As the legion of lawmakers makes their way to Tallahassee forthe opening of the legislative session, the central issue that isexpected to dominate the insurance industry is, once again,homeowners' reforms. After sustaining damage from eight storms intwo years — and facing the very real possibility that the 2006season will be just as active — lawmakers are preparing to tackle aslate of issues. Feeding that debate will be the recommendations ofa number of task forces, including the Task Force on Long TermSolutions For Florida's Hurricane Insurance Market and the StandardPersonal Lines Advisory Committee. And that is not to mention twoother comprehensive reform packages backed by CFO Tom Gallagher andthe parties on both sides of the House and Senate.

How the legislature will react to the multiple calls for reformremains to be seen. Given that this is an election year, however,it is almost certain that lawmakers will enact some set of laws asa platform to highlight their reelection campaigns. This couldtranslate into a 300-page bill touching on every aspect of themarket, or a more modest set of proposals that focus primarily onconsumer issues. If the industry has its way, lawmakers would leavethe homeowners' market alone.

The many debates over the state of the homeowners' marketretrace and cover many well-worn paths. How many times have weheard about the need to reform Citizens Property InsuranceCorporation, reconsider consumer choice, and reshuffle the deckwhen it comes to deductibles, building codes, and mitigation? Addedto this list are newer ideas such as establishing hurricane savingsaccounts.

Another is the issue of global warming. The phenomenon of globalwarming has become a highly controversial issue from both ascientific and political perspective. While many scientists aredebating still the role of industrialization on global warming,both par-ties have used it as a political tool.

Recently, scientists have calculated that glaciers in Greenlandare melting twice as fast as previously calculated, which couldhave an immeasurable impact on sea levels. And despite rejectingthe Kyoto treaty, even President George W. Bush has finally focusedthe country's attention on developing cleaner sources of fuel. In astrong sign of the growing concern about the potential impact ofglobal warming, corporate America also is responding in the form ofhybrid cars that run on gasoline and electricity.

Many might question why global warming should matter to theindustry and what role the industry could possibly have in taking aposition on the issue. The answer is that eventually it could havea wide-ranging impact on hurricane damage. Drive down any portionof Florida's coastline and you will realize that it doesn't take arocket scientist to see that higher water levels mean greater stormsurges, flooding, and beach erosion. One lesson from New Orleans isthat water levels can mean the difference between superficialdamage and massive destruction. The impact of global warming willnot be felt this year, or even the next decade. But at some pointin the future, it could force coastal states to reconsider theirentire approach to building and insuring risks. That is why thebest minds need to be thinking about this issue now, and not whenit is too late.