CIVIL JUSTICE
HB 541 - Relating to Motor Vehicle Glass.
On Monday, April 10, HB 541 by Representative Griff Griffitts (R-Panama City) was heard by the House Commerce Committee and was reported favorably. AIF stood in support of this legislation.
This bill provides that a motor vehicle repair shop may not offer a customer a rebate, gift, gift card, cash, coupon, or other item of value in exchange for making an insurance claim for motor vehicle glass replacement or repair. The bill also prohibits the assignment of benefits for auto glass repairs.
HB 541 will now go to the House Floor for consideration. The Senate companion, SB 1002, will be heard by the Senate Rules Committee on Tuesday, April 11.
AIF supports efforts by the legislature to bring more transparency and fairness in the auto repair market between insurance providers and policy holders. Litigation should not be auctioned off frivolously when the alternative is better for the policy holder in the long run.
For more information on AIF's efforts relating to Tort Reform, please visit AIF | Tort Reform.
TELECOMMUNICATIONS
HB 761 – Relating to Telephone Solicitation
On Monday, April 10, HB 761 by Representative Tom Fabricio (R-Miami) was heard by the House Commerce Committee and was reported favorably. AIF stood in support of this legislation.
HB 761 seeks to close a loophole created by a 2021 consumer protection bill that limited unsolicited telephone sales calls. While the 2021 bill has increased consumer protection, it has allowed for increased litigation on businesses contacting their customers for legitimate reasons. By creating a definition of “automatic telephone dialing system” and inserting some clarifying language, HB 761 will prevent crafty plaintiff’s bar attorneys from suing businesses attempting to legitimately contact customers. This bill will not remove any consumer protections originally passed in 2021.
HB 761 will now go to the House Floor for consideration. The Senate counterpart, SB 1308, passed the Senate Commerce and Tourism Committee last week and will now go to the Senate Rules Committee for consideration.
AIF supports legislative efforts removing loopholes that help to enrich trial lawyers at the expense of businesses that produce goods and services on which all Floridians rely.
