INITIATIVES
Insurance
The Florida insurance crisis is the result of many storms. One way attorney fees, fraudulent roofing claims, insurance companies leaving Florida, rate increases, the growth of Citizens, and more.
- Citizens was designed to be the property insurance of last resort. Citizens policy count has more than doubled to 1.1 million.
- Insurance companies are being sued 900 times a month.
- Florida accounted for 80% of all insurance litigation nationwide, yet only 9% of claims filed during same period.
- Between 2013 - 2021 $15 billion was paid out in claims: 71% attorney fees, 21% went to insurer defense costs, 8% to policyholders.
- Dozens of insurers have drastically reduced policies through non-renewal.
- Market is plagued by excessive litigation and fraud.
- Recent Policy changes have included a revised attorney fee formula. The 2023 Legislative session is evaluating options.
Criminal Justice Reform
Florida’s prison population and corrections spending, as with most states, increased exponentially over the past 40 years. The population grew from approximately 21,000 inmates to over 100,000 between 1978 and 2015 – a 373% increase. This increase was largely due to changes in sentencing laws, an unanticipated increase in admissions to prison for drug crimes and an overall increase in Florida’s population. This growth leaves Florida with the third largest prison population in the nation, behind only Texas and California, and the 10th highest incarceration rate. (www.crg.org)
Today, Florida gives those leaving prison $50 and a bus pass. We believe that we can do better. The Florida Policy Project will collaborate with experts to determine best practices in:
- Re entry - We can do better for our workforce and our juveniles
- Diversion - There are best practices from other states
- Educating the incarcerated population
- Better healthcare for the incarcerated
- Sentencing review - over incarceration costs taxpayers money
- Recidivism
Transportation
Florida is a leader in transportation innovation and technology. From land use to autonomous vehicles and other emerging technologies, Florida has a broad reach. While much still needs to be done, we have robust expressway and toll roads. We have strong leadership focused on building better infrastructure. We host the Florida Autonomous Vehicle summit (link to FAV site) with national leaders sharing best practices.
There are ways we can be better. We can save Florida’s taxpayers by maximizing our fleet purchasing, usage and maintenance. Florida could be a leader saving money with alternative healthcare transportation. And much more.
Housing Affordability
Florida has become one of the least affordable places to live in the nation. Florida’s working families, communities of color, older adults, and people with disabilities are bearing the brunt of this housing crisis.
Shifts such as the pandemic, workforce migration, working from home, put an additional strain on Florida’s already tight housing market. Some facts include:
median rent prices increased by over 30 percent across the state, from about $1,340 in February 2020 to roughly $1,760 in February 2022. To afford a modest one-bedroom rental home at fair market rent, a person earning $10 per hour would need to work 86 hours per week.
Over 2.1 million Florida households with low income spend more than 30 percent of their income on housing.
The Florida Policy Project has commissioned experts at Florida State University on a study that will look at best practices. We will be sharing this report by Apr 30, 2023.
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