Ron DeSantis, Governor of Florida, expressed his opposition to efforts by some lawmakers to roll back tort reform. He warned against the influence of trial lawyers, such as Morgan & Morgan, who he said have profited from excessive lawsuits. DeSantis made this statement during a press conference on April 7.
"They're trying to undo the work that many have done without campaigning on any of this," said DeSantis. "Who are they doing the bidding of? Not you, but [trial lawyers] like Morgan and Morgan. I don't want this state being run by Morgan and Morgan!"
According to Florida State Representatives Hillary Cassel and Paula Stark, they are advancing HB 1551, a bill that establishes a "loser pays" standard for attorney’s fees in insurance lawsuits. This measure aims to create a more equitable system for policyholders. The bill passed the House Insurance and Banking Subcommittee with a 15-1 vote, with Representative Mike Caruso casting the lone dissenting vote. Caruso argued that the bill could ultimately lead to higher costs for consumers rather than reducing premiums. He referenced Governor DeSantis' recent statement that Florida's previous insurance reforms have successfully stabilized the market and attracted insurers. The Personal Insurance Federation of Florida and the Florida Chamber of Commerce have expressed concern that HB 1551 could reignite excessive litigation and cause premiums to rise.
March 24 marked the second anniversary of Governor DeSantis signing Florida's tort reform law, HB 837. The legislation aimed to address excessive litigation, which had contributed to rising homeowners' insurance rates and insurer failures in the state. Prior to the reforms, Florida accounted for just 8% of the nation's homeowners' insurance claims but a disproportionately high share of lawsuits. Supporters of HB 837 credit the law with curbing frivolous lawsuits and stabilizing the state's insurance market.
The Insurance Information Institute (Triple-I) released a report indicating that Florida's property and casualty insurance market is stabilizing due to reforms aimed at reducing legal system abuse and fraudulent claims. Litigation related to claims has decreased significantly, homeowners' insurance premiums have leveled off, and over 40% of insurers requested rate reductions in 2024. The state has also seen a surge in new insurers entering the market while Citizens Property Insurance Corp., Florida’s insurer of last resort, has reduced its policy count by nearly 40%, decreasing taxpayer risk. Reforms have also made a notable impact on the auto insurance market, with a 500% decrease in auto glass lawsuits following the ban on assignment of benefits. However, proposed legislation for 2025 could potentially undermine these gains.
Florida Insurance Commissioner Mike Yaworsky highlighted achievements by the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR) in a January 8 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 yielded tangible results. OIR has focused on increasing industry accountability and enhancing resilience against future challenges.
Ron DeSantis is noted as being the 46th governor of Florida and holds degrees from Yale University and Harvard Law School. He served as a U.S. Navy JAG officer in Iraq and at Guantanamo Bay, earning him the Bronze Star. Following his military service, he became a federal prosecutor before serving as a U.S. Congressman where he was known for advocating term limits, government accountability, and military justice reform.