State senators took a vote to reform car insurance laws on Wednesday.
The legislation is aimed at reforming laws governing the Personal Injury Protection ('PIP'), insurance every Florida driver is mandated to carry.
The Senate approved its PIP bill by a vote of 39-to-1.
Gov. Scott has called on the Legislature to cap attorney fees and put limits on the types of medical treatments PIP will cover. His hope is those actions will curb the impact growing PIP fraud has had on premiums.
The State House approved a bill that, unlike the Senate plan, would put tough new limits on how much lawyers can charge an insurance company when they represent an injured driver.
The House would also give those drivers a one-week window to get medical treatment under PIP.
Plant City Rep. Rich Glorioso says it's all about getting aggressive in cracking down on PIP fraud, and for now he's holding out hope there'll be a compromise.
“Things change very rapidly around here, as you know, and so, we've got, actually, two-and-a-half days left,” he said. “Anything's possible.”
The Senate bill isn't nearly as far-reaching. Consumer advocates say that's good, giving drivers who are legitimately hurt the coverage they deserve.
But, the differences between the two bills are deep, and Daytona Beach Democrat Dwayne Taylor doesn't even think a special session will lead to a compromise.
“Right now, it becomes a priority to the governor on what he would like to have, but I don't believe, even coming back into special session, that they would be able to resolve these issues,” Taylor said.
Over the last three years, auto insurance rates in the Tampa Bay area alone have ballooned by an average of more than 80 percent.
The insurance industry says premiums could climb even higher without significant reform of PIP.