Bill > S0108

This bill modifies Florida's property insurance dispute resolution process by making mediation mandatory rather than optional for resolving insurance claims. The bill requires all named insureds or their representatives to participate in mediation before pursuing litigation or appraisal, establishing mediation as a prerequisite to further legal action. The Department of Financial Services must now develop and administer a mandatory mediation program with specific rules, including provisions for conducting mediations electronically, setting qualifications for mediators, and establishing guidelines for the mediation process. Insurers will bear most mediation costs, and all parties must negotiate in good faith with settlement authority. Policyholders must provide supporting documents within 10 days of invoking mediation, and if a settlement is reached without attorney representation, they have 3 business days to rescind the agreement. The bill excludes certain types of claims from mandatory mediation, such as those involving suspected fraud or claims under $500, and specifies that mediation results are non-binding but can act as a release of specific claims if not rescinded. To support implementation, the bill appropriates $1 million from the Insurance Regulatory Trust Fund to the Department of Financial Services, with the changes set to take effect on January 1, 2027.

https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/108