee after extended debate and more than two hours of public testimony on repealing PIP and requiring mandatory bodily‑injury liability limits.","taxTitle","Insurance & Banking Subcommittee, House, Legislative, Florida","taxId",26401,"location","Florida","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6089883,"Subcommittee considers PCS to expand OIR oversight of insurer affiliates; outside consultant defends findings",5507,5360139,10867190,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2871225-61e3ffccc85c09f13c526dd4b7bf79e5&start=5360&end=10867","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2871225-61e3ffccc85c09f13c526dd4b7bf79e5/thumbnail_5360139.jpg","/articles/6089883/Florida/Subcommittee-considers-PCS-to-expand-OIR-oversight-of-insurer-affiliates-outside-consultant-defends-findings","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6089883-5352384600dee051d3f0029d0f0a60ab/orig.mp4?Expires=1771028364&Signature=WHhlLZ4FRuRS~ENMizDmgt6RifxSHVx-yXDuG8Pbx6PxdhLuca8ePtOFz0TIWJKcV0dIURUWdyTjuKUjtLSy~E4cE2xSr~0iTRhQQSQCMBhqDYJUko171b34RWIR3H6vKWPxFQgtzWS6IgA1sKadGThGNEWDoJ5D5zIx8M8IB4N-qD819xcZXVEpwexe3qdAI9htf6JW6BsYOw6TaC42NVUTN7UIdHc8uTJMDXheUUilaN6Uw2L~VZx3tnl1368CfX~R7EuziQlUhlxiq5eN6noz389gsdl9Kux-o18~BJE0Mm7LTAW4FbL~wyFz-~7MraaOUmAUmjOZ4Vif94sgAA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representative Griffith presented a proposed committee substitute (PCS) for House Bill 881 to strengthen regulatory oversight of insurers’ affiliate relationships, affiliate compensation, and transfers between insurers and related parties.

The PCS would, among other items, define criteria for evidence that could preclude bad‑faith claims against liability insurers, authorize the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) to process background checks for insurance personnel, require documented affiliate compensation and fee‑for‑service models by July 2026, require Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR) approval for dividends and capital transfers to affiliates, require annual reports for policy owners, update reciprocal insurer reserve and surplus requirements, and require independent subscriber oversight committees for certain arrangements.

Nut graf: The PCS is framed by sponsors as a response to questions raised by the subcommittee’s earlier investigation into affiliate payments and transfers; it aims to increase transparency, require OIR approval for certain affiliate transfers and create more frequent reporting and oversight. Supporters said greater transparency and OIR authority are needed; opponents warned the bill could chill capital investment in Florida and questioned specific changes to bad‑faith law.

The subcommittee then heard testimony from Jan Monk of Risk and Regulatory Consulting (RRC), the firm that prepared an affiliated‑fee analysis for OIR. Monk testified RRC completed multiple phases of review (an initial sample of 16 homeowners insurers, then broader analyses of the remaining Florida domestic homeowners insurers covering calendar years 2017–2019) and provided deliverables and an executive summary to OIR around April 1, 2022. Monk said RRC used a judgmental quantitative framework to categorize fees into \"presumptively fair and reasonable,\" \"requires more information,\" and \"presumptively not fair and reasonable\" buckets based on the ratio of affiliate net income to insurer net income (thresholds at about 110% and 115%). She said RRC identified instances where affiliate entities had positive net income that merited follow‑up and offered recommendations to OIR; RRC’s invoices were paid in full and RRC did not receive requests for further revision after delivering its draft deliverables.

Opponents at the public table — including the Florida Insurance Council, property‑and‑casualty trade groups, and some insurers — urged caution about the PCS’s scope, warning the bill would reach into private capital decisions and could have unintended consequences for capital inflows. Supporters including the Florida Justice Reform Institute and consumer‑protection advocates urged stronger enforcement powers and clearer criteria for evaluating affiliate fees. Witnesses and members debated the bad‑faith language in the PCS (members and witnesses said certain changes could weaken the bad‑faith protections adopted in 2023), thresholds for OIR review, review cadence (the PCS uses three‑year renewal periods for certain approvals), and whether proprietary or trade‑secret claims should limit regulator access to documents.

The subcommittee reported the PCS favorably on a recorded vote (17 yeas, 1 nay). Members asked the sponsor and OIR for clarifying language on \"sufficient evidence,\" time frames for OIR action during emergencies and definitions of \"fair and reasonable,\" and the sponsor signaled openness to technical edits.

