Four for '24

State legislators aim to address health care, insurance, shoplifting

As in past Florida Legislative sessions, the power of the Senate president and House speaker will dictate much of the bills that either get passed or languish in committees.

By Jim Stinson
| 5:00 a.m. January 3, 2024
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Florida has higher insurance rates than most states partially because of wind-related storms, like Hurricane Ian that hit the Fort Myers area in September 2022.

Florida

The 2023 Florida Legislative session was dominated by social issues — issues that might enhance the political resume of Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, as he prepared to run for president of the United States. Of course, some commerce bills got through, including a major tort reform bill.

The 2024 Session, scheduled to begin Jan. 9, is primed to have a more diverse list of proposed bills, many of which could have significant impact on the region's business community. While in some regards Florida is humming — the state has a budget surplus, for one — multiple issues remain thorny, from affordable housing to insurance. A look at four issues and bills expected to impact businesses in 2024 includes: