Florida lawmakers are spending part of this week’s special session on homeowners insurance.
One notable bill, filed by state Sen. Corey Simon, R-Tallahassee, focuses on hurricane relief and aims to add $175 million to the My Safe Florida Home Program.
“The program has been such an amazing success that we have run out of money,” said state Rep. Toby Overdorf, R-Stuart. “That’s why we’re here, and we felt it was important to reauthorise it and get some additional money because, quite frankly, it’s helped a lot of different people.”
The programme provides government-paid wind mitigation inspections to help reduce insurance bills, and grants to qualified homeowners to make necessary storm repairs.
“I had emailed them to let them know I was having trouble with the system and all they said was, ‘We’re out of funds,'” said Devii Pratt of Palm Beach County.
She tried to apply online earlier this year.
She said she still hopes to get through and eventually install new windows in her home once the programme has new funding.
Some Democrats are also pushing a bill that would give homeowners one-time grants of $2,500 to help with premiums.
“It’s a short-term fix, but we know we have a lot of families that are financially constrained,” said state Rep. Anna V. Eskamani, D-Orlando. “They can’t afford to keep their homes because of their property insurance rates.”
Republicans in the majority, however, seemed unsupportive. Overdorf said it “just puts a Band-Aid on a problem that needs surgery”.
