Florida Democrats are sharpening their focus on the escalating property insurance crisis, framing it as the state’s most pressing affordability issue. While Republicans tout recent reforms as effective, Democrats argue that soaring premiums for homes, condos, and cars are crushing families, making it difficult for them to remain in their homes. This divergence sets the stage for a significant political battle heading into the 2026 elections.
Key Takeaways
- Democrats are prioritizing property insurance costs over property taxes as the main affordability concern for Floridians.
- Republicans, including CFO Blaise Ingoglia, claim recent reforms are stabilizing the insurance market and yielding positive results, citing auto insurance refunds and rate reductions.
- Democrats, led by Senate Minority Leader Lori Berman and House Minority Leader Fentrice Driskell, contend that Floridians are still facing the highest insurance costs nationwide and are pushing for measures like rate-hike limits and transparency rules.
- New data indicates a significant burden of property insurance costs in Florida, with some markets experiencing substantial increases and the state ranking as the most expensive for auto insurance.
- Democrats criticize Republican proposals on property taxes as a distraction from the more critical issue of property insurance affordability.
Republican Perspective on Reforms
Florida Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia, a Republican, expressed optimism regarding the state’s insurance market. He asserted that reforms implemented three years ago, targeting insurance litigation and fraud, are now demonstrating tangible benefits. Ingoglia pointed to the auto insurance sector as evidence, noting that companies like Progressive have returned substantial profits to policyholders and State Farm has seen rate reductions. While acknowledging that homeowners’ insurance rates remain high, he anticipates further relief as reinsurance costs decrease and more insurers enter the market. Ingoglia urged patience, stating that the market is improving and that reverting to previous policies would lead to continued double-digit rate increases.
Democratic Counterarguments and Proposed Solutions
Conversely, Democratic leaders reject the optimistic outlook, emphasizing the severe financial strain on Floridians. Senate Minority Leader Lori Berman stated that the state’s high insurance rates are unacceptable and are forcing residents to struggle to keep their homes. Data from Realtor.com supports these concerns, showing a decline in condo prices partly due to increased HOA fees and insurance costs post-Surfside. Five Florida markets are listed among the top ten for the highest property insurance burdens, with Southeast Florida topping the list. Bankrate identifies Florida as the most expensive state for auto insurance, with average annual costs exceeding $4,100.
House Minority Leader Fentrice Driskell outlined the Democratic agenda, which includes advocating for rate-hike limitations, enhanced transparency in the insurance industry, and tax incentives for storm-hardening measures. Driskell criticized Republican-backed property tax amendments, labeling them as a diversion from the core issue of insurance affordability and warning of potential negative impacts on public services like police and libraries. She urged Governor Ron DeSantis to focus on property and housing affordability rather than what she perceives as his failure to address these critical issues.
The Road to 2026
The ongoing struggle with high insurance premiums for homeowners, condo owners, and drivers ensures that affordability will remain a central theme in the upcoming legislative session and the November elections. Lawmakers are set to reconvene in Tallahassee on January 13th, where these issues are expected to be a significant point of contention.