On Wednesday, the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee will take up a bill that would seek to increase flood-insurance competition by expanding the number of insurers in the Florida market. The bill by Senator Jeff Brandes of Saint Petersburg comes as thousands of state homeowners face huge premium spikes due to changes to the National Flood Insurance Program.
The House Healthy Families Subcommittee will hold a workshop on the state’s sexually violent predator program.
Lawmakers are looking at making major changes to the program after the South Florida Sun Sentinel reported in August that nearly 600 sexually violent predators had been released only to be convicted of new sex offenses.Also Wednesday, the Senate Criminal Justice Committee will take up the so-called 'warning shot bill,' which would grant immunity to people who show guns or fire warning shots in self-defense. It's identical to a House bill that would amend the "stand your ground" self-defense law.
And on Thursday, a Senate appropriations panel will take up a measure by Senator Joe Negron to roll back auto-tag fees that were increased in 2009. The proposal would save motorists about $12 per vehicle registration and is a top priority of Senate leaders.