Cambios Recientes en los Seguros de Propiedad
SESIÓN LEGISLATIVA DE 2024:
SESIÓN LEGISLATIVA DE 2023:
Sesión Especial de Mayo de 2022
Sesión Especial de Diciembre de 2022
Information in this summary is derived from analyses conducted by the Florida Legislature, LobbyTools and bill language.
SESIÓN LEGISLATIVA DE 2024:
Senate Bill 7028 – My Safe Florida Home Program
Senate Bill 7028 makes the following changes to the My Safe Florida Home Program:
- Prioritizes the review and approval of applications based on the following income and age criteria.
- Applications from low-income homeowners as defined in s. 420.0004, Florida Statutes, who are at least 60 years old.
- Applications from all other low-income homeowners.
- Applications from moderate-income homeowners, as defined in s. 420.0004, Florida Statutes, who are at least 60 years old.
- Applications from all other moderate-income homeowners, as defined in s. 420.0004, Florida Statutes.
- All other applications.
- Allows eligible applicants to receive an inspection without being eligible for a grant.
- Requires participants to finalize construction within one year of grant approval or to request an extension.
- Allocates an additional $200 million for the program.
As included in House Bill 988, the following information from My Safe Florida Home Program applications is confidential:
- Applicant's name
- Mailing address, excluding city and zip code
- Número Telefónico:
- E-mail:
- Detailed description and pictures of the applicant's home
House Bill 293 – Hurricane Protections for Homeowners’ Associations
House Bill 293 requires that homeowners’ associations adopt hurricane protection specifications that comply with building codes.
- Requires that homeowners’ association boards or committees develop hurricane protection specifications for structures within the association.
- The homeowners’ association may adopt specifications that maintain uniformity such as color or style of the hurricane protection products.
- Prohibits homeowners’ associations from denying applications from home or unit owners for the installation, enhancement, or replacement of hurricane protections if the owner is in compliance with the association specifications.
- Hurricane protection includes, but is not limited to:
- Certain roof systems that are recognized by the Florida Building Code
- Permanent fixed storm shutters
- Roll-down track storm shutters
- Impact-resistant doors and windows
- Polycarbonate panels
- Reinforced garage doors
- Erosion controls
- Exterior fixed generators
- Fuel storage tanks
- Other hurricane protection products used to preserve and protect structures from hurricane damage
House Bill 989 – CFO Jimmy Patronis (Department of Financial Services)
House Bill 989 makes several changes related to the Department of Financial Services, including the Department’s oversight of insurance professionals and consumer protections.
Quejas de Consumidores
- Eligible surplus lines insurance companies must respond to consumer complaints within 14 days. Previously surplus lines insurance companies were not required to respond to the Department, although most did. If an insurance company does not respond, the Department can impose an administrative penalty of up to $5,000 per violation per company.
- Requires an insurance company to provide the Department with an email address to send consumer complaints and to designate a contact person for escalated complaints.
Peritos
- Requires licensed adjusters to identify themselves in any advertisement, solicitation, or written document based on the adjuster appointment type held.
- Prohibits an adjuster who has had their licensed revoked or suspended from participating in any part of an insurance claim or in the insurance claims adjusting process, including estimating, completing, filing, negotiating, appraising, mediating, umpiring, or effecting settlement of a claim for loss or damage covered under an insurance contract. A person who provides these services with a revoked or suspended license acts as an unlicensed adjuster.
House Bill 1029 - My Safe Florida Condominium Pilot Program
House Bill 1029 establishes the My Safe Florida Condominium Pilot Program.
- Provides inspections and grants for condominium associations to mitigate hurricane damage and outlines the process and requirements.
- Outlines the types of improvements eligible for grants, including opening protection and roof reinforcement.
- Requires condominium associations to match grant funds and limits the total grant amount available per association, based on the type of project.
- The state’s budget allocates $30 million for the program.
Eligibility and Voting
- The properties must be located within 15 miles of a coastline to be eligible.
- In order to apply for the grant, an association must receive both of the following:
- Approval by a majority vote of the board of administration or a majority vote of the total voting interests of the association to participate in a mitigation inspection.
- A unanimous vote of all unit owners within the structure or building that is the subject of the mitigation grant.
- A unit owner may participate in the pilot program through a mitigation grant awarded to the association but may not participate individually in the pilot program.
- Before a vote of the unit owners may be taken, the association must provide the unit owners with a clear disclosure of the pilot program on a form created by the Department of Financial Services. The president and the treasurer of the board of administration must sign the disclosure form indicating that a copy of the form was provided to each unit owner. The signed disclosure form and the minutes from the meeting at which the vote was taken must be maintained as part of the official records of the association.
- Within 14 days after the vote to participate in the pilot program, the association must provide written notice to all unit owners of the decision to participate in the pilot program.
House Bill 1049 – Flood Disclosure in the Sale of Real Property
House Bill 1049 requires a seller to provide a flood disclosure to the purchaser of a residential property at or before the time the sales contract is executed.
The flood disclosure must include the following information:
- Statement that homeowners insurance does not include coverage for flood damage and encourages the buyer to discuss flood insurance with their agent.
- Disclose whether the seller has filed a flood insurance claim on the property.
- Disclose whether the seller has received federal assistance for flood damage to the property.
House Bill 1503 – Citizens Property Insurance Corporation
House Bill 1503 makes several changes related to Citizens Property Insurance Corporation:
- Allows surplus lines insurance companies that meet certain financial requirements to take out policies from Citizens for dwellings that are not primary residences or homestead properties.
- The take-out insurance company must have a financial strength rating of A- or higher; a risk program managed by a Florida resident broker; and the Office of Insurance Regulation must approve the take-out plan, including its rates.
Flood Insurance Mandates (These changes became effective on May 13, 2024, the day Governor DeSantis signed the bill.)
- Citizens policyholders who must purchase flood insurance as a condition of eligibility for Citizens are no longer required to purchase flood coverage for personal contents. Policyholders are only required to purchase dwelling coverage to meet the Citizens flood insurance requirement.
National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB)
- Allows Citizens to share information with the National Insurance Crime Bureau to assist in efforts to fight insurance fraud.
House Bill 1611 – Insurance
House Bill 1611 changes several insurance regulations including those regarding policy non-renewals and cancellations, insurance data reporting, Citizens Property Insurance Corporation, and roof inspections.
Insurance Company Data Reporting
- Requires insurance companies to provide policy and claims data to the Office of Insurance Regulation on a monthly basis. Companies currently provide data quarterly.
Insurance Company Notification of Property Insurance Policy Non-renewals
- Provides the Financial Services Commission with the authority to regulate how insurance companies will provide notice to the Office of Insurance Regulation of the non-renewal of 10,000 or more residential property insurance policies within a 12-month period.
- Removes the statutory provision that allows Citizens to charge up to 50 percent above the established Citizens rate for policyholders who previously were insured by an insurance company that was determined to be unsound or placed into receivership.
- Policyholders who obtained coverage through Citizens under these conditions will be subject to the Citizens rate increase limitations imposed by statute.
Roof Inspections
- This bill adds roofing contractors to the list of authorized inspectors that an insurance company may approve to conduct inspections to determine the remaining useful life of a roof.
Property Insurance Policy Cancellations and Non-renewals
Prohibits surplus lines insurance companies from cancelling or non-renewing personal or commercial residential property insurance policies that cover a dwelling or a residential property that sustained damaged in a hurricane for 90 days after the dwelling or residential property has been repaired.
The dwelling or residential property must have been subject to a declaration of emergency.
- There are exceptions to this prohibition that would allow a surplus lines insurance company to cancel or non-renew a policy before repairs have been made including:
- With 10 days notice to the policyholder for non-payment of premium
- With 45 days notice to the policyholder:
- For material misstatement or fraud related to the claim
- If the insurance company determines that the insured has unreasonably caused a delay in the repair of the dwelling or residential property
- If the policyholder fails to adequately respond following an insurance company’s reasonable written inquiry regarding the status of repairs
- If the insurance company has paid the policy limits
House Bill 7073 – Taxation
House Bill 7073 establishes property insurance discounts for policyholders.
- Requires insurance companies to provide a deduction of 1.75 percent of the total premium charged on homeowners insurance policies.
- Requires insurance companies to provide a deduction of 1.75 percent of the total premium charged on personal or commercial flood policies.
- Requires insurance companies to provide a deduction on the total premium charged on residential properties in an amount equal to the State Fire Marshal regulatory assessment charged for such policy under s. 624.515, F.S.
- These deductions apply only to policies with coverage for a 12-month period and with an effective date between October 1, 2024, and September 30, 2025. The deduction amount must appear separately on the policy’s declaration page.
- Insurance companies are required to submit quarterly and annual reports to the Office of Insurance Regulation on the number of policies receiving deductions and the total amount of deductions provided by the insurance company, including information regarding the impact on homeowners insurance property policies and flood policies.
SESIÓN LEGISLATIVA DE 2023:
Proyecto de Ley del Senado 154 - Asociaciones Cooperativas y Condominios
El Proyecto de Ley del Senado 154 realiza los siguientes cambios:
- Estos tipos de políticas de Citizens no tienen la obligación de tener seguros contra inundaciones:
- Las políticas no brindan cobertura para daños por vientos ni propietarios de unidades de condominios.
- Realiza cambios a los profesionales que no pueden llevar a cabo la inspección en condominios y estudio de reserva de integridad estructural.
- Realiza cambios a lo que debería estar incluido en la inspección y quién debería arreglarlo.
- Resume cuándo la inspección de condominios debe llevarse a cabo y los requisitos de notificación.
- Le permite a la agencia de policía local tomar decisiones sobre las inspecciones.
- Resume los requisitos para las cuentas de reserva.
- Los siguientes edificios están exentos de los requisitos de inspección: edificios de menos de tres pisos; viviendas unifamiliares, para dos o tres familias con menos de tres pisos habitables; cualquier parte o componente de un edificio que no es propiedad de una asociación; cualquier parte o componente de un edificio que está mantenido por terceros.
