Travis Hutson, a Florida State Senator, has expressed concerns that recently proposed legislation could reverse recent tort reforms, leading to increased insurance and litigation costs for consumers and businesses. Hutson’s remarks were made in an op-ed on March 28.
“Florida enacted landmark legislation that reined in abusive lawsuits, stabilized our insurance markets, and lowered costs for everyday families,” said Hutson. “Every time a small business is sued — even if they are not at fault — they are forced to raise their prices to pay for higher insurance premiums. Trial lawyers’ loss was everyday Floridians’ gain. Florida consumers and businesses cannot afford it.”
Between 2021 and 2023, Florida enacted significant tort reform legislation aimed at overhauling the state’s civil justice system. According to Adams and Reese LLP, House Bill 837, signed into law on March 24, 2023, transitioned Florida from a pure comparative negligence system to a modified comparative negligence system. This change means that a plaintiff who is more than 50% at fault for their own injuries is barred from recovering damages. The legislation also introduced measures to limit attorney fees and reduce the statute of limitations for negligence actions, with the primary objectives of reducing frivolous lawsuits, lowering insurance costs, and promoting fairness in legal proceedings.
Following the implementation of Florida’s tort reform laws, the state’s insurance market has shown signs of stabilization. According to the Insurance Information Institute, among the top 10 insurance carriers, 60% have expanded their business, and 40% have filed for rate decreases. Notably, the average rate increase has dropped significantly from over 21% in 2023 to a projected 0.2% for 2025. Citizens Property Insurance Corporation (Citizens), the state’s insurer of last resort, had previously requested a 13% rate increase in 2024, indicating a trend toward more stable premium rates.
Senator Travis Hutson was born on October 3, 1984. He is a Republican politician representing Florida’s 7th District, which includes Flagler County, St. Johns County, and northern Volusia County. According to Ballotpedia, he served in the Florida State Senate from 2016 until November 5, 2024. Prior to his tenure in the Senate, Hutson was a member of the Florida House of Representatives from 2012 to 2015. Throughout his legislative career, he focused on issues related to the economy, education, and public safety. Hutson held several committee assignments including Chair of the Fiscal Policy Committee and membership in committees such as Appropriations Committee on Education; Banking and Insurance; and Rules.
