Fla. sets special session on insurance

By DAVID ROYSE

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.

Florida lawmakers will meet in a special session in mid-January to try to tackle a crisis surrounding property insurance in the state caused by the devastating hurricane seasons of 2004 and 2005.

The widely expected session will start Jan. 16, and legislators will consider proposals to shore up the insurance industry to prevent companies from dropping windstorm policies. They will also try to avert some of the dramatic rate increases Florida homeowners have seen since the active hurricane seasons of 2004 and 2005.

Homeowners from Pensacola to Key West have bemoaned triple digit increases in homeowners insurance rates, and demanded that state policy makers figure out some way to stop it.

A special panel appointed by outgoing Gov. Jeb Bush recently made several recommendations for potential legislation.