TL;DR – What Florida Homeowners Must Know About Recent Insurance Reforms
- Industry-Friendly Legislation: Florida lawmakers have passed laws that favor insurers—limiting your rights, shortening claim timelines, and eliminating attorney fee recovery.
- Suppressed Consumer Complaints: State officials ignored internal memos showing rising insurance complaints, prioritizing industry protection over homeowner relief.
- Mandatory Arbitration (DOAH): Citizens Insurance can now force disputes into binding hearings, stripping your right to a jury trial.
- Insurer Profit-Shifting & Bankruptcies: Companies like FedNat and UPC moved profits out of state before bankrupting Florida subsidiaries, leaving policyholders stranded.
- Public Adjusters Are Your Best Defense: Hiring a public adjuster early gives you leverage, strategy, and protection in today’s insurer-dominated system.
Over the past five years, Florida has become ground zero for some of the most aggressive insurance reform laws in the country—reforms that have consistently tilted the playing field in favor of insurance companies while stripping away protections from homeowners. For residents in cities like Sarasota, Saint Petersburg, and Palmetto, these laws aren’t just technical policy tweaks. They’re financial gut-punches that leave families underpaid, overwhelmed, and unprotected.
At Panther Public Adjusting, we’re not just watching from the sidelines. We’re on the front lines, helping homeowners fight back and get the settlements they deserve.
Did Florida’s Insurance Commissioner Put Insurers First?
In a March 2025 hearing before the House Insurance & Banking Subcommittee, former Florida Insurance Commissioner David Altmaier was questioned for burying a critical report. That report could have completely altered the course of recent insurance legislation. Instead, his silence paved the way for insurer-friendly laws that made life harder for policyholders.
Shortly after leaving office, Altmaier joined the private sector—working for the very companies he once regulated. Many are now asking if he was already working on behalf of the industry while still in office.
Read the full hearing transcript here.
Internal Memos Reveal Suppressed Complaints
A recent report by the Tampa Bay Times revealed that top Florida officials, including CFO Jimmy Patronis and Insurance Commissioner Michael Yaworsky, received memos detailing a significant increase in consumer complaints against property insurers. The memos warned that complaints were skyrocketing, yet no formal action was taken to address the pattern of abuse.
Instead of protecting policyholders, Florida officials continued to push legislation that benefited insurers, effectively ignoring the cries for help from thousands of struggling homeowners.
These documents, kept out of public view until a formal records request, suggest a broader strategy to downplay insurer misconduct in order to protect the industry’s bottom line.
Read the full article by the Tampa Bay Times
The Legislative Tsunami: How Lawmakers Sold Out Florida Homeowners
Let’s break down some of the most damaging laws passed in recent years and how they impact you.
1. Elimination of One-Way Attorney Fees (2022)
Before 2022, if a homeowner won a lawsuit against their insurer, the insurer had to pay attorney fees. This protection made it financially viable for homeowners to pursue justice.
Now, homeowners must shoulder the full cost of legal battles—even when the insurance company is clearly in the wrong.
This change hit homeowners in Miami and Ruskin particularly hard after Hurricane Ian, where underpayments were rampant.
2. Shortened Timelines for Filing Claims
Previously, homeowners had:
- 2 years to file an initial claim
- 3 years to file a supplemental claim
Now:
- Just 1 year for initial claims
- 18 months for supplemental claims
This change creates undue pressure on families who are still reeling after storms, especially in Sarasota and Tampa, where structural damage may not be immediately apparent.
Don’t let deadlines destroy your claim — get our hurricane checklist.
3. Mandatory Arbitration via DOAH
Citizens Insurance added an endorsement forcing disputes into DOAH (Division of Administrative Hearings) instead of allowing jury trials. This process:
- Removes your right to a jury
- Speeds up hearings in favor of insurers
- Limits appeal rights
- Eliminates attorney fee recovery
Understand how to protect your rights from DOAH manipulation.
4. AOB Restrictions
Assignment of Benefits (AOB) allowed contractors to deal directly with insurers, easing the burden on homeowners. New laws drastically restricted AOB use, pushing homeowners to navigate complex claims processes on their own.
Read: Why contractors can no longer fight for your claim—and how we step in.
The Shell Game: Profit-Shifting and Strategic Bankruptcies
After hurricanes ravaged Florida, several insurance companies used a tactic we call the “Florida Shell Game”:
- Collect premiums in Florida
- Transfer profits to out-of-state or parent companies
- Declare bankruptcy only for the Florida subsidiary
FedNat & Monarch National
FedNat shifted thousands of policies to Monarch, then declared insolvency in 2022. Monarch continued operations while homeowners were left scrambling.
UPC Insurance
Filed for bankruptcy after Hurricane Ian, yet the parent company stayed afloat.
Avatar Property & Casualty
Collapsed in 2022, leaving a mess for homeowners across Venice.
St. Johns Insurance Company
Displaced over 100,000 policyholders who then flooded Citizens Insurance—the last-resort insurer.
Real Consequences: How These Reforms Affect Your Life
- Delayed repairs due to underpaid or denied claims
- Lost homes from foreclosures caused by uncovered damages
- Mental stress from prolonged battles with insurers
When insurers hold all the cards, Florida families lose. But you don’t have to fight alone.
Don’t Let This Happen to You: What You Can Do Now
✅ Step 1: Contact a Public Adjuster Immediately
Hiring Panther Public Adjusting from day one ensures your claim is documented correctly and strategically. We fight to maximize your payout—every time.
Schedule your consultation now.
Or call us at 833-726-8437
✅ Step 2: Submit Your Policy for Review
Email your policy to Claims@PantherPA.com before disaster strikes. We’ll identify red flags and help you prepare.
Additional Tools:
- What happens to your policy after you file a claim
- Avoid the biggest insurance payout trap
- Get the facts on public adjuster myths
Stay Empowered
📺 Watch more on our YouTube channel, My Insurance Claim Expert for powerful insights and tips.
💬 Join our Facebook community Anything About Property Insurance Claims 101 to connect with other Florida homeowners.
📩 Submit your policy for a free review
Florida’s insurance crisis is no accident. It’s the result of years of legislation designed to benefit the industry—not you. But you’re not powerless.
With Panther Public Adjusting by your side, you can fight back, protect your property, and get what you’re truly owed.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. What recent insurance law changes have impacted Florida homeowners?
Recent laws have eliminated one-way attorney fees, shortened timelines for filing claims, and allowed insurers like Citizens to force disputes into administrative hearings (DOAH), stripping homeowners of their right to a jury trial.
2. What is the DOAH endorsement, and why is it harmful?
The DOAH endorsement forces disputes with Citizens Insurance into a binding arbitration process handled by the Division of Administrative Hearings. It removes your right to a jury trial, limits appeal options, and blocks attorney fee recovery—tilting the process in favor of insurers.
3. How have insurance companies avoided accountability after hurricanes?
Companies like FedNat and UPC shifted profits to out-of-state or parent firms and then filed bankruptcy for their Florida subsidiaries. This left homeowners with unpaid claims and minimal recourse while the parent companies stayed operational.
4. How can I protect myself from these unfair practices?
The best protection is to hire a public adjuster like Panther Public Adjusting from the start. We help document your claim, avoid DOAH traps, and push for fair outcomes through appraisal and litigation strategies.
5. What should I do if I think my insurer is underpaying or denying my claim?
Act quickly. Contact Panther Public Adjusting for a free consultation, email your policy for review, or call us at 833-726-8437. Time is critical, especially with Florida’s shortened deadlines.