SESSION WATCH
Died HOUSE · SESSION 2026

No. HB 427

Public Adjuster Contracts
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SPONSOR
Melo
FILED BY
Lauren Melo — District 82, Republican [search donations]
EFFECTIVE
7/1/2026
DIED IN
Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee

Filed under Insurance.

PROVIDED SUMMARY

Public Adjuster Contracts; Authorizes certain persons to rescind contract for public adjuster services; clarifies acts that may subject public adjuster or public adjuster apprentice to discipline.

Full bill text →

Plain English Summary

AI-GENERATED
Lets vulnerable adults cancel public adjuster contracts anytime.

An insured who is a vulnerable adult or lacks the capacity to consent, or their legal representative, can now cancel a public adjuster contract at any time with no penalty, instead of only within the usual 10 or 30-day window.

This right is written into both the core public adjuster statute and the separate law covering adjuster contract disclosures, so it applies no matter which one governs a given cancellation.

The disciplinary rule against taking advantage of a vulnerable person now points to the legal definition of 'vulnerable adult' used elsewhere in Florida law, rather than leaving the term undefined.

KEY PROVISIONS
§ 1 Lets vulnerable or incapacitated insureds cancel anytime majors. 626.854

AIAn insured who is a vulnerable adult, lacks capacity to consent, or their legal representative may rescind a public adjuster services contract at any time without penalty, unlike the standard 10-or-30-day cancellation window everyone else gets.

“may rescind a contract for public adjuster services to adjust a claim at any time without penalty or further obligation” bill text, line 61 →
§ 2 Ties the vulnerable-persons disciplinary rule to a legal definition moderates. 626.8698

AIThe rule letting the department discipline an adjuster for taking advantage of a vulnerable person now specifically references the legal definition of 'vulnerable adult' in s. 415.102, while separately still covering anyone left emotional or upset by a trauma or accident.

“a person who is a vulnerable adult, as defined is s. 415.102, or who is emotional” bill text, line 81 →
TIMELINE
3/13/2026
Died in Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee
1/22/2026
Now in Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee
1/22/2026
Reported out of Insurance & Banking Subcommittee
1/21/2026
Favorable by Insurance & Banking Subcommittee
1/16/2026
Added to Insurance & Banking Subcommittee agenda
1/13/2026
1st Reading (Original Filed Version)
11/24/2025
Now in Insurance & Banking Subcommittee
11/24/2025
Referred to Commerce Committee
11/24/2025
Referred to Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee
11/24/2025
Referred to Insurance & Banking Subcommittee
11/14/2025
Filed
5 EARLIER →
STATUTES IT CHANGES
s. 626.854
+61 / −1
s. 626.8698
+11 / −1
s. 626.8796
+54 / −0
STAFF ANALYSES