Shining a Light on Florida’s Insurance Reforms: 

Key Bills to Watch in Tallahassee

Recent legislative initiatives in Florida aim to enhance consumer protections and promote transparency within the state's insurance industry. Several bills have been introduced in response to concerns about insurer practices and financial stability.

Background: The 2022 Hidden Insurance Report

In February 2025, the Tampa Bay Times (Lawrence Mower) uncovered a 2022 study revealing that while Florida insurers reported losses following Hurricanes Irma and Michael, their parent companies and affiliates profited significantly. Executives distributed $680 million in dividends to shareholders and diverted billions more to affiliate companies. These actions potentially weakened insurers' financial positions, raising concerns about their ability to pay claims. This report was never presented to lawmakers, highlighting a lack of transparency somewhere along the chain of command. The insurance commissioner at the time and Governor Ron DeSantis instead chose to focus on legislation that would make it harder to sue insurers rather than shine light on this important 'discovery'.

Key Legislative Proposals

1. HB 1551: Attorney Fee Awards in Insurance Actions

   Introduced by Rep. Hillary Cassel, HB 1551 proposes a "loser pays" system, requiring courts to award attorney fees to the prevailing party in insurance contract disputes. This approach aims to balance the interests of consumers and insurers by discouraging frivolous lawsuits while ensuring policyholders can pursue legitimate claims without prohibitive legal costs. (flsenate.gov)

   Understanding 'One-Way Attorney Fees'
   Currently, Florida operates under a "one-way attorney fee" system for insurance disputes. This means that if a policyholder sues their insurance company and wins, the insurer must cover the policyholder’s legal fees. However, if the insurer wins, the policyholder does not have to pay the insurer’s legal fees.

   Why is this Changing?
   Supporters of HB 1551, including Rep. Cassel, argue that the one-way attorney fee system has contributed to excessive litigation, driving up insurance costs for everyone. They believe that shifting to a "loser pays" system—where the losing side in a lawsuit covers the legal fees—will discourage frivolous lawsuits while ensuring that legitimate claims can still be pursued without excessive cost burdens.

   Critics, however, worry that removing one-way attorney fees could make it harder for policyholders to challenge insurance companies when claims are wrongfully denied, as they may fear having to cover costly legal expenses if they lose the case.

   Status: As of March 17, 2025, HB 1551 passed the House Insurance & Banking Subcommittee with a 15-1 vote and is now in the Judiciary Committee. (floridapolitics.com)

2. SB 1656: Insurance Regulations

   Sponsored by Sen. Jay Collins, SB 1656 aims to enhance transparency within the insurance industry. The bill mandates insurers to provide the Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR) with documentation detailing fees paid to affiliates. Additionally, it requires companies to inform residential property policyholders about how litigation expenses, reinsurance costs, and affiliate fees impact their insurance rates. Florida Phoenix

   Status: Filed on February 28, 2025, SB 1656 was approved by the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee on March 17, 2025, with a unanimous 7-0 vote. It is currently under review by the Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government. (flsenate.gov)

3. HB 1740: Strengthening Insurer Financial Requirements

   Proposed by Sen. Blaise Ingoglia, SB 1740 requires insurers applying to operate in Florida to maintain additional reserves of at least $35 million beyond obligations to policyholders. The bill also prohibits directors, officers, or attorneys of insolvent insurers from holding similar positions in other insurance companies within five years of the insolvency, aiming to promote accountability and financial stability within the industry.

   Status: Filed on February 25, 2025, HB 1740 is currently assigned to the House Insurance & Banking Subcommittee. A companion bill, SB 1740, has been introduced in the Senate by Sen. Blaise Ingoglia.

Legislative Outlook

These bills represent a concerted effort by Florida lawmakers to address systemic issues within the state's insurance industry, particularly in light of the recently uncovered 2022 report. By enhancing transparency, promoting financial stability, and ensuring fair legal processes, the proposed legislation aims to protect consumers and restore confidence in the insurance market.

