 |
|
|
A Message From FJA Legislative Affairs Leadership |
 |
|
|
ThTravis Hutsone 2023 Legislative Session officially convened Tuesday, with lawmakers continuing to fast-track the massive tort bills HB 837/SB 236.
The Senate and House both took up their respective versions of the bill during the first two days of the session.
First up was the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee which considered SB 236 on the first day of session, Tuesday, March 7.
This was the first hearing of the bill in the Senate.
There was once again strong opposition to the bill with testimony from doctors, and victims of medical negligence, trucking accident, auto accident, and crime victims, as well as many other opponents of the legislation.
Several senators noted concerns with provisions in the legislation, particularly the medical damages, bad faith and premises sections.
Senator Jay
Trumbull made very pointed remarks about the bad faith language in the bill and noted that if it remained in the bill in its current form, he would not support the bill at the next committee stop, the Senate Judiciary Committee, of which he is also a member.
The Senate sponsor, Travis Hutson, repeatedly expressed that the bill was a work in process and will continue to be amended to take into consideration all the input
and testimony they have been receiving. Hutson noted that the “bill is a moving target and this is not probably what the end result will look like.”
Watch FJA leaders and allies testify in Senate Banking & Insurance here.
|
 |
|
|
The Senate Banking and Insurance Committee approved the bill on
a straight party line vote of 8 to 3. The next stop is the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday at 4:00 p.m.
We need to have another strong showing of opposition. The Senate needs to hear testimony about the dangers this bill is creating for all Floridians. Particularly with testimony from crime victims,
victim advocates, law enforcement, state attorneys, etc.
If you have individuals or organizations who want to testify, please contact FJA Director of Communications Allison North Jones at ajones@myfja.org.
|
|
|
House Takes Action on HB 837
|
The House took up their version of the bill HB 837 in its second and final committee stop on Wednesday in the House Judiciary Committee.
Less than an hour prior to the meeting the House sponsor filed a "strike-all amendment" that revised the entire bill.
The amendment included language that specifically limited the evidence that can come before the jury in certain cases on medical damages, added additional, concerning protections for property owners in the negligent security provisions and on the bad faith portions of the legislation.
Over 100 individuals spoke against the legislation during more than four hours of testimony.
While there were several good amendments offered by Reps. Arrington, Chamblis, Bracy Davis and Gottlieb, that would have removed the bad faith and medical damages and negligent security provisions in the bill, all of the amendments failed. The bad strike-all amendment making the bill even worse than the original version, was approved by the committee.
The committee approved the bill as amended and passed it out of committee by a 16
to 8 party-line vote. The bill now heads to the house floor.
Watch the House Judiciary Committee meeting here.
|
 |
|
|
These bills continue to be an unprecedented attack on Florida’s civil justice system and an erosion of the rights of every Floridian.
During the hearing we had a strong showing of opponents to the bill, who made a strong case against the bill. This included all of our FJA Executive Committee, board members and many of our FJA members who provide input on their areas of expertise.
The strongest and most impactful arguments against the bill from several client survivors FJA members helped us identify and prepare to testify before the committee.
These stories could not be more critical as they force lawmakers to face the citizens whose rights are being hijacked with this legislation.
We still have a long way to go as these bills are a continuously moving target. We must remain vigilant and vocal.
|
|
|
Lawmakers have filed several other tort reform bills, including:
This week we also saw the Telephone Solicitation bill by Representative Fabricio was unanimously approved by the House Regulatory Reform
& Economic Development Subcommittee.
This bill re-opens Florida to unwanted telephone solicitation and robocalls. The legislation will remove virtually all restrictions to mass call centers and unsolicited telemarketing.
In some good news, we are hearing that Representative Mike Beltran’s sovereign immunity
bill HB 401 will also be up next week.
Senator Joe Gruters has filed the Senate companion, SB 604. The legislation removes all immunity caps - which we anticipate will change as the bill moves through the process.
We also expect the auto glass bills will be heard in both the House and Senate next week.
Representative Danny Alvarez has also filed HB 429, auto insurance legislation that would repeal no-fault auto insurance in Florida and restore responsibility-based auto insurance in the state. Senator Erin Grall has filed the companion bill in the Senate, SB 586.
|
|
|
News of Note
|
NFIB Florida is launching a statewide radio campaign in support of limiting lawsuits. (Florida Politics)
NFIB leader Bill Herrle said the NFIB campaign is in response to another advertising campaign he became aware over the weekend by AccountableFlorida.org, opposing the bills. But Herrle said the advertising was “convoluted, confusing and contrived” and suggested the bills are supported by “woke corporations.”
Trial lawyers vs. business fight could leave average Floridians in the
lurch. (Florida Phoenix)
Families of victims of violent
crimes are against multiple bills in the Florida Legislature aimed at tort reform. (First Coast News)
Despite Heavy Debate, Controversial Tort Bill Advances in Senate. (The Florida Standard)
|
|
|
Help us Advocate for Justice!
|
Do you have a client who would be willing to share their story either with the media or with lawmakers?
Please let us if you have clients who are willing to share their stories by contacting FJA Director of Communications Allison North Jones at ajones@myfja.org or (850) 521-1050.
|
|
|
Thank You for Advocating for Justice!
|
Thank you to all FJA members and leaders for being in Tallahassee last week to meet with lawmakers and assist FJA’s advocacy efforts.
We hope many of you will consider joining us in Tallahassee during committee weeks and the regular session. Please review the committee meetings and session dates here.
You will see there are several weeks that are dedicated lobby days for certain sections, we hope you will consider joining us for any or all of them. Please add your name to the list, so we know when you’re planning to join us in Tallahassee!
|
|
|
Become a Legislative Lunch Sponsor!
|
Help support your FJA colleagues by sponsoring one of our legislative lunches during the 60-day legislative session.
Fighting to defend civil justice is hungry work. Every day during the Legislative Session, we serve lunch to our lobby team and visiting members to coordinate strategy for the day. These strategy sessions are vital to the overall success of our program.
All sponsored are recognized in the following ways:
Your help in sponsoring a lunch during the 60-day Legislative Session fuels our team to help us secure civil justice rights for all Floridians.
|
| Sponsor a Lunch |
|
|
|
|
STAY CONNECTED WITH
FLORIDA JUSTICE ASSOCIATION
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Copyright © Florida Justice Association®, All rights reserved.
218 S Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL 32301
United States
Phone: (850) 224-9403
FJA ® Electronic Newsletter
|
|
|
Click here to Unsubscribe.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
