Florida Senate - 2026 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
Bill No. SB 1452
Ì466478ZÎ466478
LEGISLATIVE ACTION
Senate . House
Comm: RCS .
02/04/2026 .
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The Committee on Banking and Insurance (Truenow) recommended the
following:
1 Senate Amendment (with title amendment)
2
3 Delete lines 889 - 1280
4 and insert:
5 Section 9. Subsection (3) of section 626.0428, Florida
6 Statutes, is amended to read:
7 626.0428 Agency personnel powers, duties, and limitations.—
8 (3) An employee or an authorized representative located at
9 a designated branch of an agent or agency may not initiate
10 contact with any person for the purpose of soliciting insurance
11 unless licensed and appointed as an agent or customer
12 representative. As to title insurance, an employee of an agent
13 or agency may not initiate contact with any individual proposed
14 insured for the purpose of soliciting title insurance unless
15 licensed as a title insurance agent or exempt from such
16 licensure pursuant to s. 626.8417(4) and (5).
17 Section 10. Section 626.171, Florida Statutes, is amended
18 to read:
19 626.171 Application for license as an agent, customer
20 representative, adjuster, or service representative, or
21 reinsurance intermediary.—
22 (1) The department may not issue a license as agent,
23 customer representative, adjuster, or service representative, or
24 reinsurance intermediary to any person except upon written
25 application filed with the department, meeting the
26 qualifications for the license applied for as determined by the
27 department, and payment in advance of all applicable fees. The
28 application must be made under the oath of the applicant and be
29 signed by the applicant. An applicant may permit a third party
30 to complete, submit, and sign an application on the applicant’s
31 behalf, but is responsible for ensuring that the information on
32 the application is true and correct and is accountable for any
33 misstatements or misrepresentations. The department shall accept
34 the uniform application for resident and nonresident agent and
35 adjuster licensing. The department may adopt revised versions of
36 the uniform application by rule.
37 (2) In the application, the applicant must include all of
38 the following shall set forth:
39 (a) The applicant’s His or her full name, age, social
40 security number, residence address, business address, mailing
41 address, contact telephone numbers, including a business
42 telephone number, and e-mail address.
43 (b) A statement indicating the method the applicant used or
44 is using to meet any required prelicensing education, knowledge,
45 experience, or instructional requirements for the type of
46 license applied for.
47 (c) Whether the applicant he or she has been refused or has
48 voluntarily surrendered or has had suspended or revoked a
49 license to solicit insurance by the department or by the
50 supervising officials of any state.
51 (d) Whether any insurer or any managing general agent
52 claims the applicant is indebted under any agency contract or
53 otherwise and, if so, the name of the claimant, the nature of
54 the claim, and the applicant’s defense thereto, if any.
55 (e) Proof that the applicant meets the requirements for the
56 type of license for which he or she is applying.
57 (f) The applicant’s gender (male or female).
58 (g) The applicant’s native language.
59 (h) The highest level of education achieved by the
60 applicant.
61 (i) The applicant’s race or ethnicity (African American,
62 white, American Indian, Asian, Hispanic, or other).
63 (j) Such other or additional information as the department
64 may deem proper to enable it to determine the character,
65 experience, ability, and other qualifications of the applicant
66 to hold himself or herself out to the public as an insurance
67 representative.
68
69 However, the application must contain a statement that an
70 applicant is not required to disclose his or her race or
71 ethnicity, gender, or native language, that he or she will not
72 be penalized for not doing so, and that the department will use
73 this information exclusively for research and statistical
74 purposes and to improve the quality and fairness of the
75 examinations. The department may shall make provisions for
76 applicants to voluntarily submit their cellular telephone
77 numbers as part of the application process solely on a voluntary
78 basis only for the purpose of two-factor authentication of
79 secure login credentials only.
80 (3) Each application must be accompanied by payment of any
81 applicable fee.
82 (4) An applicant for a license issued by the department
83 under this chapter must submit a set of the individual
84 applicant’s fingerprints, or, if the applicant is not an
85 individual, a set of the fingerprints of the sole proprietor,
86 majority owner, partners, officers, and directors, to the
87 department and must pay the fingerprint processing fee set forth
88 in s. 624.501. Fingerprints must be processed in accordance with
89 s. 624.34 and used to investigate the applicant’s qualifications
90 pursuant to s. 626.201. The fingerprints must be taken by a law
91 enforcement agency or other department-approved entity. The
92 department may not approve an application for licensure as an
93 agent, customer service representative, adjuster, or service
94 representative, or reinsurance intermediary if fingerprints have
95 not been submitted.
