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PSC Customer Service Hearings Scheduled for Duke Energy Florida, LLC

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Friday, May 24, 2024

MEDIA CONTACT: (850) 413-6482

 

PSC Customer Service Hearings Scheduled for

Duke Energy Florida, LLC

 

TALLAHASSEE — The Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) will hold customer service hearings on Tuesday, June 11; Wednesday, June 12; and Tuesday, June 18, for Duke Energy Florida, LLC (DEF) customers. In April, DEF filed a petition with the PSC for a rate increase.

Service hearings allow DEF’s customers to provide public comments on its rate request and its quality of service. The Commission will consider customer input when reviewing the utility’s request.

DEF customers wanting to speak before the Commission may register by:

·         using the online registration form, available on the PSC’s website under Hot Topics;

·         calling the PSC at 1-850-413-7080;

·         emailing the PSC at [email protected]; or

·         registering at the venue.

 Hybrid (in-person/virtual) and in-person service hearings are scheduled for the following times and locations:

 

In-Person/Virtual

Tuesday, June 11, 2024 *

9:30 a.m.

Betty Easley Conference Center

Joseph P. Cresse Hearing Room (Room 148)

4075 Esplanade Way

Tallahassee, Florida  32399

In-Person

Wednesday, June 12, 2024

10:00 a.m.

Citrus County Auditorium

3610 S. Florida Avenue

Inverness, Florida  34450

 

Wednesday, June 12, 2024*

6:00 p.m.

Parks and Conservation Resources

Magnolia Room

12520 Ulmerton Road

Largo, Florida  33774

In-Person/Virtual

Tuesday, June 18, 2024*

6:00 p.m.

Betty Easley Conference Center

Joseph P. Cresse Hearing Room (Room 148)

4075 Esplanade Way

Tallahassee, Florida  32399

*Spanish language interpreter will be available.

DEF supplies electric service to approximately two million retail customers in Pinellas, Pasco, Orange, Osceola, and Seminole Counties.

Customers unable to participate can watch footage of the live meeting on the PSC’s website (click “Watch Live and Archived PSC Events” on our homepage).

For additional information, visit www.floridapsc.com.

Follow the PSC on X and LinkedIn.

Subscribe to the Commission’s YouTube channel for Consumer Tips and PSAs.

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FAMU Master of Health Administration Program Receives Seven-Year Reaccreditation

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For Immediate Release
Tuesday, May 21, 2024
 
FAMU Master of Health Administration Program Receives Seven-Year Reaccreditation
 
The Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME) Board of Directors approved the reaccreditation of Florida A&M University’s (FAMU), Master Health Care Administration (MHA) program for a seven-year term.
The MHA degree program was established in 2000 and graduated its first class in 2003. Administratively, the five-semester program is housed in the School of Allied Health Sciences (SOAHS), Division of Health Care Management. There were 32 students enrolled, with seven graduating in spring 2024.
The SOAHS is one of four schools/colleges and institutes that make up the FAMU’s health science academic core. Other components include pharmacy, nursing and public health.
Dean of the School of Allied Health Sciences Mary Simmons, Ph.D.,  was delighted with the reaccreditation news.
“This recognition affirms the strong leadership of Attorney Odell Stroud, Jr., and the outstanding work of our faculty and staff within the Division of Healthcare Management to provide an industry-leading educational experience for our students,” Simmons said. “The program’s curriculum and experiential learning opportunities prepare graduates to become transformational leaders who can tackle our nation’s most pressing healthcare challenges. This accreditation is a testament to Florida A&M University’s longstanding commitment to educational excellence and our goal of increasing diversity within healthcare management. I want to congratulate everyone involved for their dedication to promoting health equity through world-class education and training.”
Since 1968, the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME) has served the public interest by advancing the quality of healthcare management education globally. CAHME accredits 150 academic programs in management which has broadly been defined to include healthcare quality and safety, and population health.
CAHME works with leading academic programs and numerous healthcare practitioners to ensure that graduates entering the healthcare field have undergone an educational process meeting rigorous, measurable standards for effectiveness. The result is a formal academic education focusing on key competencies, plus practical experiences. This enables new graduates to quickly add value to an organization and grow into future leaders.
CAHME is the only organization recognized by the Council on Higher Education Accreditation to grant accreditation to individual academic programs offering a graduate degree in healthcare management.
“CAHME’s mission is to advance the quality of healthcare management education globally.  CAHME-accredited programs have successfully navigated a complex and careful accreditation process managed by experts in the study and practice of healthcare management,” said Anthony Stanowski, DHA, FACHE, president and CEO of CAHME. “The program meets rigorous standards set by leading academics and practitioners. We recognize their commitment to the field.”
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Photo Caption
Jena Tavares was one of seven students graduating with their master’s in Health Care Administration this spring.(Credit: Christian J. Whitaker)
Media Contact
Andrew J. Skerritt
Associate Director/Media Relations
850-544-2675
Office of Communications
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University
1601 S. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Suite 200, Tallahassee, FL
Main: 850-599-3413

To Haley Voters: There’s a Home For You on Team Biden-Harris

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 23, 2024

To Haley Voters: There’s a Home For You on Team Biden-Harris

As the President himself has made clear, there’s a home on his campaign for the millions of Republican voters across the country who cast their ballots against Donald Trump in primaries this year – voters who care deeply about the future of our democracy, standing strong with our allies against foreign adversaries, and working across the aisle to get things done for the American people – while also rejecting the chaos, division, and violence that Donald Trump embodies.

While Trump and his team openly attack Nikki Haley and her supporters, Team Biden-Harris is putting in the work and investing in reaching these voters:

“While Trump has done absolutely nothing to gain the support of Haley voters and takes them for granted, Biden and his campaign are actively reaching out to build a coalition of Republicans and they know they need to earn their vote. We welcome their initial engagements and know they plan to do much more in the coming months.” — Robert Schwartz, Executive Director of Haley Voters Working Group

Long after Haley dropped out of the race, millions of voters in key battlegrounds have continued to reject Donald Trump, showing particular vulnerabilities in battleground states:

  • In Wisconsin, Trump struggled in the suburbs: The “WOW” counties (Waukesha, Ozaukee, and Washington) have key swing voters who are critical to winning statewide in November. Haley finished with 17% in Ozaukee, 12% in Washington, and 14% in Waukesha.
  • In Pennsylvania, over 155,000 Pennsylvania Republicans voted for Nikki Haley over Donald Trump in a closed primary, and Trump dramatically underperformed in critical “collar counties” – the suburbs surrounding Philadelphia.
  • In Georgia, Donald Trump put up a weak showing, losing over 77,000 votes to the ghost of Nikki Haley and was particularly weak in the Atlanta suburbs, including in DeKalb County where Haley got 40% of the vote, Cobb County where she received 23% of the vote, and Fulton County where she got 38%. As a reminder, President Biden defeated Donald Trump in Georgia by 11,800 votes in 2020.
  • In Michigan, Trump underperformed in suburban areas like Oakland and Washtenaw counties near Detroit and Ottawa and Kent counties near Grand Rapids.
  • In North Carolina, Haley overperformed in key suburban areas that put the state in play in November like Durham, Mecklenburg, Orange, and Wake counties.

Those protest voters aren’t going anywhere. Don’t just take it from us – listen to anti-Trump voters who previously supported Nikki Haley who said that Haley’s comments were “something that we expected” and that her voters have “entirely different calculations” than Haley herself on what’s best for the country.

Not only is Donald Trump not courting Nikki Haley and her voters – he is actively attacking and demeaning them:

  • While Haley was giving her suspension speech, Trump said he didn’t think he would “need” swing voters or those who voted for Haley.
  • Trump and his allies have said anyone who isn’t MAGA isn’t welcome in the Republican Party. That they have to get “rid” of moderate voters and kick them “out” of Trump’s Republican Party. That includes Haley and her supporters, who Trump has threatened, intimidated and vowed to blacklist from the party.
  • Trump has, for months, demeaned Nikki Haley herself, calling her “birdbrain,” promoting a racist birther lie about her, and mocking her name. He even attacked Haley for her husband being gone – Michael Haley is currently serving abroad on a National Guard mission.

Bottom line: While Donald Trump continues to attack moderate Republican and independent voters, the Biden campaign is investing to talk to these voters and working to earn their support.

