Florida Voters to Decide on Home Insurance Relief
Florida homeowners could see changes to their insurance policies if voters approve one or both of two proposed constitutional amendments. These measures aim to alleviate the burden of rising property insurance costs, a top concern for many Floridians.
One proposal seeks to add protections for policyholders in the state constitution. Another would indirectly address property insurance premiums, by incentivizing people to harden their homes against hurricanes.
Citizens’ Initiative: Policyholder Protections
One amendment, spearheaded by the Florida Constitutional Amendment Network, would place several protections for policyholders directly into the state constitution. This citizen-led initiative, aimed for the 2026 ballot, would:
- Prevent insurers from canceling policies for those who haven’t violated their terms.
- Bar insurers from raising rates for these individuals.
- Offer a minimum 4% deduction on premiums for policyholders who haven’t filed a claim in the year preceding renewal.
“These are common-sense solutions that most folks, when they engage with an insurance carrier, believe they should already be entitled to,” said Chris Wills, chair of the Florida Constitutional Amendment Network.
This proposal also extends beyond property insurance to cover other types of insurance, including vehicles. However, it needs nearly 900,000 signatures to get on the 2026 ballot, and the state Supreme Court must approve its language. Furthermore, at least 60% of voters must approve this measure for it to become law – a high threshold.
Wills emphasized the urgency given the current insurance climate: “The [insurance] crisis has gotten worse and worse, and the solution just has not come,”. He added, “The good thing is we have this power within the Florida Constitution to take matters into our own hands.”
Legislative Approach: Incentivizing Home Hardening
Sen. Blaise Ingoglia speaks in the Capitol.
State Senator Blaise Ingoglia, a prominent Republican lawmaker, has a different approach. While he is still researching the citizens’ initiative, he expressed skepticism about government intervention in the free market.
Ingoglia believes that insurance changes that have recently passed are working and wants to pass his own constitutional amendment that intends to lower homeowners insurance premiums. He is proposing a constitutional amendment to freeze property tax amounts for two decades on homes that have been elevated and hardened against hurricanes.
“When you improve a home, that home now gets reassessed at a higher value, which then you pay higher property taxes,” said Ingoglia, a former chair of the Republican Party of Florida. “So there’s a disincentive for people to improve their homes and harden them against hurricanes.”
He argues that incentivizing homeowners to fortify their properties would lead to fewer claims and, consequently, lower insurance premiums. This proposal, if approved by three-fifths of both legislative chambers, could appear on the ballot.
His plan is one of a number that lawmakers have filed addressing property insurance and taxation. Ingoglia has also filed a measure to increase property tax exemptions.
Governor Ron DeSantis has indicated support for tax cuts and is quoted as calling existing property taxes as “oppressive and ineffective.” Opponents, however, are concerned that the tax cuts would hurt local governments.
Voter Approval Required
Both the citizens’ initiative and the legislative proposal require voter approval to become law. The outcomes remain uncertain, especially considering the high approval threshold for constitutional amendments in Florida. The debate reflects the ongoing struggle to find effective solutions to high property insurance costs.
