HB 5230 Summary

• Prohibits insurers from refusing to renew or deny homeowners insurance policies solely because insured persons have not installed permanent storm shutters.

• Allows insurers to impose hurricane deductibles in lieu of standard deductibles on personal risk policies issued or renewed on or after July 1, 2012, during periods when the National Hurricane Center issues a hurricane warning for the state with sustained winds of 74 miles per hour or more.

• Requires persons performing repairs, remediation, or mitigation work on insured losses to provide written notice indicating scope of work and estimated total price; contracts are void if this notice is not provided.

• Revises fire insurance policy provisions to require that policies issued or renewed on or after July 1, 2012 incorporate specific standard policy language regarding mortgagee interests, actual cash value definitions, loss payment timing, and claim suit filing deadlines.

• Prohibits public adjusters from charging fees if an insurer offers to pay full policy limits within 30 days of a loss, and requires any fees be based only on actual settlement proceeds received by the insured.