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Paid for by Biden for President

Fla.’s Housing Market: Closed Sales, Median Prices, Inventory Up in April

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Contact: Marla Martin, Florida Realtors® Senior Media Relations & Communications Manager, or Jeff Zipper, Senior Vice President of Communications; 407/438-1400, ext. 2326 or 2314

 

Fla.’s Housing Market: Closed Sales, Median Prices, Inventory Up in April

 

ORLANDO, Fla., May 22, 2024 – Florida’s housing market in April showed more closed sales, more for-sale inventory, more new listings and higher median prices compared to a year ago, according to Florida Realtors®’ latest housing data.

“More active listings provide more options and more homeownership opportunities for buyers, which in turn helps encourage buyer demand,” said 2024 Florida Realtors® President Gia Arvin, broker-owner with Matchmaker Realty in Gainesville. “In time, having more available inventory could ease the pressure of rising prices; however, cautious buyers and sellers are still wary of high mortgage interest rates, which are hovering around 7%.”

Last month, closed sales of existing single-family homes statewide totaled 24,682, up 5.8% year-over-year, while existing condo-townhouse sales totaled 10,228, up 1.9% over April 2023. Closed sales may occur from 30- to 90-plus days after sales contracts are written.

Florida Realtors Chief Economist Dr. Brad O’Connor noted that while sales rose compared to the same time last year, they have not reached pre-pandemic levels.

“Closed sales remain lower than what we may have been used to prior to the pandemic, but they are holding fairly steady,” he said. “Meanwhile, prices continue to rise at a much more sustainable pace and options for buyers continue to expand.”

The statewide median sales price for single-family existing homes in April was $429,900, up 4.9% over April 2023, according to data from Florida Realtors Research Department in partnership with local Realtor boards/associations. Last month’s statewide median price for condo-townhouse units was $335,000, up 3.1% over the year-ago figure. The median is the midpoint; half the homes sold for more, half for less.

“As for the incoming supply of homes for sale, new listings of single-family homes remained elevated in both property type categories,” said O’Connor. “In April, new listings of single-family homes were up 25% compared to a year ago, although this level of new listings, while significantly greater than last year, is more in line with our typical pre-pandemic numbers. Similarly, new listings of townhouses and condos were up 24.2% year-over-year in April. But in this property type category, we are seeing a level of new listings higher than what we would have expected pre-pandemic.”

He said, “With new listings outpacing sales, and homes on the market a bit longer than a year ago, we have seen quite a bit of inventory growth in recent months here in Florida. You’re probably seeing lots of headlines about the state’s rapid rise in inventory but let’s put that in perspective. Single-family inventory is not quite back to the typical 2014-to-2019 level, but it’s getting close, while the condo-townhouse inventory is now over the typical level of inventory that we had in the years ahead of the pandemic.”

Still, Dr. O’Connor noted, “The fact that the measure of days on market is much more similar to what we saw immediately ahead of the pandemic or even below that level in some cases, gives us reason to be positive about our recent increase in inventory. This increase is going to ease price growth and allow for more opportunities for prospective buyers who were left in the cold when inventory was so low just a couple of years ago.”

On the supply side of the market, inventory (active listings) rose year-over-year with single-family existing homes at a 4.2-months’ supply in April, while condo-townhouse inventory was at a 6.9-months’ supply.

To see the full statewide housing activity reports, go to the Florida Realtors Newsroom and look under Latest Releases or download the April 2024 data report PDFs under Market Data.

Florida Realtors® serves as the voice for real estate in Florida. It provides programs, services, continuing education, research and legislative representation to 238,000 members in 51 boards/associations. Florida Realtors® Newsroom website is available at http://floridarealtors.org/newsroom.

 

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Lauren’s Kids Named Winner Of Alliance For Women In Media 2024 Gracie Award

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CONTACT:

Kayla Lott | 845.476.4560

[email protected]

Lauren’s Kids Named Winner Of Alliance For Women In Media 2024 Gracie Award

Yesterday, Senator Lauren Book and Lauren’s Kids, an organization that works to combat childhood sexual abuse through awareness and education, was presented with a 2024 Gracie Award in the original online programming, standalone video category for their Safer, Smarter Kids Think, Feel, Act (TFA) safety video. Senator Book, Lauren’s Kids CEO & Founder, accepted the award at the Gracie’s Gala held on May 21, 2024, at the Beverly Wilshire in Beverly Hills, California.