As the legislative session progresses, we must closely monitor these bills and demand real action. We cannot allow lawmakers to sidestep their responsibility—unfortunately if history is any indication, it's on us to hold them accountable and ensure these reforms pass. Insurance companies must be held responsible, and we cannot let this crisis be swept under the rug. The lack of urgency from lawmakers is an insult to every Floridian struggling under skyrocketing premiums. We deserve leaders who fight for us, not ones who protect corporate profits. For more detailed information on these legislative initiatives, please refer to the following sources:

• floridapolitics.com

• flsenate.gov

• Florida Bar article

• Florida Phoenix

 

 

Florida Senate Bill 676

A Step Backward for Minimum Wage Progress?

In 2020, Florida voters took a stand for workers’ rights by passing a citizen-led initiative to raise the state’s minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2026. This victory was a clear response to the struggles many workers face with stagnant wages and rising living costs. However, with the introduction of Florida Senate Bill (SB) 676 in 2025, that progress is now under threat.

The Minimum Wage Increase of 2020

In 2020, a historic ballot initiative saw overwhelming support from Floridians, who voted to raise the state’s minimum wage gradually to $15 by 2026. This movement was driven by the reality that many Floridians were struggling to make ends meet, and the wage increase was seen as a necessary step toward addressing income inequality.

The 2020 Minimum Wage Amendment was approved with 61% of the vote, marking a significant victory for Florida workers. Starting with a $1 increase in 2021, the state’s minimum wage was set to rise each year until it reached $15. The passage of this amendment was a testament to the power of direct democracy, as citizens took the matter into their own hands.

What Is SB 676?

SB 676, introduced by Senator Jonathan Martin, is a concerning bill that seeks to allow certain workers—such as interns and apprentices—to be paid below the state’s minimum wage. Proponents of the bill argue that it would create valuable opportunities for young workers to gain experience in their chosen fields without the burden of meeting minimum wage standards.

However, critics argue that this bill opens the door for exploitation. They fear that businesses could easily label regular jobs as internships or apprenticeships, allowing them to bypass paying workers a fair wage. This is especially concerning given the ongoing financial strain faced by many low-income workers, who depend on their wages to cover basic living expenses.

The House Companion Bill

SB 676 has a House companion, HB 541, introduced by Representative Chamberlin. Like its Senate counterpart, HB 741 seeks to allow certain workers to be paid below the minimum wage for specific roles such as internships and apprenticeships. Both bills have sparked significant concern from labor advocates, who worry that this could lead to a wider trend of employers circumventing minimum wage laws by reclassifying workers as trainees.

The Risk of Exploitation

Opponents of SB 676 and HB 541 believe that allowing businesses to pay workers below the minimum wage could lead to exploitation, particularly for young people and others entering the workforce. With a growing need for fair wages, some argue that the bill undermines the will of voters who fought hard for the $15 minimum wage.

Florida’s working class has already faced significant challenges due to stagnant wages. Introducing exceptions to minimum wage laws could deepen these inequalities, as it could disproportionately affect vulnerable workers who are already struggling to make ends meet.

A Dangerous Precedent?

Supporters of SB 676 and HB 541 argue that the bills would provide more flexibility in the workforce, creating opportunities for inexperienced workers to enter the job market. They claim that internships and apprenticeships could serve as stepping stones to higher-paying jobs. However, critics remain skeptical, believing that the bills could be used as loopholes for businesses to avoid paying a fair wage altogether.

This proposed legislation has sparked fierce debate, with many questioning whether it sets a dangerous precedent for future labor laws. With thousands of Floridians depending on a higher minimum wage to support themselves and their families, this attempt to undercut their wages is of serious concern.

The Fight for Workers and the Future of Ballot Initiatives

In addition to SB 676, lawmakers are pushing SB 7016, a bill that could make it harder for future citizen-led initiatives like the 2020 minimum wage amendment to succeed. Critics argue that SB 7016 is an effort to protect big business interests by raising the barriers for Floridians to gather enough signatures and support to get issues like a higher minimum wage on the ballot. If passed, SB 7016 could further consolidate control with lawmakers and big businesses, reducing the power of direct democracy and making it more difficult for voters to advocate for their rights.

