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Insurance, real estate coalition seeks homeowners insurance reform in 2016

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More than a dozen Florida real estate, construction and insurance groups announced Tuesday that they are teaming up to push for homeowners’ insurance reform in the 2016 Legislative Session. The Consumer Protection Coalition seeks to curb a practice known as “assignment of benefits,” where owners sign away their insurance policy to a third party who will collect on their behalf. The 17-member coalition, led by the Florida Chamber of Commerce, contends AOB is being abused to extract more cash from…

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2016 Legislative Food Fights: Water policy, money for Everglades could be hot topics

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Lawmakers may be prepared to pass a massive water bill, but that doesn’t mean the battle over Florida’s water woes is over. State lawmakers are expected to take up the measure — HB 7005 and SB 552 — shortly after the annual 60-day session convenes this week. The measure, years in the making, is likely to pass both chambers. Among other things, the proposal creates the Florida Springs and Aquifer Protection Act; updates and restructures the Northern Everglades and Estuaries…

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AIF H2O coalition: Florida leaders embracing water policy bill

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The Associated Industries of Florida’s affiliated H2O Coalition reaffirmed its support Thursday of a new comprehensive water policy bill that would make industry standards, rather than state-set regulations, the norm in efforts to reduce harmful runoff and increase water quality. The pro-business group marshaled a slate of endorsements for the bill from business, government, and environmental leaders who favor HB 7005 by Rep. Matt Caldwell, currently working its way through committee with approval from both chambers. AIF President & CEO Tom Feeney said the bill…

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Environmentalists say water protection bill has loopholes

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A massive bill to protect Florida’s springs, waterways and groundwater appears headed for passage at the start of the coming Legislative Session, despite objections from environmentalists who say it’s been weakened by loopholes and the influence of industry and agriculture interests. Critics say they still hope floor amendments will close loopholes in Senate and House companion bills (SB 552 and HB 7005) and are trying to pressure legislators. Their legislative backers, including Orlando Democratic Sen. Darren Soto and House Minority…

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City of Pinellas Park files claim to keep man’s cash because it smells like weed

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Technically, in Florida, police can seize and keep a person’s cash and property without having to make an arrest or wait for a conviction. Take the Pinellas Park Police Department, for example . This past October, 25-year-old Detective Chris Ryan was conducting a “random narcotics interdiction” at a Pinellas Park FedEx, located at 9201 MCI Dr., when he was given a package that a driver said smelled like marijuana. Inside the 2.4-pound package was a jigsaw-puzzle box containing a vacuum-sealed bag stuffed-full of…

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Joe Negron signs on to Jeff Brandes civil asset forfeiture reform bill

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Joe Negron, the Stuart-based state Senator who recently survived a marathon battle with Jack Latvala to become Senate President in 2017, has signed on as a co-sponsor Jeff Brandes civil asset forfeiture bill (SB 1044) in the Legislature’s upper chamber. The legislation would stipulate assets or property may only be seized under the Florida Contraband Forfeiture Act after a criminal defendant has been convicted of a crime. Up to that point, assets suspected to be connected to a crime may be only temporarily revoked under a provisional…

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Jeff Brandes’ bill seeks to set higher threshold for property seizure

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Two Republican lawmakers filed bills Thursday that would require a person be arrested before law enforcement agencies seize cash or property and a conviction before they can keep it — an idea the agencies strongly oppose. The bills are designed to prevent abuses of the current law, which doesn’t require an arrest or a conviction before assets and property can be seized, but rather clear and convincing evidence that it was either the profits from criminal activity or used during…

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