Florida Representative Proposed Insurance Reform Plan

The Bring Down The Bill proposal aims to lower premiums for homeowners through new arbitration and financing measures.

Updated on Sept. 22, 2026 in Insurance

Isometric editorial illustration of a reinforced residential structure, symbolizing property insurance stability in Florida.
Representative Byron Donalds has introduced a reform package aimed at lowering Florida homeowners' insurance premiums through arbitration and consolidated reinsurance. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Do you believe state-backed property insurance is necessary to maintain affordable home coverage?

Representative Byron Donalds has introduced a six-part insurance reform package designed to address costs and improve affordability for Florida homeowners. The proposal focuses on increasing transparency and refining the legal processes surrounding property insurance claims.

Why it matters

This plan intends to stabilize the insurance market and lower homeowner premiums while reducing the risk of statewide post-storm assessments. It builds upon previous legal reforms aimed at curbing litigation costs to help make property coverage more accessible for residents.

Litigation costs dropped significantly to $57.6 million following tort reforms, down from $820.5 million. Meanwhile, the active policy count for Citizens Property Insurance Corporation has fallen to 293,465 from a previous peak of 1.41 million.

The players

Byron Donalds

A U.S. Representative who introduced the new legislative framework aimed at insurance reform.

Citizens Property Insurance Corporation

The state-backed insurer of last resort that provides coverage for homeowners who cannot find policies in the private market.

The details

The plan introduces binding arbitration as a formal dispute resolution path, allowing policyholders to bypass traditional litigation for faster settlement outcomes. Additionally, the proposal suggests consolidating reinsurance purchases and utilizing the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund to minimize surcharges. These measures are paired with permitting reforms and standardized contractor licensing to help keep construction costs in check following major storms.

Timeline

  1. 2022: Senate Bill 2-A tort revisions were enacted.

  2. 2023: House Bill 837 tort revisions were enacted.

  3. September 22, 2026: Byron Donalds unveiled the Bring Down The Bill plan.

Money Landscape

This proposal continues the state's recent efforts to overhaul the property insurance market through legislative intervention. It follows a pattern set by the 2023 House Bill 837 and 2022 Senate Bill 2-A in prioritizing the reduction of litigation-driven premium spikes.

Homeowners may see potential relief in premium costs if the arbitration and financing provisions are adopted into law. You should consult with a qualified financial or insurance professional to understand how your current policy’s dispute resolution terms might change.

The takeaway

The proposed reforms aim to reduce insurance costs by limiting litigation and optimizing state-backed catastrophe funds. Floridians should track the legislative progress of the bill and consider reviewing their current policy documents to understand how potential arbitration changes could affect them.

Further reading

Learn more about local coverage options and market trends in the Florida Insurance section.

Live Poll

Do you believe state-backed property insurance is necessary to maintain affordable home coverage?