Floridians deserve the ability to organize and vote on issues that matter to them. Whether it’s raising the minimum wage or addressing other pressing concerns, SB 7016 could close the door to that power, preventing people from having a meaningful say in the state’s policies and shaping the future.

For more detailed insights into SB 676, HB 741, and SB 7016: 
WSUF,   USA Today, Tallahassee Democrat

Resources:

• Find Your Legislators here: Duval Voter Info 
  Enter your first and last name and DoB and scroll down and click on "View Office Holders"

• Bill Information: SB 676 | HB 541 | SB 7016 

 

 

What’s Next for Medicaid in Florida?

The conversation around Medicaid expansion in Florida is gaining momentum as Democrats in the state legislature push for broader healthcare coverage. On March 17, the Florida House Democratic Caucus, joined by U.S. Rep. Maxwell Frost, held a press conference to highlight HB 1507—a bill designed to expand Medicaid and extend coverage to more low-income Floridians, including working families and veterans. With Medicaid enrollment projected to reach 4.3 million people, the stakes have never been higher.

The Push for Medicaid Expansion

Florida remains one of just ten states that have refused to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), despite the federal government offering significant financial incentives to do so. HB 1507 seeks to close the coverage gap, ensuring that thousands of Floridians who earn too much to qualify for traditional Medicaid but too little to afford private insurance can receive healthcare coverage.

Why Medicaid Expansion Matters:

• Better Access to Healthcare: States that have expanded Medicaid have seen improved health outcomes, including lower mortality rates and increased preventative care use.

• Economic Benefits: Expansion would bring billions of federal dollars into Florida, easing the financial burden on hospitals and reducing uncompensated care costs.

• Job Growth: Studies show that Medicaid expansion leads to job creation in the healthcare sector and beyond.

Opposition and Challenges

Despite these benefits, Florida Republican leadership, including Governor Ron DeSantis, has consistently opposed Medicaid expansion. Their resistance centers around concerns over long-term costs and government dependency, even though the federal government covers 90% of expansion costs.

Moreover, as reported by Florida Phoenix and Florida Politics, Republican lawmakers have focused their legislative priorities elsewhere, leaving Medicaid expansion bills like HB 1507 without serious consideration. Critics argue that this refusal to act is a political move that leaves millions of Floridians without access to essential healthcare services (Florida Politics).

The Medicaid Expansion Ballot Initiative

Recognizing the legislative roadblocks, grassroots organizations and healthcare advocates have launched a Medicaid expansion ballot initiative for 2026. This effort, spearheaded by Florida Decides Healthcare, aims to let voters decide on the issue directly. The initiative seeks to amend the state constitution to require Medicaid expansion, bypassing legislative gridlock.

How You Can Help: We are actively collecting petitions to get this measure on the 2026 ballot. If you believe Floridians deserve expanded access to healthcare, please sign the petition and help us reach the necessary threshold for ballot inclusion.

📝 Click here to fill out a petition and learn how to return it.

What’s Next?

The fight for Medicaid expansion in Florida is far from over. While HB 1507 faces an uphill battle in the legislature, the 2026 ballot initiative offers a path forward. With strong public support and continued advocacy, we can ensure that healthcare access becomes a reality for more Floridians.

For more information and updates, check out the latest coverage:

• Florida Phoenix: Florida Phoenix

• Florida Politics: Democrats File Bills to Expand Medicaid

• Kaiser Family Foundation: Medicaid Expansion Status by State

📺 Watch the press conference: Florida Channel

 

 

Three Dangerous Healthcare Bills Moving Through Tallahassee

Overview

Next week, Florida lawmakers will consider three deeply concerning bills that threaten access to reproductive healthcare, youth health education, and legal protections surrounding pregnancy. These bills, if passed, would inject medically inaccurate information into school curriculums, create extreme barriers for young people seeking essential healthcare, and redefine wrongful death laws in a way that could further criminalize reproductive care.

