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Senator Kathleen C. Passidomo (R-Naples) was today unanimously elected President of the Florida Senate for the 2022-2024 Legislative Term. [Read more…] about Senator Kathleen Passidomo Unanimously Elected Senate President
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The Personal Insurance Federation of Florida (PIFF) today named two Legislative Champions for work on issues impacting Florida insurance consumers during the 2018 Legislative Session. Recognized for protecting Floridians, Senator Kathleen Passidomo, R-Naples, and Senator Dorothy Hukill, R-Port Orange, both earned the honor from PIFF, the leading voice for property and casualty insurance companies offering personal lines insurance products in Florida.
Legislative Champions were selected through a convening of the PIFF Policy Group, made up of representatives from Allstate Insurance Companies, Farmers Insurance, the Progressive Group of Insurance Companies and State Farm Insurance Companies. The group worked to identify outstanding leadership and support for PIFF’s mission and legislative agenda, citing work to protect Floridians from fraud as contributing to the recognition this year.
“The consumer protections that did occur this year would not have been possible without the initiative of these lawmakers,” said Michael Carlson, president of the Personal Insurance Federation of Florida. “Senator Passidomo worked to protect a competitive auto market in Florida by thwarting attempts to throw all auto crash claims into courthouses. Senator Hukill acted on behalf of consumers, working to protect them from paying higher rates driven by inflated property insurance claims involving water and roofing losses. We are grateful for their support in tackling problems taking place in the insurance market, and to have seen the prevention of further harm with their leadership.”
Senator Dorothy Hukill
PIFF applauded the Senator Hukill for her outspoken support for the Consumer Protection Coalition and AOB (assignment of benefits) reform efforts. Although her bill, Senate Bill 62, was never heard in committee, it served as a vehicle for real “silver bullet” solutions to stop the rampant AOB abuse in Florida. While a solution is still needed, no further harm was done this year.
“I am honored to be recognized for consumer-focused efforts, and consider it my duty to advocate for policies that protect Floridians,” said Senator Hukill. “I will continue to work toward a solution that ensures when families are in an auto or home crisis they are protected and the AOB process is transparent and held accountable.”
Senator Kathleen Passidomo
Senator Passidomo championed the “bad faith” amendment on Senate Bill 150, which would have also removed the mandatory medical payments coverage for all drivers – PIFF believes this debate ultimately helped thwart the PIP repeal-and-replace discussion, a positive development for Florida consumers. Without a newly mandated rate increase, Floridians will continue to have choices in the insurance market.
“I am humbled to be recognized with my good friend, Senator Dorothy Hukill, for our shared concerns of constituents and consumers throughout the State of Florida,” said Senator Passidomo.
This is the second year PIFF has recognized Legislative Champions for Florida consumers, recognizing eight individuals in 2017. For more on PIFF’s 2018 legislative platform, visit PIFF.net.
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With representatives from the 30 diverse statewide organizations that make up the Sadowski Coalition joining her in front of the Florida Senate Chamber doors in the State Capitol in Tallahassee, State Senator Kathleen Passidomo today announced she has filed bipartisan affordable housing legislation. This legislation, Senate Bill 874, would prohibit the sweep of the State and Local Housing Trust Fund. State Representative Sean Shaw is the sponsor of the House companion bill, House Bill 191.
Senator Passidomo was joined by Representative Shaw and Senate and House Co-sponsors, as well as Sadowski Coalition Facilitator Jaimie Ross and representatives from the Sadowski Coalition, including Danielle Scoggins, senior public policy representative for the Florida Realtors.
“I’m honored to announce today that I have filed legislation, Senate Bill 874, to stop the sweeps of the State and Local Housing Trust Fund,” said Senator Passidomo. “With this legislation, this much-needed funding can become a certainty, and we can begin to use all of our available housing resources toward solving our affordable housing problem. Florida’s state and local housing trust fund programs are national models – they work, but only to the degree that they are funded.”
Governor Rick Scott’s budget proposal, released today, showed a significant reduction in sweeps of Florida’s state and local housing trust funds. The Governor’s ’17-18 budget proposed a $224M sweep, while the ’18-19 budget proposes a much lower $91.8M sweep, affirming the Governor’s commitment to affordable housing in the wake of a disastrous hurricane season.
“…we are on the right track. And hopefully, SB 874 and HB 191 can bring us that much closer to the end goal of using all affordable housing trust fund monies toward their intended purpose – affordable housing,” said Senator Passidomo.
“I filed HB 191 in the House before our housing needs were exacerbated by Hurricane Irma and the displacement of our fellow Americans by Hurricane Maria,” said Representative Shaw. “Florida is proud to open our arms to our fellow Americans from Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands who need refuge or intend to establish a new residence here. We must have more housing opportunities to make that happen, and it is time we stop the sweeping of affordable housing trust fund monies.”
“This year marks 25 years since the Sadowski Act became law with bipartisan support in Florida,” said Jaimie Ross, president and CEO of the Florida Housing Coalition, and facilitator of the Sadowski Coalition. “This landmark legislation was intended to create a source of funding for affordable housing that could be relied upon. There were no sweeps of the housing trust funds during the first 10 years. We need to bring back that norm. This legislation is intended to do that. The timing could not be better.”
“Florida Realtors has been a proud supporter of the state and local government housing trust funds from the very beginning because our members understand that every community relies on dependable and accessible housing options to stay vibrant and healthy,” said Carrie O’Rourke, vice president of public policy for Florida Realtors, which is a member of the Sadowski Coalition. “We applaud Senator Passidomo and Representative Shaw for being leaders on this important issue and for calling attention to one of the biggest hurdles facing the continued economic prosperity of our state. Only by working together can we solve Florida’s affordable housing problem.”
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As Floridians recover from a destructive hurricane season, the need for pre-season preparation has been top of mind for Sunshine State residents. It is with this in mind that Senator Kathleen Passidomo (R-Naples) has filed legislation that would give Floridians a tax break for disaster preparedness supplies in 2018.
Senator Passidomo’s bill, SB 620, if passed, would create a tax holiday from June 1-10 of 2018. During this time period, shoppers will not have to pay sales tax on eligible items and supplies that can be used to prepare for and recover from natural disasters that hit the Sunshine State.
“Florida is all too familiar with the impacts that hurricanes can have, and by providing this Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday, we will help ensure that our residents and visitors are prepared and protected. I want to thank Senator Passidomo for her leadership in proposing this important legislation, and we look forward to working with her and other legislative leaders on its passage.” – R. Scott Shalley, FRF President and CEO
This sales tax holiday totals $4.5 million in savings for Florida families. Florida has had similar “hurricane preparedness sales tax holidays” four previous times — in 2005 for 12 days, in 2006 for 12 days, in 2007 for 12 days and in 2014 for nine days.
During the holiday, sales tax will not be collected on the following popular items (for a complete listing of these items and other information, please click here):
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