“We are so honored to receive a Gracie Award from the Alliance for Women in Media,” Senator Lauren Book, founder, and CEO of Lauren’s Kids, said. “Child sexual abuse knows no bounds, with 1 in 3 girls and 1 in 5 boys being abused before graduating high school, and 1 in 5 children who touch a computer being sexually solicited online. Armed with the knowledge that 95% of this abuse is preventable through education and awareness, we are  empowering and teaching children personal safety from a place of fun, not fear.”

The Alliance for Women in Media was formed in 1951, initially as American Women in Radio and Television. Nearly 25 years later, the annual award program was created to recognize individuals in the media who reflected women’s changing roles, issues, and concerns. This year marks the organization’s 49th anniversary of the Gracie Awards. The Gracies recognize individual achievement and exemplary programming created by, for, and about women in all facets of media and entertainment.

Last month during National Sexual Abuse Awareness Month, Senator Lauren Book and the Lauren’s Kids Foundation walked 1,500 miles for child safety as part of their annual “Walk in My Shoes”  event. Senator Book stopped at numerous school’s along her 1500-mile trek and taught lessons on personal safety from the EMMY Award-winning Lauren’s Kids Safer, Smarter Kids and Safer, Smarter Teens curriculum. The Walk in My Shoes began in 2010; since that time, tens of thousands of participants have joined to walk across the state raisinge awareness about child sexual abuse prevention and honoring the 42 million survivors living in the U.S.

Armed with the knowledge that 95% of child sexual abuse and exploitation is preventable through awareness and education, visit www.laurenskids.org today to learn how to keep children and communities safe.

To join the celebration, follow the hashtag #TheGracies and @Allwomeninmedia.

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About Lauren’s Kids

Lauren Book, M.S. ED, founder and CEO of Lauren’s Kids, is an internationally recognized child protection advocate, best-selling author and Florida State Senator who works every day to protect childhood.  She is also a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, suffered at the hands of a trusted caretaker from the time she was 10 until the age of 16. Armed with the knowledge that 95 percent of sexual abuse is preventable through education and awareness, Lauren has worked to turn her horrific personal experience into a vehicle to prevent childhood sexual abuse and help other survivors heal.

An official 501(c)(3) since 2007, Lauren’s Kids educates adults and children about sexual abuse prevention through in-school curricula, ADDY and EMMY Award-winning public awareness campaigns and speaking engagements around the country and the world.  The organization provides more than 8 million direct mail education and awareness materials statewide. The foundation has helped advocate for the passage of nearly two dozen laws to support survivors and protect children from predators. For more information, please visit www.laurenskids.org.

Florida PSC Encourages Preparedness and Readiness for 2024 Hurricane Season

Posted on

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Tuesday, May 21, 2024

 

MEDIA CONTACT: (850) 413-6482

 

Florida PSC Encourages Preparedness and Readiness

for 2024 Hurricane Season

 TALLAHASSEE — Hurricane season, beginning June 1, is quickly approaching. With a more active than normal season predicted, the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) ensures the state’s investor-owned electric utilities are prepared for the 2024 storm season.

Today, Florida utilities reviewed updates to their storm response and recovery procedures at the PSC’s annual Hurricane Preparedness Workshop. Each review included the current status on PSC-mandated storm preparedness initiatives:

  • Facility inspections, maintenance, and repairs;
  • Vegetation management;
  • Flooding and storm surge mitigation;
  • Wooden pole inspections; and
  • Coordination with other utilities, government, and community groups.

“The PSC’s storm preparedness rules help Florida’s electric utilities continually improve their storm readiness, but customers also need to be prepared,” said PSC Chairman Mike La Rosa. “To assist customers, the Commission has posted Customer Storm Preparation and Recovery Information under Hot Topics on our website, including storm planning and recovery tips.”

