Florida News in Brief

Citizens policy count decreases

TALLAHASSEE (NSF) — The number of Citizens Property Insurance Corp. policies dropped by more than 48,000 last week, as the state's insurer of last resort continues trying to move customers into the private market. Citizens had 1,224,847 policies as of Friday, down from 1,273,352 policies a week earlier and 1,266,368 two weeks earlier, according to numbers posted on its website.

The decrease came as seven private insurers were able last week to assume policies from Citizens. That was part of what is known as a "depopulation" program to try to shift policies to private insurers.

Citizens has become the largest property insurance in the state during the past three years as private insurers dropped customers and raised rates because of financial problems. Citizens reached as many as 1.412 million policies this fall before seeing decreases because of the depopulation program. State leaders want to shrink Citizens, at least in part because of financial risks if major hurricanes hit the state.

Gas prices jump amid holiday travel

TALLAHASSEE (NSF) — The average price of a gallon of regular unleaded gas in Florida jumped 14 cents during the past week, as demand grew with travel over the end-of-the-year holiday period. The AAA auto club said motorists in Florida paid an average of $3.12 on Wednesday, matching the national average for the first time since August. Florida's average was $2.98 a week earlier and $3.01 a month earlier.

Motorists in Northwest Florida continued to enjoy the state's lowest prices Wednesday, with an average of $2.80 a gallon in the Crestview-Fort Walton Beach area, $2.85 in the Pensacola area and $2.87 in the Panama City area. In contrast, motorists in the West Palm Beach-Boca Raton area paid an average of $3.30 a gallon.

Records exemption sought for court clerks

TALLAHASSEE (NSF) — A House Democrat on Thursday filed a proposal that would provide a public-records exemption for personal information about clerks of circuit court, deputy clerks, employees and family members. Rep. Dan Daley, D-Coral Springs, filed the bill (HB 983) for consideration during the 2024 legislative session, which will start Jan. 9. It would shield from release information such as home addresses, telephone numbers and dates of birth for current and former clerks of circuit court, deputy clerks and employees, along with their spouses and children.

"The responsibilities of clerks of the circuit court, deputy clerks of the circuit court, and clerk of the circuit court personnel regularly include involvement in legal enforcement, divorce, and child support proceedings and, as a result, clerks of the circuit court, deputy clerks of the circuit court, and clerk of the circuit court personnel have received death threats, harassing telephone calls and emails, and threats of physical violence from disgruntled individuals," the bill said. "The Legislature finds that the release of such personal identifying and location information may place clerks of the circuit court, deputy clerks of the circuit court, and clerk of the circuit court personnel in danger of being physically or emotionally harmed or stalked."