As Gov. DeSantis still waits for the Legislature to deliver Senate Bill 54 to his desk, it’s not too late to voice your opposition to the Legislature’s recent attempt to repeal our No-fault/PIP system and hike premium rates. We understand the governor continues to give thoughtful consideration to a veto of the Legislature’s ill-conceived, last-minute scheme to flush No-fault/PIP. All he needs now is to hear it from you, your friends, your staff and your patients.
As more and more Floridians make their voices heard in opposition to the Legislature’s recent attempt to repeal our No-fault/PIP system and hike premium rates, we hear the governor is giving serious consideration to a veto of their ill-conceived, last minute maneuver. In fact, just yesterday one of Florida’s leading news sources, the Tampa Bay Times, weighed in on the issue likewise urging Gov. DeSantis to do the right thing and veto Senate Bill 54. View their editorial here.
As the Governor waits for the Legislature to hand him Senate Bill 54, now is the time to ask him to veto their ill-conceived plan to abolish Florida’s current no-fault auto insurance system when it hits his desk. We need you to help him realize what most legislators ignored: That ending no-fault will lead to dramatic premium rate increases, especially among those Floridians who can least afford it. That’s why no one supports SB 54 – except Florida’s trial lawyers.
Your phone call, e-mail – or even a hand-written snail-mail letter – will be especially powerful in helping the Governor from making a wrong turn for all of Florida’s drivers. But, we need to act now!
Tuesday, May 4, 2021, Tallahassee – State lawmakers ended their annual 60-day session on time on Friday afternoon, after casting their final vote on the one task they are mandated to complete each year: Passing a balance state budget for the next fiscal year. But shortly after giving their approval to the record $101.5-billion spending plan, they also gave a nod to a plan to end Florida’s 50-year-old no-fault automobile insurance program, replacing it with a new plan requiring Florida drivers to buy mandatory bodily injury (MBI) coverage instead. More details appear below.
Friday, April 30, 2021, 3:00pm, Tallahassee – Moments ago at 2:40 p.m. the final ceremonial handkerchief was dropped marking the official end to Florida’s annual legislative session – but not before the House gave its final vote of approval to the plan to repeal and replace Florida’s decades-old no-fault auto insurance system. By a vote of 100 to 16, just a half an hour earlier and without any floor debate whatsoever, the House gave their approval to CS/CS/SB 54.
The bill next heads to the governor’s desk for his action. If approved, Florida drivers will be required to carry mandatory bodily injury coverage (MBI) beginning in January, 2022, in lieu of the current requirement for no-fault/PIP coverage. Insurers will also be required to offer medical payments coverage of at least $5,000 through a mandatory offer process which also grants drivers optional acceptance.
Legislative Updates 