Planning tools include the PSC’s “Hurricane House,” with 19 preparation tips for home and family, from planning an evacuation route to dealing with downed power lines. Also included is a home electric connection graphic, showing who—the utility or the customer—is responsible for repairs, as well as utility storm hardening reports.

Following each named storm that impacts our state, the PSC aggregates the available data related to power outages and publishes this information on the PSC website.

Today’s workshop presentations are available under Hot Topics on the PSC website.

For additional information, visit www.floridapsc.com.

Follow the PSC on X and LinkedIn.

Subscribe to the Commission’s YouTube channel for Consumer Tips and PSAs.

Team Biden-Harris Enters June Ahead of Trump with $192M War Chest

Posted on

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 20, 2024

Team Biden-Harris Enters June Ahead of Trump with $192M War Chest

$192 Million in Cash on Hand Outpaces Trump’s COH, Highest Total of Any Democratic Candidate in History at This Point in the Cycle

Trump Focuses on Billionaire Donors, While Team Biden-Harris Shows Consistent Strength With Grassroots Base

Fundraising Fueling Battleground State Operations, While Trump Absent On the Ground

Team Biden-Harris Raised More than $473 Million In Year Since Launch, $51 Million in April

Today, Team Biden-Harris announced a $192 million war chest, the highest total of any Democratic candidate in history at this point in the cycle. Team Biden-Harris raised more than $51 million in April 2024, continuing to build on the steady and historic work of the Team Biden-Harris fundraising operation. Team Biden-Harris’ April haul and war chest continues to outpace any Democratic candidate in history at this point in the cycle.

While Team Trump has focused nearly entirely on courting billionaire donors maxing out early in the cycle instead of building a durable grassroots fundraising program, Team Biden-Harris’ April haul was driven in large part by continued strength and durability in our grassroots network. A majority of April’s raise came from grassroots donors, and one million more supporters were added to our email list in the month alone. This fundraising is powering a growing battleground state operation and a historic paid media campaign focused on the voters who will decide this election. With six months until Election Day, the Biden-Harris campaign is driving ahead with the enthusiasm, strength, and historic resources needed to win a close election in November.

“April’s haul reflects strong, consistent grassroots enthusiasm for reelecting Joe and Kamala, and is giving us the resources necessary to invest in opening offices, hiring organizers and communicating across our battleground states in order to mobilize the coalition of voters who will decide this election,” said Julie Chavez Rodriguez, Biden-Harris 2024 Campaign Manager. “Trump’s operation continues to burn through cash and lag behind our growing and aggressive campaign, with no ground game and no demonstrable interest in talking to the voters they need to win. We’re taking nothing for granted, but only our campaign is doing the required work every single day to earn voters’ support this November.”

“Democrats across the country are fired up to re-elect President Biden and Vice President Harris – just look at the numbers: we have more cash on hand than any other Democratic candidate in history,” said DNC Chair Jaime Harrison. “Our grassroots donors understand the stakes of this election, they’re motivated to give and volunteer, and they look like America. It is their passion, their strength, and their belief in our country that will carry us over the finish line and lead us to victory this November.”

Let’s do a deeper dive on the numbers:

Team Biden-Harris’ grassroots operation in April reflects strength across the campaign, DNC, and its joint fundraising committees:

  • April was Team Biden-Harris’ strongest month for recurring donors to date – with recurring donors contributing over $5.5M in revenue in a single month.
  • Team Biden-Harris grew its active email list by another 1M subscribers from March to April continuing to build upon its universe, which is already the largest in the history of Democratic politics.
  • Since launch, 96% of all our donations were under $200 and 1.8 million donors have made nearly 4.9 million contributions.
  • Additionally, we now have more than 225,000 sustaining donors who have committed to donating every month – over 1.5 times the amount at this point in the 2020 cycle.
  • Donors hailed from all 50 states and all walks of life, with teachers and nurses as some of the most common occupations among donors.

Donald Trump’s campaign is selling the American people out to billionaire oil and gas executives to fund his campaign – and his other issues:

  • Donald Trump’s fundraising was fueled by his billionaire buddies donating max out checks.
  • Trump is personally begging donors to max out their contributions to his campaign and is effectively promising donors whatever policies they want if they donate to his campaign.
    • Last week the Washington Post reported Trump promising oil and gas executives  whatever they want in exchange for donations – including oil lobbyists writing executive orders for him to sign.
  • Trump is falling behind Joe Biden with small donors and has spent more than $75 million on personal issues, instead of talking to the voters who will decide this election.

Unlike Team Trump, Team Biden-Harris’ April haul is going toward the efforts needed to reach and win the voters who will decide this election:

  • More than 150 coordinated offices.
  • Over 500 coordinated staff in battleground states and increased organizing presence in the communities that will decide this election.
  • $14 million ad campaign targeting voters across battleground states during the month of May, including investments into African American and Hispanic media.

Donald Trump and the RNC have closed battleground state offices, they have no organizing programs, negligible battleground staff presence, and virtually zero ads.

President Biden’s 2020 campaign raised over $1 billion, the most money of any presidential campaign in history, which included $700 million online driven by small-dollar donations – also the most in history. With President Biden at the top of the ticket, ActBlue saw over 133 million separate donations in the 2020 cycle with 71% being first-time donors.

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Paid for by Biden for President

Senators Torres and Stewart Call for Water Project Budget Security

Posted on

STATEMENT: Senators Torres and Stewart Call for Water Project Budget Security

Orlando, Fla. – The City of Orlando has recently announced an increase to stormwater fees for homeowners who are already dealing with a property insurance crisis. This recent announcement highlights why it is imperative that Governor DeSantis secures water project funding for Central Florida, an area which has experienced tremendous growth over the last several years.

“Homeowners are getting hit from all sides right now, for years we have proposed appropriation projects to help our Central Florida communities deal with storm water and sewer issues” said Senator Victor Torres (D-Orlando). “We have walked through knee deep water in our communities, and seen firsthand how our population growth has affected our water system. Now we are calling for the Governor to step up and secure state support for our water projects such as the Whitted Neighborhood Water System project which would bring $1,450,000 to update the entire sewer system for a community struggling with flooding.”

“Securing funding for sewer and storm water projects for our communities has been an important priority of our Central Florida delegation. Having the state fund much needed renovations to our water systems will help reduce the financial burden placed on residents for these kinds of upgrades. One of my projects will allocate $750,000 to Belle Isle for storm water upgrades to help prevent flooding worsened by outdated drainage systems,” said Senator Linda Stewart (D-Orlando).

Florida Democrats Commemorate Cuban Independence Day

Posted on

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 20, 2024

CONTACT:
[email protected]

FLORIDA DEMOCRATS COMMEMORATE CUBAN INDEPENDENCE DAY

Tallahassee, FL — May 20th is Cuban Independence Day. As Cuban Americans in Florida and all over the world commemorate their Independence Day, the Florida Democratic Party released the following statement:

“In 1902, Cubans fought to secure independence and gave birth to a Republic. On Cuban Independence Day, we extend our support and solidarity with the Cuban people to continue the fight for a free Cuba,” said FDP Chair Nikki Fried.

“Sadly, Fidel Castro and the Communist Cuban regime stole the liberty of every Cuban and Cuba is no longer free. Today, an authoritarian regime under the heavy hands of Raul Castro and Miguel Díaz-Canel still oppresses its people and denies them their right to a dignified life.

“Today, we honor the people of Cuba and the political prisoners in the island by remembering the words of Cuban independence hero, Jose Marti: ‘When there are many men without decorum, there are always others who themselves possess the decorum of many men. These are the ones who rebel with terrible strength against those who rob nations of their liberty, which is to rob men of their decorum. Embodied in those men are thousands of men, a whole people, human dignity.’

“The Cuban people deserve a government that peacefully upholds liberties, religious freedoms, human rights, and democratic values, and the Florida Democrats support the Cuban people’s quest to achieve that vision.”

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OIR Provides Update on Florida’s Strengthening Property Insurance Market

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ICYMI: OIR Provides Update on Florida’s Strengthening Property Insurance Market

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR) issued an update on the continued strengthening of Florida’s property and casualty insurance market, including that property insurance rate filings for 2024 show a downward trend for the first time in years, indicating the continued stabilization of the property insurance market. This news is a result of the continued prioritization of meaningful reforms to Florida’s property insurance market by Governor DeSantis, members of the Financial Services Commission, and the Florida Legislature.

