summary
Introduced
02/28/2025
02/28/2025
In Committee
03/07/2025
03/07/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
06/16/2025
06/16/2025
Introduced Session
2025 Regular Session
Bill Summary
An act relating to attorney fees in insurance matters; amending s. 86.121, F.S.; requiring a court to award reasonable attorney fees to certain persons in certain claims for declaratory relief; deleting a provision relating to a defense offered by an insurer that makes a total coverage denial of a claim; revising a limitation on attorney fees; deleting applicability; amending s. 624.155, F.S.; providing applicability related to certain civil actions; creating ss. 626.9375 and 627.4285, F.S.; requiring the trial court and appellate court to award reasonable attorney fees under certain circumstances; requiring that such fees be included in the judgment or decree; amending s. 624.123, F.S.; specifying that international health insurance policies are subject to specified provisions; amending s. 624.488, F.S.; specifying that certain provisions are applicable to self-insurance funds; amending s. 627.062, F.S.; specifying that individual risk rates and modifications to existing approved forms are subject to specified provisions; amending s. 627.401, F.S.; specifying that certain provisions apply to wet marine and transportation insurance, title insurance, and credit life or credit disability insurance; amending s. 627.727, F.S.; authorizing attorney fees under certain disputes regarding uninsured motorist coverage; providing applicability; amending s. 627.736, F.S.; specifying that certain provisions apply to the Florida Motor Vehicle No-Fault Law; amending s. 628.6016, F.S.; specifying that certain provisions are applicable to assessable mutual insurers; amending s. 632.638, F.S.; specifying that certain provisions are applicable to fraternal benefit societies; providing an effective date.
AI Summary
This bill modifies Florida's insurance laws to establish more comprehensive guidelines for attorney fees in insurance-related legal disputes. The bill creates two new statutes (sections 626.9375 and 627.4285) that mandate courts to award reasonable attorney fees to the prevailing party in insurance claims, whether that party is the insured individual or the insurance company. Specifically, if a court renders a judgment in favor of an insured or beneficiary, the court must award attorney fees against the insurer, and conversely, if the insurer prevails, the court must award attorney fees against the insured. These attorney fees must be included directly in the judgment or decree. The bill also amends multiple existing statutes to incorporate these new attorney fee provisions across various types of insurance, including international health insurance, self-insurance funds, wet marine and transportation insurance, title insurance, and credit insurance. Additionally, the bill modifies existing provisions related to declaratory relief actions, removing some previous limitations and expanding the circumstances under which attorney fees can be awarded. The overall intent appears to be creating a more standardized and predictable framework for attorney fee awards in insurance-related legal proceedings in Florida.
Sponsors (2)
Last Action
Died in Banking and Insurance (on 06/16/2025)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2025/426 |
| BillText | https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2025/426/BillText/Filed/HTML |
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