Florida Strategic Insurance

Effective July 1, 2026, FL HB 815 prevents insurers from refusing or non-renewing coverage based strictly on roof age.

Roofs under 15 years: Cannot be denied coverage based on age alone.

Roofs over 15 years: Eligible for coverage if an authorized inspection confirms at least 5 years of useful life remaining.

Current Trend: Although the mandate is a couple months away, some insurers are already tightening guidelines and requiring inspections for roofs in the 12–15 year range.

Major Rate Relief for Citizens Policyholders
On January 12, 2026, Governor Ron DeSantis announced a substantial statewide rate reduction for customers of Citizens Property Insurance Corp.

8.7% Average Reduction: Most policyholders will see an average premium decrease of 8.7% starting in Spring 2026 at the time of policy renewal.

Deepest Cuts in South Florida: Homeowners in high-cost areas are expected to see even larger average declines, including:

Broward County: 14.1%

Miami-Dade County: 14.0%

Palm Beach County: 11.9%

Monroe County: 11.3%

Significant Impact: Over 330,000 policyholders are projected to benefit, with approximately 150,000 seeing reductions of 10% or more.

Private Market Stabilization
The private market is also showing signs of a turnaround as state reforms continue to take hold.

New Competitors: To date, 17 new insurers have entered the Florida market since the 2022–2023 reforms, which is helping to drive down costs through increased competition.

Rate Filings: As of January 2026, private insurers have submitted 83 filings for rate decreases and 100 filings for no increase.

Specific Reductions: Several major carriers are waiting for approval or have already filed for notable drops:

Patriot Select Insurance: 11.3% planned reduction.

Florida Peninsula: Proposed average drop of 8.4%.

Heritage Property: Some policyholders, especially in Central Florida (Orange, Seminole, Osceola), could see changes as early as next month.

Legislative and Market Context
Lower Litigation: State officials attribute these shifts to tort reforms that have significantly lowered legal system abuse and litigation costs.

Depopulation Success: Citizens has reduced its policy count to roughly 395,000, its lowest level in 14 years, signaling that more risks are being absorbed by private carriers.

2026 Legislative Focus: While the market is improving, property insurance remains a top priority in the 2026 session, with lawmakers also debating property tax relief and further insurance compacts to maintain affordability.

Day 4 of our Holiday Spirit Week was all about embracing the delightfully tacky with our "Ugly Christmas Sweater" theme! To make it extra memorable, we threw an "Ugly Sweater Awkward Photoshoot." We channeled our inner 80s & 90s siblings, complete with the signature awkward smiles and holiday cheer, just like those classic JCPenney Christmas card photos from our past. It was a blast!

Holiday Spirit Week is in full swing! Today, we celebrated Favorite Holiday Character Day, and it was wonderful to see everyone's creative costumes and holiday spirit. To make the day even more special, we organized a fun cookie/sweet treat exchange where everyone could share their favorite holiday baked goods, and we set up a cozy hot chocolate bar for everyone to enjoy, truly making it a festive and heartwarming celebration!

Holiday Spirit week continues! Today is Christmas Accessory Day, and we're thrilled to see how our team is embracing the holiday spirit. From subtle twinkles in their eyes to festive antler headbands, we're finding a delightful spark of cheerfulness throughout the office. It's all about spreading some holiday joy, and we love seeing everyone participate and get into the festive mood!