Floridians know that feeling all too well. Insurance premiums are rising faster than paychecks, small businesses are being squeezed by legal uncertainty, and families are being forced to make difficult choices as daily expenses continue to rise. That’s why the Florida Legislature’s 2023 legislative changes were not only overdue, they were essential. Efforts are currently underway to roll back these reforms, but this risks undoing hard-won progress and shifting costs back onto the shoulders of consumers.
The 2023 reforms addressed problems that had been hiding in plain sight for years. The litigation environment provides excessive compensation, fosters abuse, and ultimately makes Florida more expensive to live and do business in. As litigation proliferates and legal exposure becomes unpredictable, bills will not stay in court. This is manifested in higher insurance premiums, higher prices for goods and services, and fewer choices for consumers.
That’s exactly what Floridians experienced before the reforms. Our state has become an outlier with a disproportionate rate of litigation compared to the rest of the country. Insurers, employers, health care providers, and small businesses have all had to factor in the risk of runaway legal costs. Families paid the price through increased auto and homeowners insurance premiums. The contractor passed on the legal costs to the customer. Doctors practiced defensive medicine. Everyone suffered losses, except for a few stakeholders who profited from the current situation.
The 2023 reforms changed that trajectory. By modernizing liability standards, curbing incentives for unnecessary litigation, and restoring balance to our civil justice system, Congress has sent a clear signal that Florida is serious about fairness, predictability, and affordability. These changes did not take away the right to seek justice. They simply ensured that the system rewarded legitimate claims, not gamesmanship.
The result is a noticeable improvement in reliability and stability. Insurance markets react to risk, and as risks become more predictable, prices follow. Companies can invest, hire, and expand without constantly looking over their shoulder. Consumers benefit from competition and lower overhead costs. Affordability is not created by government subsidies or short-term solutions. It is created when a system functions rationally and efficiently. That is what the 2023 reforms have begun to realize.
Rolling back these reforms would move Florida in the wrong direction. It would tell families struggling with high costs that the relief is only temporary. This could signal to companies considering Florida that legal uncertainty is once again emerging. And it will send a message to insurance companies and employers that old, expensive methods are coming back, meaning that premiums and prices are almost certain to rise in the coming years.
At a time when Floridians are already facing housing costs, inflation, and economic uncertainty, reversing policies that promote affordability is not only misguided, but irresponsible. We should build on reforms that work, rather than dismantling them under the pressure of special interests that flourished when the system collapsed.
In 2023, Florida made a wise and courageous choice to confront a long-standing problem head-on. Lawmakers should support that choice. Protecting reform means protecting everyday Floridians who just want affordability, economic security, and fair systems and opportunities for advancement.
Stacy Snow — Florida activist and business broker