Ending note: The chair announced an expanded investigative phase and said the Speaker authorized a forensic accounting engagement to pursue remaining questions about affiliate transfers and regulatory oversight.","Representative Griffith presented a PCS for HB 881 to tighten OIR oversight of insurer affiliate payments, require disclosure and OIR approval for some transfers, and strengthen reporting and governance rules.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6089892,"Subcommittee adopts bill requiring suicide reporting, gear changes and 42-hour workweek limit for firefighters",671,62110,733595,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2871225-61e3ffccc85c09f13c526dd4b7bf79e5&start=62&end=733","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2871225-61e3ffccc85c09f13c526dd4b7bf79e5/thumbnail_62110.jpg","/articles/6089892/Florida/Subcommittee-adopts-bill-requiring-suicide-reporting-gear-changes-and-42-hour-workweek-limit-for-firefighters","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6089892-c1368513051cadf1f3e3512d4b0dbc85/orig.mp4?Expires=1771028364&Signature=VriGbRkBPzM4I5nD0IWcbmvn-3uHEgxEHhYglkyNNAS0iR22noRb8cTGF3bZkkrdKwCtUV7zN1BtEO5LREU4ZpXNNNQBgUd6dGPYqa7qaw7WJmAZmNUVbpEe5YDRXbUdaOip0rYnUIGQ5~dg2wnrj3YbHbKXVQYlHqAweu1x6-B5n5e8K8lSFQ-Tkbwaba~FZooWhX4WQhI8hcJYh0JzqAGFUr6peDIwtJaxg7hjzLyyEeAf9DTLtruYtpzmfv0wntyhE5-VXt994ORMm43T3UX~W6BruvcebgU2tAfqj83bPD-WH7WgqZOnNSZd6ex29N59bKbxZN7TcS6cwrwCIw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","House Bill 929, \"Firefighter Health and Safety,\" won unanimous approval from the Insurance & Banking Subcommittee after sponsor testimony and public support from firefighter organizations.

Representative Booth, the bill sponsor, told the subcommittee the measure updates Florida’s firefighter safety statute to require departments to report firefighter suicides and to instruct the chief financial officer and state fire marshal to establish mental‑health best practices including resiliency, stress management and peer support. \"This provision will improve tracking and prevention efforts statewide,\" Booth said, adding the bill also would require departments to inform personnel about chemical hazards in issued gear and encourage replacement with safer alternatives when commercially available.

The bill’s nut graf: sponsors and advocates said the measure combines workplace safety, mental‑health support and limited scheduling reforms to reduce long‑term physical and psychological harm to firefighters. An amendment (barcode 088855) was adopted without objection; it clarifies that replacement with less‑toxic gear would apply to new purchases and may occur in phased replacement cycles similar to current practice and refines what \"readily available\" means. The amendment also incorporated technical edits suggested by the chief financial officer's office to distinguish \"occupational illness\" from \"occupational disease\" and broadened cancer decontamination education to include chemical hazards in gear.

Committee debate was brief and supportive. Members thanked firefighters and highlighted the bill’s focus on suicide prevention, cancer decontamination, access to mental health care and limits on regularly scheduled workweeks (the bill promotes schedules that do not exceed 42 hours per regularly scheduled work week). Wayne Bernoska of the Florida Professional Firefighters testified in favor of the measure.

Representative Booth closed with a lengthy appeal stressing cumulative chemical exposure and trauma as threats to career‑long health: \"It's not the fire that'll get you ... it's the little things that accumulate in your body, and 10 years after you retire, that's when you're gonna die,\" Booth said. The committee then called the roll and reported the bill favorably.

Ending note: with the subcommittee vote completed, the bill will be placed in the committee package and advance to the next stage of consideration as provided by House rules.","The Insurance & Banking Subcommittee unanimously approved House Bill 929, which would require fire departments to report firefighter suicides, set mental‑health best practices and encourage replacement of toxic gear; an amendment clarifying phased replacement and \"readily available\" standards was adopted without objection.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Panel advances bill to repeal PIP and require bodily injury coverage after hours of testimony and split debate

Subcommittee considers PCS to expand OIR oversight of insurer affiliates; outside consultant defends findings

Subcommittee adopts bill requiring suicide reporting, gear changes and 42-hour workweek limit for firefighters