How Could House Bill 1551 Affect Property Insurance in Fort Lauderdale?

After a surge in new laws that favor insurance companies, the pendulum is beginning to swing in the other direction in Florida. House Bill 1551 is a prime example of this, and it could make it easier for homeowners to hold their insurers accountable when filing property insurance claims in Fort Lauderdale. But what exactly is House Bill 1551, and how might it benefit you?

What Is House Bill 1551? 

Also known simply as “HB 1551,” House Bill 155 is relatively straightforward. Instead of forcing homeowners to pay their own legal fees when filing property insurance lawsuits, this bill would shift this cost onto the loser. This bill would also make it easier for homeowners to simply file lawsuits in the first place – as this right has been severely restricted by recent legal changes.

As one might expect, the insurance industry is already pushing back against this proposed change. According to representatives of the insurance industry, frivolous lawsuits make it difficult to do business in the Sunshine State. But not all of these lawsuits are frivolous, and sometimes insurers use legal loopholes to avoid paying perfectly legitimate claims. In order to highlight their opposition to these proposed changes, insurance industry representatives have warned of increasing premiums if House Bill 1551 passes.

It is worth noting that the new law would not completely favor policyholders. Recently, the state abandoned “one-way attorney’s fees,” which insurance companies blamed for excessive lawsuits. House Bill 1551 does not represent a return to this. Instead, it would introduce the “prevailing party standard,” which supporters say strikes a balance between favoring policyholders or insurers.

The prevailing party standard is also known as “two-way attorney fees.” Under this system, the court could force the loser to pay the winner’s legal fees. Supporters say that this would discourage frivolous lawsuits while ensuring accountability for insurance companies. It is worth noting that the lawmaker who sponsored this bill is an attorney with a history of representing policyholders.

It is difficult to predict the effect HB 1551 will have on the insurance market, or whether it will pass at all. However, the overall trend seems to be a move back toward supporting the rights of policyholders. Although insurers are warning that these changes would harm consumers, the overall trend is at least somewhat encouraging.

 Can a Property Insurance Lawyer in Fort Lauderdale Help Me? 

At Geyer Fuxa Tyler, our legal team is made up of a diverse combination of attorneys who are well-positioned to protect the legal rights and financial interests of policyholders. If your property insurance claim was denied, we can help. For a free consultation, please call us today at (954) 990-5251. With an office in Sunrise, we represent policyholders in Broward County and throughout the state of Florida.

Sources: 

palmbeachpost.com/story/opinion/editorials/2025/03/27/florida-may-allow-lawsuits-to-move-insurance-claims-editorial/82564249007/

flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2025/1551/BillText/Filed/PDF

floridapolitics.com/archives/727545-everybody-now-has-skin-in-this-game-house-advances-loser-pays-rules-for-insurance-lawsuits/