- Resume los requisitos de notificación sobre las inspecciones/informes al vender la propiedad.
Proyecto de Ley 1002 - Vidrio de Automóviles
El Proyecto de Ley 1002 realiza los siguientes cambios relacionados al vidrio de los automóviles (parabrisas):
- Es una violación a la ley si un taller de reparación de automóviles o un empleado:
- Ofrece un reembolso, regalo, tarjeta de regalo, cupón o cualquier valor a cambio de realizar una reclamación de seguro por el reemplazo o reparación del vidrio de un vehículo, incluyendo, sin limitaciones a la calibración o recalibración. Una persona que no sea empleado pero es compensada por la solicitud de reclamaciones de seguro también tiene prohibido realizar dicha oferta.
- Falla al brindar un aviso electrónico o por escrito si se requiere la calibración o recalibración de un parabrisas.
- Ofrece un reembolso, regalo, tarjeta de regalo, cupón o cualquier valor a cambio de realizar una reclamación de seguro por el reemplazo o reparación del vidrio de un vehículo, incluyendo, sin limitaciones a la calibración o recalibración. Una persona que no sea empleado pero es compensada por la solicitud de reclamaciones de seguro también tiene prohibido realizar dicha oferta.
- Para las políticas emitidas o renovadas luego del 1 de julio de 2023, los consumidores tienen prohibido reasignar los beneficios de seguro de automóviles a un tercer como un taller de reparación de vehículos.
- Una compañía de seguros, agente, tasador o representante no puede pedirle al consumidor que use una compañía específica o ubicación para el reemplazo, reparación de parabrisas, ni servicios de calibración o productos de vidrio.
- Una compañía de seguros, agente, tasador o representante puede brindar una explicación de los beneficios de cobertura integral de vehículos y cualquier límite aplicable de responsabilidad a un consumidor.
- Una compañía de seguros o representante debe brindar un descuento actuarialmente acertado si lo ofrecen, y el consumidora acepta, una política que contiene un arreglo de reparación administrada para servicios de reemplazo, reparación o calibración de parabrisas o productos de vidrio.
Proyecto de Ley 7052 - Responsabilidad de la Aseguradora
El Proyecto de Ley 7052 incluye provisiones para aumentar la responsabilidad y la supervisión de la Oficina de Regulación de Seguros (OIR) de las compañías de seguro de la Florida.
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Proyecto de Ley 799 - Seguros de Propiedad
Proyecto de Ley 837 - Recursos Civiles
El Proyecto de Ley 837 cambia muchos aspectos relacionados a los recursos civiles. A continuación hay elementos destacados de los cambios relacionados al seguro incluidos en este proyecto de ley:
Proyecto de Ley 881 – Programa Mi Hogar Floridano Seguro
El Proyecto de Ley 881 extiende el Programa Mi Hogar Floridano Seguro a todos los hogares de la Florida que cumplan con criterios específicos. Ya no hay un requisito para que los hogares sean de la región de escombros transportados por el viento.
- Se debe otorgar una exención "homestead" en la propiedad elegible.
- Las casas adosadas son elegibles para inspeccionar. Las subvenciones están disponibles para la protección de aberturas (puertas y ventanas) de la casa adosada. Los techos y otras áreas de las casas adosadas no son reparaciones elegibles bajo este programa.
- Aumenta el valor asegurado de hogares elegibles a $700,000 o menos.
- Aumenta el monto de subvención posible para los propietarios de viviendas de bajos ingresos a $10,000.
Proyecto de Ley 1185 - Protección al Consumidor
El Proyecto de Ley 1185 realiza los siguientes cambios a la protección al consumidor:
2022 Special Sessions
Sesión Especial - Diciembre de 2022
La Legislatura de la Florida convocó una Sesión Especial específicamente para abordar el seguro de propiedad y otros temas a partir del 12 de diciembre de 2022. En la legislación, la Legislatura aprobó el Proyecto de Ley del Senado 2A, que realiza cambios radicales en el proceso de reclamos de seguros de propiedad, reaseguros, regulación de compañías de seguros y más. A continuación se muestra un resumen de algunos de los cambios más importantes. El resumen se basa en la Legislatura de la Florida y se le agrega el contexto y el impacto en el consumidor. Para ver el proyecto de ley completo, visite https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2022A/2A/BillText/er/PDF.
Proyecto de Ley del Senado 2A
Sesión Especial - Mayo de 2022
La Legislatura de Florida concluyó una Sesión Legislativa Especial que se llevó a cabo específicamente para abordar el tema de seguros de propiedad. La Legislatura aprobó dos leyes, el Proyecto de Ley del Senado 2D y el Proyecto de Ley del Senado 4D , firmadas por el gobernador DeSantis el 26 de mayo de 2022.
Ambas leyes incluyen cambios que afectarán a los titulares de pólizas de seguros de propiedad. A continuación, le mostramos un resumen de los cambios más importantes. Todos los cambios entran en vigencia inmediatamente.
el Proyecto de Ley del Senado 2D
el Proyecto de Ley del Senado 4D
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Defensora del Consumidor de Seguros de la Florida