What’s at Stake

These proposals are part of a broader effort to undermine reproductive rights and restrict access to accurate, science-based healthcare information. Young people could face new hurdles in accessing birth control and STI treatment, schools could be required to show misleading anti-abortion propaganda, and a new legal framework could be introduced that sets a dangerous precedent for abortion providers. If enacted, these bills could have devastating consequences for Floridians, particularly young people and those seeking reproductive healthcare.

Legislative Breakdown

SB 1618 – Propaganda in Public Schools

What It Does:
This broad education bill includes a provision requiring students to watch a video on fetal development that is widely suspected to be the “Baby Olivia” video—a production created by the anti-abortion group Live Action. This group has a long history of spreading medically inaccurate, misleading, and inflammatory content designed to stigmatize abortion and contraception.

Why It’s Dangerous:

• Medical Disinformation: The video presents an unscientific view of pregnancy and fetal development, asserting that life begins at fertilization.

• Politicized Curriculum: The National Sex Education Standards do not recommend such materials, and leading medical organizations, like the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), do not endorse them.

• Extremist Ties: Live Action has been banned from social media platforms for spreading falsehoods and has links to anti-abortion extremists.

SB 1288 – Blocking Young People from Healthcare

What It Does:
This bill would impose significant restrictions on young people seeking access to birth control, STI treatment, and other reproductive healthcare services by requiring parental consent for these services. Additionally, it bans risk assessment surveys that help evaluate and improve youth healthcare programs.

Why It’s Dangerous:

• Barriers to Contraception & STI Treatment: Young people who cannot safely involve their parents may lose access to critical healthcare, increasing the risks of unintended pregnancies and untreated STIs.

• Lack of Data on Youth Health Needs: Without risk assessment surveys, policymakers and healthcare providers will lack essential data on the sexual health needs of Florida’s youth.

• Out of Step with the Nation: Florida would become one of the most restrictive states in the country, limiting access to basic healthcare that most states already allow minors to consent to independently.

SB 1284 – Wrongful Death of an Unborn Child

What It Does:
This bill would allow parents to sue for damages in cases of the wrongful death of an “unborn child.” While it explicitly prevents lawsuits against the mother, legal experts warn that it could open the door for lawsuits targeting doctors and clinics that provide abortion care.

Why It’s Dangerous:

• Backdoor Attack on Abortion Providers: This bill could be used as a tool to intimidate and financially cripple providers, even in cases of legal abortions.

• Legal Uncertainty: By redefining the legal status of an “unborn child,” the bill could create confusion and set a precedent that undermines reproductive rights.

• Chilling Effect on Medical Care: Doctors may hesitate to provide care in cases of pregnancy complications for fear of legal repercussions, putting patients at greater risk.

Why It’s Important

These bills represent a coordinated attack on reproductive healthcare in Florida. By promoting disinformation, restricting access to essential health services, and laying the groundwork for legal action against abortion providers, they threaten the well-being and autonomy of countless Floridians.

Take Action

Floridians who oppose these dangerous bills should contact members of the Senate committees where they are currently being considered.

Key Senators to Contact:

• Corey Simon (R) – (850) 487-5003 – simon.corey@flsenate.gov

• Alexis Calatayud (R) – (850) 487-5038 – calatayud.alexis@flsenate.gov

• Lori Berman (D) – (850) 487-5026 – berman.lori@flsenate.gov

• Danny Burgess (R) – (850) 487-5023 – burgess.danny@flsenate.gov

• Jay Collins (R) – (850) 487-5014 – collins.jay@flsenate.gov

• Tracie Davis (D) – (850) 487-5005 – davis.tracie@flsenate.gov

• Don Gaetz (R) – (850) 487-5001 – gaetz.don@flsenate.gov

• Rosalind Osgood (D) – (850) 487-5032 – osgood.rosalind@flsenate.gov

• Clay Yarborough (R) – (850) 487-5004 – yarborough.clay@flsenate.gov

Let your legislators know that Florida deserves fact-based education, accessible healthcare, and reproductive rights—not extremist political interference.

Sources: Planned Parenthood 1288

Planned Parenthood HB 1255

WUSF - HB651/SB1284