A new poll in Florida shows home insurance rates are the number one concern facing consumers right now topping inflation and home prices.
So, what if you could control your rates? A constitutional amendment would not only prevent rate hikes but prevent companies from dropping you.
Tom Shepard has lived in Lee County for 13 years and his home insurance rates in that time, like many, have doubled.
Shepard is left feeling helpless and says lawmakers haven't done enough to get property taxes under control.
“I would encourage them to look at this very seriously,” he said.
He is looking very seriously at a constitutional amendment that would prevent insurers from canceling policies, and it requires a 4% premium reduction for those who haven't filed home or auto claims in the last year.
“I couldn't agree more,” saying he supports the idea.
However, that is not the same reaction from those in the insurance industry.
Mark Friedlander with the Insurance Information Institute called the amendment a terrible idea and issued a warning if the amendment were to pass.
“Companies will not do business in Florida if they are forced to follow the rules of this amendment
While Friedlander insists that the insurance landscape is improving most homeowners in Florida aren’t seeing it or feeling it.
“Florida is a very high-risk state. If you decide to live in Florida, particularly coastal counties you should expect to pay more for your insurance than other areas of the country. It's a fact of life,” Friedlander said.
No one knows that better than Joan Wurmbrand of Sanibel Island.
“We're looking at selling because frankly it's more than we can afford,” Wurmbrand revealed.
Her Sanibel Island home was among thousands destroyed during Hurricane Ian and her rates have risen $20,000 a year since then.
“It was in the $20,000 a year range and then Hurricane Ian came and we had a significant amount of damage but our insurance was fantastic and covered everything and then went up to $30,000 the following year and this year it's $40,000 a year,” she explained.
Chris Wills is with the Florida Constitutional Amendment Network, the group pushing the amendment for voters to control rates.
“It's urgent clearly that we the citizens need to take this matter into our own hands,” Wills said.
He said it's time homeowners stop complaining about the massive insurance hikes in Florida and do something about it.
He’s urging people to sign the petition. For the constitutional amendment to pass, it will need 60% of voter approval in 2026.
That's a big election year as voters will elect a new governor and U.S. Senator.
Wills group plans to hit every corner of the state to get signatures but he encouraged people to be proactive and download a copy of it, print it and mail it.