Citizens Property Insurance

Florida taxpayer-owned Citizens Insurance is using unlicensed inspectors in a little-known program that is ramping up inspections. Homeowners and industry insiders say the move is alarming.

A key senator said Tuesday he does not expect lawmakers to make major property-insurance changes during the 2024 legislative session, as they continue to watch the results of an overhaul passed last year.

The state-run company is giving customers until Oct. 10 to either accept or decline an offer to switch to the private market, which will help lower the insurer's risk exposure.

Florida's insurance commissioner is taking issue with parts of a Citizens proposal that would increase rates by 12% for homeowners with the most-common type of policies.

As Citizens Property Insurance Corp. waits for a decision on a plan that would lead to double-digit rate increases for customers, the state-backed insurer remains on a path to grow to 1.7 million policies by the end of the year.

Floridians are bracing for additional rate hikes as they are already paying higher monthly payments than homeowners in other states.

A 14.2 percent increase this year would require the approval of the Office of Insurance Regulation before it could take effect.

The policy will force homeowners to also buy flood insurance — even if their homes aren’t in designated flood zones.

We also talk with the mayor of Sarasota about the future of his growing city in 2023 and beyond.

After Florida lawmakers made changes in the insurance system that he described as “historic,” Citizens Property Insurance Corp. President and CEO Barry Gilway said Thursday he will retire. That will lead to transitions at two of the most-important parts of the Florida insurance industry.

In addition to the insurance bill passed by the state legislature during its special session, DeSantis also signed a bill to provide property tax rebates to people whose homes were left uninhabitable by Ian.

They include a provision that seeks to temporarily help insurers obtain adequate reinsurance and a phased-in requirement for Citizens customers to buy flood insurance.