Brian Wright, deputy press secretary for Governor Ron DeSantis, said that Florida House Speaker Daniel Perez is working to reverse the state’s tort reform through legislation that would raise insurance premiums and reopen the door to large payouts benefiting trial lawyers.
“Doing Democrats’ Work for Them,” said Wright. “Perez fought to undo state tort reform with House Bill 1551 and Senate Bill 947. These would increase insurance costs and attorney’s fees, said public testimony on the House bill, and “could re-open the door to exorbitant fee awards for billboard lawyers.”
According to a Federalist article, Perez backed legislation that would roll back tort reform measures championed by Governor DeSantis. Perez supported HB 1551 and SB 947, which reportedly increased insurance costs and attorney fees while reopening the door for exorbitant legal payouts to trial lawyers. Public testimony warned these changes benefit trial lawyers and reverse progress made to rein in lawsuit abuse in Florida. A Senate analysis further concluded that the bills raise insurance premiums for residents. Perez’s support for these bills aligns with trial lawyer and healthcare lobby interests, from which he has received substantial political contributions.
InsuranceBusiness.com reported that a Florida House panel advanced HB 1551, a bill intended to restore policyholders’ ability to recover attorney fees if they win lawsuits against insurers, partially reversing major tort reforms passed in 2022 and 2023. The bill, introduced by Representative Hillary Cassel, seeks to strike a balance between discouraging frivolous lawsuits and protecting consumers from bad-faith insurance practices. Industry advocates warn the measure could destabilize Florida’s fragile insurance market, while supporters argue it restores fairness in disputes with insurers. Speaker Perez has signaled support for consumer-oriented reforms, helping shift the legislative tone toward reevaluating previous changes.
On February 5th, Governor DeSantis issued a press release announcing significant improvements in Florida’s insurance market. Statewide, major auto insurers such as GEICO, Progressive, and State Farm have filed for rate reductions of 10.5%, 8.1%, and 6%, respectively. Additionally, Citizens Property Insurance is implementing premium decreases averaging 5.6% statewide, benefiting approximately 75% of homeowners in Miami-Dade County. Over the past two years, eleven new insurance companies have entered the Florida market, contributing to increased competition and market stability.
Florida Insurance Commissioner Mike Yaworsky highlighted a year of achievements by the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR) in a January 8th press release. Yaworsky said: “Thanks to reforms championed by Governor Ron DeSantis, Florida’s insurance industry is improving.” The agency made significant progress in stabilizing the property insurance market and strengthening the state’s health insurance sector. Reforms aimed at protecting consumers and improving market conditions have delivered tangible results. OIR has worked to ensure greater industry accountability and resilience against future challenges.
Wright serves as Deputy Press Secretary for the Office of Governor Ron DeSantis with extensive experience in public affairs and political communications across Florida. He previously served as Director of External Affairs for both Senator Rick Scott’s U.S. Senate campaign and the Florida Attorney General’s office.
