The three bills
SB 2D (May 2022): roof deductibles allowed, claim deadline shortened to 2 years SB 2A (December 2022): notice deadline reduced to 1 year, supplemental to 18 months; AOB restricted HB 837 (March 2023): civil litigation reform, attorney fee multiplier elimination
Together, they reshaped nearly every aspect of Florida claim handling.
What shortened
Notice windows
- Pre-reform: 3 years for property claims
- Post-reform: 1 year for new-claim notice; 18 months for supplemental (Fla. Stat. 627.70132)
Effect: claim windows are much tighter. Prompt notice is now critical.
What became permissible
Separate roof deductibles
Carriers can now apply a separate roof deductible (typically 2%) in addition to the hurricane deductible. Effect: policyholder out-of-pocket can be higher on roof-specific claims.
Roof schedules
Carriers can apply a depreciation schedule to roof replacement based on roof age. Effect: older roofs receive partial ACV payments, not full RCV.
What became restricted
Assignment of Benefits (AOB)
Fla. Stat. 627.7152 substantially restricted AOB. Contractors can no longer take assignment of benefits as easily. Effect: policyholders retain claim rights but must pay contractors from settlements directly.
One-way attorney fee statute
Historically, Florida's one-way attorney-fee statute paid successful policyholder counsel from the carrier side. HB 837 modified this. Effect: litigation economics for policyholder-side attorneys changed significantly.
Attorney fee multiplier
The multiplier (which could 2x or 3x prevailing-counsel fees) was eliminated in most first-party insurance cases. Effect: fewer attorneys willing to take marginal first-party cases.
Practical effect on claims today
For policyholders
- Act faster on notice
- File supplementals earlier
- PA representation became relatively more valuable (attorney economics shifted)
- Documentation quality matters more than ever
For carriers
- Less litigation exposure
- More pressure from regulatory/administrative paths (CRN, DFS complaints)
- Higher scrutiny on denial-based handling
For public adjusters
- Relatively more work because attorney-side first-party practice contracted
- PA fees unchanged (Fla. Stat. 626.854 caps preserved)
- More mediation and appraisal activity
What it means for your claim
If your loss is post-December 2022, the new rules apply. Calendar your statutory windows carefully. Work with representation that understands the post-reform landscape. Expect more administrative resolution and less litigation.