Lawmakers will meet today for the last day of the Legislative Session and vote on a budget. But much work remains undone, and many expect a special session to be called soon on homeowners insurance.

Sen. Jim Boyd, R-Bradenton, carried legislation that would have changed a number of laws regarding litigation of claims, available policies for roofs and other parts of statute. While it passed in the Senate, the House did not take it up before Friday, the last day of the session when regular bills could be considered.

“We had a chance, I believe, once again to battle the rising costs of homeowners’ insurance to keep the market stable,” Boyd said. “We were unable to do that. We had a very good proposal and a compromise sent to the House, which sadly didn’t embrace it. Now the market is still in shambles and policy owners and homeowners will pay more.”

Last year, Boyd carried another reform bill that did pass in both chambers and was signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis at a ceremony in Sarasota. That bill impacted how long insurance claimants could bring action against carriers after a disaster. It also addressed solicitation from adjustors and vendors, but many of those provisions were tossed out of court on First Amendment grounds.

Regardless, House Speaker Chris Sprowls expressed skepticism to the press about whether a new round of reform needed to occur so quickly. “If what has been told to me in the eight years I’ve been here from the insurance lobby is true, which is that it takes 18 months to see an impact on rates — which is what I’ve been told over and over and over again — then I don’t think we are yet seeing the impact we are having in rates by the bill we passed last year,” he said.

But industry voices say last year’s law, while not fully impacting the market yet, hasn’t stopped the situation from getting worse, and that’s largely because the House wouldn’t hear provisions passed in the Senate in 2021.

Boyd hopes to find a compromise this year on that language which still allowed legitimate advertising for roofing services but stopped bad actors from preying on individuals with roof damage by promising complete replacement costs from carriers but landing clients instead in litigation.

The senator said there needs to be an understanding of the role of insurance and better comprehension of what can be expected from certain materials. He notes roofs on homes have  life expectancy, and he would like to see state law changed so that policies could be written that cover depreciated or real cash values on roofs, not complete replacement costs. “Insurance is not a warranty,” he said. 

Allegiant (NASDAQ: ALGT) begins service from Sarasota International Airport (SRQ) to Appleton International Airport (ATW) in Wisconsin. “We are so excited to offer travelers a gateway to the Great Lakes region,” said Drew Wells, Allegiant’s senior vice president of revenue and planning. “We know this route will be a popular destination for vacationers from the Midwest who will enjoy Allegiant’s affordable, no-hassle flights." The new flights will operate twice weekly. Flight days, times and the lowest fares can be found only at Allegiant.com. 

The COVID-19 pandemic has taken an extraordinary toll on youth and families, amplifying stressful situations and exacerbating a variety of factors that can increase a youth’s likelihood of delinquent behavior. Locally, Teen Court of Sarasota is witnessing this trend as the organization has seen their number of referrals from law enforcement rise by more than 30 percent.

But we are not powerless in the face of these challenging circumstances. One promising factor is that the number of youth taken into custody and held in the juvenile justice system is trending down thanks to intervention and diversion programs like Teen Court.

Last year alone, the organization was able to provide peer-on-peer court sessions, group classes focused on the negative impact of drugs and alcohol, mentorship, and life skills training to more than 700 youth in the community. Completion of a Teen Court referral means the young person will not be arrested or expelled from school. Not only does the diversion of incarceration provide a second chance for the student, it also takes the strain and financial burden off of law enforcement and the justice system.

“We believe in teens helping teens, encouraging young people to help each other through a time of difficulty in their lives,” says Executive Director Heather Todd. “The quality provided through our case managers, intervention and prevention services continues to empower our students through experimental learning and peer on peer mentorship.”

To meet the growing need, Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation recently awarded the organization with a $125,000 to expand its services and hire additional case managers to support children.

The support is much needed, with more than 70% of participants who receive Teen Court’s services free of charge due to financial need. With the average time spent of 5 months with Teen Court and the inclusion of families into the healing process, the funding has eliminated the cost for services which in turn eliminates the stress a family feels when they are going through the program. 

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The Hermitage Artist Retreat and Sarasota Contemporary Dance (SCD) will partner to participate in the biennial National Water Dance (NWD) event, with new work inspired by gratitude for water and the urgent need to preserve local water resources as part of this year’s NWD theme, “Dancing Out of Time,” on Saturday, April 23 at 3:30pm. This performance by the SCD company of professional dancers will be presented outdoors and socially distanced on the Hermitage Beach (Manasota Key). The performance will be broadcast simultaneously with performance groups from across the country and all around the world, with an introduction by Dr. Emily Heffernan, Associate Professor of Biology and Environmental Studies at New College of Florida.
"Sarasota Contemporary Dance is thrilled to partner with the Hermitage Artist Retreat on lands originally occupied by the Calusa people to perform in the National Water Dance awareness campaign,” said SCD Artistic Director Leymis Bolaños. “Partnering with National Water Dance and founder Dale Andree since the start of National Water Dance more than ten years ago, SCD is honored to continue this long-standing partnership to bring awareness to the s 

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There’s never been a more important time to quit tobacco. 

Gulfcoast South Area Health Education Center, as part of the Tobacco Free Florida AHEC Cessation Program, offers free tobacco cessation sessions to help individuals quit all forms of tobacco.  These group sessions—held virtually and in-person—will assist you with developing your own customized quit plan. Free nicotine replacement therapy in the form of patches, gum or lozenges (if medically appropriate and while supplies last) and follow up support from a trained tobacco treatment specialist are provided with the session.

Contact us today at 866-534-7909 or visit our page to schedule a class or learn more about the program! 

Gulfcoast South Area Health Education Center, 2201 Cantu Ct. # 220, Sarasota, FL 34232

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