The Florida Justice Reform Institute has announced a decrease in insurance premiums across the state, attributing this trend to increased consumer options and Governor Ron DeSantis' support for tort reform. The announcement was made on X on February 6.
The announcement emphasized Governor DeSantis's post on X regarding reductions in Florida insurance premiums. These include a 5.6% reduction for Citizens Property Insurance policyholders and auto insurance rate cuts of 10.5% for GEICO, 6% for State Farm, and 8.1% for Progressive. DeSantis attributed previous premium increases to factors such as inflation, active hurricane seasons, and litigation trends in Florida. He also noted that Florida had the lowest average homeowners' premium increases nationwide in 2024 and that 11 new insurance companies have entered the state's market over the past two years.
According to the Florida State Senate, House Bill 837, enacted on March 24, 2023, introduced reforms to the state's civil litigation system. The legislation reduced the statute of limitations for general negligence cases from four years to two years and shifted Florida from a pure comparative negligence system to a modified one, barring plaintiffs more than 50% at fault from recovering damages. Additionally, HB 837 established a rebuttable presumption that the lodestar fee is a sufficient and reasonable attorney fee in most civil actions, aligning with federal standards.
A study by Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse (CALA) and the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) found that excessive tort costs impact Florida’s economy by approximately $7.6 billion annually. According to NFIB’s Florida executive director, Bill Herrle, frivolous lawsuits have led to the loss of around 126,139 jobs and $614.8 million in annual state revenues. The report also raised concerns about the financial burden on small businesses, noting that even dismissed lawsuits can impose significant legal costs, potentially forcing businesses to close.
Ronald Dion DeSantis has been serving as the governor of Florida since 2019. Born on September 14, 1978, in Jacksonville, he graduated with honors from Yale University and Harvard Law School before serving as a Judge Advocate General officer in the U.S. Navy.
The Florida Justice Reform Institute (FJRI), based in Tallahassee, advocates for tort reform and changes to legal liability laws in Florida. The organization supports businesses facing litigation challenges and provides access to legal experts to counteract predatory lawsuits.