The American Property Casualty Insurance Association (APCIA) is pushing its policy agenda on two fronts, citing a new economic study on Florida’s tort reforms while calling on lawmakers to advance a package of auto safety and technology bills in the US House of Representatives.
Study ties Florida tort changes to lower insurance costs
APCIA highlighted an analysis by The Perryman Group that examined the economic effects of recent changes to Florida’s civil justice system on property and casualty (P&C) insurance.
The report, “The Economic Benefits of Effects of Tort Reform on Property and Casualty Insurance Rates in the State of Florida,” focused on major laws including SB 2‑A and HB 837. It concluded that the reforms reduced what the authors described as excessive litigation costs and contributed to greater stability in the state’s insurance market.
According to the study, Florida’s tort reforms led to an average 14.5% reduction in P&C insurance costs relative to a scenario in which no reforms were enacted. The figure was a modeled comparison rather than a direct measure of current rate cuts.
The Perryman Group estimated that the associated cost savings generated more than $4.2 billion in annual gross state product and supported about 29,370 jobs, including multiplier effects. The report also projected roughly $206.6 million a year in additional state tax revenue and $155.3 million for local governments.
APCIA said the findings suggested that lower litigation costs and improved market conditions encouraged more insurers to enter or re‑enter Florida, increasing competition and choice. The state’s property and auto markets had experienced carrier exits, insolvencies, and steep rate increases in recent years amid hurricane losses, reinsurance pressures, and a high volume of claims disputes.
“Florida’s tort reforms are achieving exactly what policymakers intended – bringing balance to the civil justice system, reducing excessive costs, and strengthening the state’s economic foundation,” said Stef Zielezienski, APCIA’s executive vice president and chief legal officer. He said the analysis indicated that reforms were “driving down insurance costs for consumers and businesses” and “encouraging insurers to return to the market.”
Supporters argued that litigation and fee structures had become unsustainable and were a major factor in insurer stress. Critics, including some policyholder advocates and plaintiffs’ attorneys, questioned whether limits on legal recourse were justified and noted that many households had yet to see substantial premium relief. They also cautioned that model‑based projections might not fully capture how companies would adjust underwriting and pricing over time.
Insurers backed House auto safety and repair bills
At the federal level, APCIA urged the House Energy & Commerce Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade to advance several auto‑related bills dealing with theft, repair issues, and emerging vehicle technologies.
The subcommittee’s markup agenda included the PART Act (H.R. 5221), the REPAIR Act (H.R. 1566), the ADAS Functionality and Integrity Act (H.R. 6688), the Driver Technology and Pedestrian Safety Act (H.R. 3360), and the Motor Vehicle Modernization Act of 2026 (H.R. 7389).
“Together, these bipartisan bills will help reduce theft and claims costs, strengthen auto safety, support fair competition in the repair marketplace, and modernize federal oversight to keep pace with rapidly evolving vehicle technology,” said Sam Whitfield, APCIA’s senior vice president of federal government relations and political engagement.
