Sweeping legal reforms passed by Florida Legislature, dividing Republicans

[Zorro]

Source: Tampa Bay Tribune

House Bill 837 will make it harder and more expensive to sue insurance companies.

No legislation this session has scrambled party loyalties like HB 837, a sweeping overhaul of Florida’s legal landscape that will make it harder, and more expensive, to sue insurance companies.

On Thursday, the Senate passed the bill with four Republicans voting against it, a rare split that still sends the bill to Gov. Ron DeSantis’ desk.

Three other Republican senators have flip-flopped on the bill — voting against it in committees, then for it on the Senate floor. One Democratic senator voted for it, splitting from her party.

The consternation stems from the broad sweep of the bill — and the fact that Floridians pay the highest auto and homeowners insurance rates in the nation.

DeSantis and top Republican leaders say the legislation is necessary to curb the high number of lawsuits, which will in turn drive down rates.

Read more: https://www.tampabay.com/news/florida-politics/2023/03/23/lawsuits-insurance-auto-homeowners-rates-negligence-tort-reform/

[underpants]

1. Sure it will drive down rates.

Companies always pass their savings on to the consumer.

[Grins]

2. It didn't in Texas years ago.

That was the lie.

The truth came later - medical insurance premiums went UP!

As God intended…!

[underpants]

8. The more God you got the better

💰💸

[jaxexpat]

10. Of course, it needs to be the right god.

[Midnight Writer]

3. Of course, just like moving manufacturing facilities to cheap labor countries will drive down prices

And keeping wages low in America will drive down prices.

And removing environmental protections will drive down prices.

And letting oil companies drill on Federal land will drive down prices.



Add this to the all the great benefits we are getting from trickle-down tax policies, and we're all dancing in high cotton, ain't we?

[ZonkerHarris]

5. [phone] The Everlasting Con

[underpants]

9. 👍

[ZonkerHarris]

4. Say it will drive down rates out loud Ron. SAY IT! SAY IT!

we need that video clip
Make him say it
We all know those rates never go down.

[LoisB]

6. Gee, I wonder why there is a "high number of lawsuits"? Could it be that insurance companies

balk at paying claims so people HAVE to sue them? We all know rates are not going down.

[modrepub]

7. Someone From FL Really Needs To Explain

what's going on here. From my limited knowledge about the situation, this legislation isn't attacking the root of the problem.

There's some weird circumstances that allow for contractors to do work, that may not be needed, and take over the property owners rights to sue if the insurance companies balk at paying for their work. This, more frequent storm damage and shoddy construction/lax zoning regulations all seem to be contributing to an untenable complicated situation. And we all know politicians and most of us are very poor at addressing let alone solving complex problems.

[TeamProg]

11. This law fits into the Banana Republican plan. nt