The news follows the signing of House Bill 1611 by Governor DeSantis which institutes additional consumer protections to ensure OIR has the tools and authority necessary to maintain accountability within the market.

“As Insurance Commissioner, my top priority has been increasing protection for Florida’s consumers and today’s announcement demonstrates Governor DeSantis’ ongoing commitment to ensuring a strengthened and reliable insurance market for policyholders,” said Insurance Commissioner Michael Yaworsky. “I want to thank Governor DeSantis and bill sponsors Senator Trumbull and Representative Stevenson for their continued leadership and support as we work to regulate one of the most complex insurance markets in the world.”

Market Update

OIR continues to see overall market stabilization following the historic legislative reforms of 2022 and 2023 that enhanced protections for consumers, strengthened Citizens Property Insurance Corporation, and encouraged investment by insurers and reinsurers by providing clarity to the market and the risk they underwrite.

Rate Filings: Rate filings for 2024 show a slight trend downward for the first time in years, indicating stabilization of the property insurance market. Ten companies have filed a zero percent increase and at least eight companies have filed a rate decrease to take effect in 2024.

Reinsurance: The 2023 reinsurance market responded positively to these reforms. Early signs from the 2024 reinsurance purchasing season show further positive indications. Reinsurance is a direct and significant cost to consumers and relief in this area is a significant sign that the reforms are working.

Financial Strength: After years of consecutive underwriting losses, the insurers saw overall stability with many companies reporting a net profit in 2023.

Market Snapshot: As of Q4 2023, there are approximately 7.45 million residential insurance policies in force in the Florida property market.

  • 81% of those policies are written by admitted insurers, as opposed to Surplus Lines companies or Citizens Property Insurance Corporation.
  • Eight new companies have been approved to write homeowners policies in Florida since the reforms, and an additional company was acquired to expand its footprint in the state.

Citizens Property Insurance Corporation: Approximately 389k policies have been taken out of Citizens from January 2023 through March 2024.

Florida Leadership: Other states are looking at recent and historical Florida’s legislative reforms to strengthen their own markets.

  • HI (CAT Fund), GA (tort reform), LA (tort reform), are examples.
  • Florida has recently presented its reforms as a model at the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.

Market Research: OIR conducts market research across all lines of business, and partners with universities throughout the state to explore innovative ways to improve market outcomes and inform policy decisions.

Market Conduct: Multiple insurers have been held accountable for behavior that is in violation of Florida law.

The full market update can be found here.

House Bill 1611, signed by the Governor, enacts additional regulatory and consumer protection measures that further increase oversight and accountability in Florida’s property insurance market by:

  • Requiring insurers and insurer groups to file a specified supplemental data report, including zip code level data, on a monthly basis beginning January 1, 2025.
  • Prohibiting insurers from canceling and nonrenewing policies covering dwellings and residential properties damaged as a result of hurricanes or wind losses within 90 days after the dwelling or residential property has been repaired.
  • Including additional entities to be subject to OIR’s required market conduct examinations.
  • Requiring justification if certain models are used in rate filings to demonstrate that filed rates are reasonable, adequate, and fair.
  • Eliminating the statutory provision that allows Citizens Property Insurance Corporation (Citizens) to charge up to 50 percent above the established Citizens rate for policyholders whose coverage was last provided by an insurer determined to be unsound or place into receivership.

House Bill 1611 is the latest piece of legislation intended to strengthen consumer protections and OIR’s market regulation efforts. Following the passage of historic legislative reform, OIR has greater ability to enforce regulatory authority and has taken actions to increase market regulation compliance, including:

  • Initiating more than 50 market conduct investigations following Hurricane Ian to evaluate aspects of the claims handling process.
  • Publishing a quarterly Insurer Compliance Report to provide ongoing updates on OIR’s market regulation efforts, including recent filings and regulatory actions for companies found in violations of the state’s consumer protections and claims handling practices.

A listing of OIRs recent market regulation actions can be found here.

About the OIR

The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR) has primary responsibility for regulation, compliance, and enforcement of statutes related to the business of insurance and the monitoring of industry markets. For more information about OIR, please visit our website or follow us on X @FLOIR_comm.