Donalds and Jolly clash over Florida insurance plans

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WFLA) — The insurance fight is emerging as one of the clearest policy divides between gubernatorial candidates Democrat David Jolly and Republican Byron Donalds.

The debate is also coming at a time when insurance accountability remains a key focus for state lawmakers.

Tuesday morning, Congressman Donalds spoke to voters in Daytona Beach, where he took aim at his opponent's insurance proposal.

"David Jolly's plan is a government takeover of wind insurance in the state of Florida," said Donalds to the crowd.

He says Floridians would be on the hook for assessments after major storms, calling it a "$1,000 hurricane tax" on residents.

"Property insurance, you get assessed. Car insurance, you get assessed. Renters insurance, you get assessed. Small business insurance, you get assessed. Everybody gets assessed, whether the storm hits Daytona shores, whether it hits southwest Florida, whether it hits the Big Bend area, everybody pays," said Donalds.

Jolly, however, is pushing back, saying his plan aims to protect homeowners, not insurance companies.

"You know what Tallahassee's doing? They have a hurricane fund to bail out insurance companies. I'm actually trying to set up a hurricane fund to get the backs of ratepayers and homeowners instead of the debt giveaway we provide to undercapitalized homeowners' insurance firms that are allowed to stay here in Florida," said Jolly.

Jolly says his pitch would shift hurricane and wind risk from the private market to a state-backed fund and use a mix of taxes and fees insurance companies, real estate, and tourist would pay to build it up.

According to Jolly's campaign website, his team says, "Instead of forcing every Florida family to pay a private insurer to take on that enormous hurricane risk, Jolly's proposal does four things, in order."

While Donald's says he wants to increase competition among insurers, keep legal reforms in place, transform the My Safe Forida Home Program and limit reliance on Citizens Insurance, the state's current insurance company.

According to Donalds campaign website, here are ways he plans to "bring down your insurance bill" –

As the two continue to spar, off any debate stage, the back and forth comes as state lawmakers still grapple with oversight and accountability concerns in Florida's insurance market.

Last year, the legislature investigated an Office of Insurance Regulation study that revealed some insurers here in the state were shifting millions to their affiliates, while claiming to be losing money.

Donalds took to "X" this week, saying he has "no tolerance" for that behavior and is pitching an insurance scorecard as a part of his plans.

As for Jolly, he shared this statement with 8 On Your Side, "This happened because its legal, because the legislature has permitted it. We need to change the law. Democrats in the legislature have pushed for a bill to close this loophole. As Governor, I'll fight for its enactment."

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