A Florida pilot program to fortify coastal-area condominiums is on its way to the governor but other property insurance bills may have hit a snag after last-minute changes – with just two days left in the legislative session.
The state Senate on Wednesday voted 39 to 0 in favor of House Bill 1029, which had passed the House of Representatives last week without opposition. If signed into law, the bill will provide for matching grants so that condominiums can be inspected and retrofitted with wind mitigation measures.
The My Safe Florida Condominium program, if signed into law, will be similar to a popular program that provides grants for homeowners to strengthen roof connections and add window and door protections. HB 1029, similar to SB 1366, would limit the size of roof grants to $1,000 per unit, would require a unanimous vote by condo owners to apply for the grants, and requires background checks on inspectors. An earlier version of the bill would have limited the grants to condo buildings of three stories or less, but that was removed before passage.
The homeowners mitigation program, in operation since 2022, also would receive up to $200 million in new funding under SB 7028, which appears likely to pass before the session ends Saturday.
But HB 1503, which would allow surplus lines insurers to take out second-home policies from the state-backed Citizens Property Insurance Corp., saw a late amendment in the Senate Wednesday. Florida Politics news site reported that the amendment would limit takeouts to non-homesteaded homes only. The change means the bill would have to be reconciled with the earlier House version before it is sent to the governor for his signature.
HB 1611, requiring insurance carriers to report more data to state regulators, also was amended, removing a section that would have allowed more nursing homes to self-insure, Florida Politics reported.
SB 1104, which would limit some HO policy cancellations and nonrenewal after a storm, was still awaiting action in the House Thursday morning after it passed the Senate earlier this week.
**Article obtained from: Insurance Journal, Published March 7, 2024.
