SESSION WATCH
Died HOUSE · SESSION 2026

No. HB 863

Arbitration for Disputes with Citizens Property Insurance Corporation
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SPONSOR
Benarroch
FILED BY
Yvette Benarroch — District 81, Republican [search donations]
EFFECTIVE
7/1/2026
DIED IN
Rules

Filed under Insurance.

PROVIDED SUMMARY

Arbitration for Disputes with Citizens Property Insurance Corporation; Requires notification of arbitration before Division of Administrative Hearings as option for dispute resolution procedures under Citizens Property Insurance Corporation.

Full bill text →

Plain English Summary

AI-GENERATED
Requires Citizens policyholders to choose arbitration in writing at each renewal.

Instead of the corporation simply building a Division of Administrative Hearings process into its policy forms, each insured must now personally choose, when buying the policy and again at every renewal, whether claim disputes go to arbitration.

The corporation must give written notice of this choice in at least 12-point boldfaced type right before the insured's signature, with boxes to mark accept or decline.

Whichever box is marked governs every dispute that arises during that policy period. The choice cannot be changed until the policy is renewed again.

A separate authority letting the corporation contract with the Division to run these proceedings is repealed, though it was already due to expire July 1, 2026, the same day this act takes effect.

KEY PROVISIONS
§ 1 Insured must elect arbitration, not the corporation majors. 627.351

AIInstead of the corporation simply building a Division of Administrative Hearings process into its policy forms, each insured must personally choose, when buying the policy and again at every renewal, whether disputes over the corporation's claim determinations go to arbitration.

“an option for the insured to select, at the time of entering into the policy or upon renewal, to have disputes” bill text, line 18 →
§ 2 Arbitration election locked in for the policy term majors. 627.351

AIOnce an insured marks accept or decline, that choice governs every dispute arising during that policy period and cannot be switched, even if a later dispute would have been better suited to the option not chosen.

“THIS DECISION CANNOT BE CHANGED DURING THE TERM OF THE POLICY.” bill text, line 37 →
§ 3 Written notice with accept/decline box required moderates. 627.351

AIThe corporation must give each insured a written notice, in at least 12-point boldfaced type immediately before their signature, telling them they must mark accept or decline for arbitration before the Division of Administrative Hearings.

“Each insured must be notified in writing, at the time of entering into a policy with the corporation and upon each renewal” bill text, line 25 →
§ 4 Corporation's separate DOAH contracting authority repealed technicals. 627.351

AIThe law no longer authorizes the corporation to contract with the Division of Administrative Hearings to conduct these disputes under this specific subparagraph, though that authority was already set to expire July 1, 2026, the same date this act takes effect.

“The corporation may contract with the division to conduct proceedings to resolve disputes regarding its claim determinations” bill text, line 58 →
TIMELINE
3/13/2026
Died in Rules
2/10/2026
Received
2/9/2026
Referred to Rules
2/4/2026
In Messages
2/4/2026
Passed; YEAS 105, NAYS 3
2/4/2026
Read 3rd time
2/4/2026
Added to Third Reading Calendar
2/4/2026
Read 2nd time
1/29/2026
Bill added to Special Order Calendar (2/4/2026)
1/21/2026
Added to Second Reading Calendar
1/21/2026
Bill released to House Calendar
1/21/2026
Reported out of Commerce Committee
1/21/2026
Favorable by Commerce Committee
1/16/2026
Added to Commerce Committee agenda
1/14/2026
Now in Commerce Committee
1/14/2026
Reported out of Insurance & Banking Subcommittee
1/14/2026
Favorable by Insurance & Banking Subcommittee
1/13/2026
1st Reading (Original Filed Version)
1/12/2026
Added to Insurance & Banking Subcommittee agenda
1/5/2026
Now in Insurance & Banking Subcommittee
1/5/2026
Referred to Commerce Committee
1/5/2026
Referred to Insurance & Banking Subcommittee
12/23/2025
Filed
17 EARLIER →
STATUTES IT CHANGES
s. 627.351
+144 / −50
STAFF ANALYSES