New leaders, issues
With the election over (and the Republicans maintaining their supermajority in both chambers) the Florida Legislature’s Organization Session is set for next Tuesday, November 19 in Tallahassee. This is a one-day event, mostly festive, to formally select leaders and welcome newly elected legislators. Incoming Senate President Ben Albritton (R-Bartow) has released a memo of his leadership team. There’s no word yet on who will serve as Chair of the Banking and Insurance Committee.
Senate President-designate Ben Albritton
Senator Albritton represents an area from southern Polk County south through inland Hardee and DeSoto counties, as well as coastal areas of Charlotte County hit hard by recent hurricanes, along with part of Lee County. He is a Polk County native, born in Lakeland, and after graduation from Florida Southern College, joined his family’s citrus grove company where he remains today. He served in the House for eight years before being elected and subsequently reelected in the Senate.
On the House side, incoming House Speaker Daniel (Danny) Perez (R-Miami), has made his own leadership appointments and is adding new committees, including a Security & Threat Assessment Committee. His Commerce Committee Chair James Buchanan (R-Osprey) will oversee the House Subcommittee on Insurance & Banking, whose Chair has yet to be announced.
House Speaker-designate Daniel Perez
Representative Perez represents part of Miami-Dade County, southwest of the airport. Born in New York City, he graduated from Florida State University and Loyola University School of Law and is President and CEO of Doctors Healthcare Plans, a Medicare Advantage plan, based in Coral Gables. He has served in the House since 2017.
Albritton and Perez are thought leaders like departing President Passidomo and Speaker Renner. The insurance consumer reforms of recent years are working and we want to encourage legislators to leave them in place so that can continue to enjoy a returning competitive market. Democrats have chosen Sen. Jason Pizzo (D-Sunny Isles Beach) to serve as Senate minority leader and Rep. Fentrice Driskell (D-Tampa) to serve as House minority leader.
The first of six legislative committee weeks begins on December 2 in the House and December 9 in the Senate, running through January and February, leading up to the start of the 60-day legislative session on March 4, 2025. Although legislator leaders have rebuffed calls from the Governor to hold a special session on the condominium building inspection and reserve studies law passed in previous sessions, look for that to be taken-up in committee weeks leading to the regular session, as well as some potential adjustments to property insurance, a big issue leading into state elections.
Among other ideas for the 2025 session, we encourage lawmakers to uphold the insurance litigation abuse reforms passed in 2022 and 2023. Other issues we expect to see bills filed for include Third-Party Litigation Financing, Personal Injury Protection (PIP) Repeal in automobile insurance, and Wrongful Death from Medical Negligence expansion.
Our LMA team will be covering the upcoming legislative committee meetings to keep you updated on bills as they are developed and formally filed through our Bill Watch, here in the LMA Newsletter.
LMA Newsletter of 11-12-24
