Florida Senate - 2025                                    SB 1596
       
       
        
       By Senator DiCeglie
       
       
       
       
       
       18-00722A-25                                          20251596__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to the uniform mitigation verification
    3         inspection form; amending s. 627.711, F.S.;
    4         authorizing the Financial Services Commission to
    5         incorporate flood mitigation criteria into the uniform
    6         mitigation verification inspection form; providing an
    7         effective date.
    8          
    9  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   10  
   11         Section 1. Paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of section
   12  627.711, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
   13         627.711 Notice of premium discounts for hurricane loss
   14  mitigation; uniform mitigation verification inspection form.—
   15         (2)(a) The Financial Services Commission shall develop by
   16  rule a uniform mitigation verification inspection form that
   17  shall be used by all insurers when submitted by policyholders
   18  for the purpose of factoring discounts for wind insurance. In
   19  developing the form, the commission shall seek input from
   20  insurance, construction, and building code representatives.
   21  Further, the commission shall provide guidance as to the length
   22  of time the inspection results are valid. In addition to wind
   23  mitigation, the commission may incorporate flood mitigation
   24  criteria into the uniform mitigation verification inspection
   25  form. An insurer shall accept as valid a uniform mitigation
   26  verification form signed by the following authorized mitigation
   27  inspectors:
   28         1. A home inspector licensed under s. 468.8314 who has
   29  completed at least 3 hours of hurricane mitigation training
   30  approved by the Construction Industry Licensing Board which
   31  includes hurricane mitigation techniques and compliance with the
   32  uniform mitigation verification form and completion of a
   33  proficiency exam;
   34         2. A building code inspector certified under s. 468.607;
   35         3. A general, building, or residential contractor licensed
   36  under s. 489.111;
   37         4. A professional engineer licensed under s. 471.015;
   38         5. A professional architect licensed under s. 481.213; or
   39         6. Any other individual or entity recognized by the insurer
   40  as possessing the necessary qualifications to properly complete
   41  a uniform mitigation verification form.
   42         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2025.