Ron DeSantis, governor of Florida. Credit: Office of the Governor Ron DeSantis
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has announced that homeowners insurance premium relief is on the horizon for customers of the state’s insurer of last resort, Citizens Property Insurance.
According to DeSantis, “meaningful” premium reductions are expected to begin during Spring 2026 policy renewals. He credits the rate cuts to insurance and tort reform in the state. These reforms include eliminating one-way attorneys' fees and what the governor calls "abusive" assignment-of-benefits practices. The governor says these actions have decreased Citizens’ overall exposure as more insurance customers have been moved to the private market.
Around 330,000 Citizens policyholders can expect an average rate reduction of 8.7%. Approximately 150,000 of these policyholders may see rates fall as much as 10% or more.
“Floridians are seeing rate reductions in both auto and homeowners insurance across the state, with additional relief coming soon,” DeSantis said in a release. “The reductions in Citizens Insurance rates are the most significant in recent memory. Premiums are lowering because we’ve enacted real reforms and withstood the pressure to reverse course. We will hold firm in our commitment not to go back to the broken insurance market of the past.”
South Floridians will receive the largest premium cuts, including:
- Broward County: Approximately 27,000 homes with an average reduction of 14.1%
- Miami-Dade County: Approximately 42,000 homes with an average reduction of 14.0%
- Palm Beach County: Approximately 26,000 homes with an average reduction of 11.9%
- Monroe County: More than 1,000 homeowners will see an average reduction of 11.3%. In addition, over 8,000 wind-only policies will experience a reduction or no increase.
DeSantis also highlighted recent premium rate decrease filings for auto insurance carriers in the state, including:
- USAA: average decrease of 7%
- Florida Farm Bureau: average decrease of 8.7%
- Progressive: average rate decrease of 8%
- State Farm: average decrease of 10.1%, which, when combined with recent filings, brings the cumulative reduction to 20%
- AAA: Three rate reductions over the year, lowering premiums by 15%.
- Allstate: For approximately 13,100 drivers, an average decrease of 4%
“We are seeing nothing but good news across all data points for Florida’s auto and home insurance markets. These positive results are entirely related to our historic tort reforms, driven largely by Governor DeSantis’ leadership," Insurance Commissioner Mike Yaworsky said in a release. "I am hopeful that these reforms will not be repealed and that we will continue to be dogged in our efforts to improve the everyday conditions for Floridians.”
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