96 (5) The application for license filing fee prescribed in s.
97 624.501 is not subject to refund.
98 (6) Members of the United States Armed Forces and their
99 spouses, and veterans of the United States Armed Forces who have
100 separated from service within 24 months before application for
101 licensure, are exempt from the application filing fee prescribed
102 in s. 624.501. Qualified individuals must provide a copy of a
103 military identification card, military dependent identification
104 card, military service record, military personnel file, veteran
105 record, discharge paper or separation document that indicates
106 such members are currently in good standing or such veterans
107 were honorably discharged.
108 (7) Pursuant to the federal Personal Responsibility and
109 Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, each party is
110 required to provide his or her social security number in
111 accordance with this section. Disclosure of social security
112 numbers obtained through this requirement must be limited to the
113 purpose of administration of the Title IV-D program for child
114 support enforcement.
115 Section 11. Paragraph (c) of subsection (2) of section
116 626.292, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
117 626.292 Transfer of license from another state.—
118 (2) To qualify for a license transfer, an individual
119 applicant must meet the following requirements:
120 (c) The individual must submit a completed application for
121 this state which is received by the department within 90 days
122 after the date the individual became a resident of this state,
123 along with payment of the applicable fees set forth in s.
124 624.501 and submission of the following documents:
125 1. A certification issued by the appropriate official of
126 the applicant’s home state identifying the type of license and
127 lines of authority under the license and stating that, at the
128 time the license from the home state was canceled, the applicant
129 was in good standing in that state or that the state’s Producer
130 Database records, maintained by the National Association of
131 Insurance Commissioners, its affiliates, or subsidiaries,
132 indicate that the agent or all-lines adjuster is or was licensed
133 in good standing for the line of authority requested. An
134 applicant may hold a resident license in another state for 30
135 days after the Florida resident license has been issued to
136 facilitate the transfer of licensure between states.
137 2. A set of the applicant’s fingerprints in accordance with
138 s. 626.171(4).
139 Section 12. Subsection (1) of section 626.611, Florida
140 Statutes, is amended to read:
141 626.611 Grounds for compulsory refusal, suspension, or
142 revocation of agent’s, title agency’s, adjuster’s, customer
143 representative’s, service representative’s, or managing general
144 agent’s license or appointment.—
145 (1) The department shall require license reexamination,
146 deny an application for, suspend, revoke, or refuse to renew or
147 continue the license or appointment of any applicant, agent,
148 title agency, adjuster, customer representative, service
149 representative, or managing general agent, and it shall suspend
150 or revoke the eligibility to hold a license or appointment of
151 any such person, if it finds that as to the applicant, licensee,
152 or appointee any one or more of the following applicable grounds
153 exist:
154 (a) Lack of one or more of the qualifications for the
155 license or appointment as specified in this code.
156 (b) Material misstatement, misrepresentation, or fraud in
157 obtaining the license or appointment or in attempting to obtain
158 the license or appointment.
159 (c) Failure to pass to the satisfaction of the department
160 any examination required under this code, including cheating on
161 an examination required for licensure or violating test center
162 or examination procedures delivered orally, in writing, or
163 electronically at the test site by authorized representatives of
164 the examination program administrator.
165 (d) If the license or appointment is willfully used, or to
166 be used, to circumvent any of the requirements or prohibitions
167 of this code.
168 (e) Willful misrepresentation of any insurance policy or
169 annuity contract or willful deception with regard to any such
170 policy or contract, done either in person or by any form of
171 dissemination of information or advertising.
172 (f) If, as an adjuster, or agent licensed and appointed to
173 adjust claims under this code, he or she has materially
174 misrepresented to an insured or other interested party the terms
175 and coverage of an insurance contract with intent and for the
176 purpose of effecting settlement of claim for loss or damage or
177 benefit under such contract on less favorable terms than those
178 provided in and contemplated by the contract.
179 (g) Demonstrated lack of fitness or trustworthiness to
180 engage in the business of insurance.
181 (h) Demonstrated lack of reasonably adequate knowledge and
182 technical competence to engage in the transactions authorized by
183 the license or appointment.
184 (i) Fraudulent or dishonest practices in the conduct of
185 business under the license or appointment.
186 (j) Misappropriation, conversion, or unlawful withholding
187 of moneys belonging to insurers or insureds or beneficiaries or
188 to others and received in conduct of business under the license
189 or appointment.
190 (k) Unlawfully rebating, attempting to unlawfully rebate,
191 or unlawfully dividing or offering to divide his or her
192 commission with another.
193 (l) Having obtained or attempted to obtain, or having used
194 or using, a license or appointment as agent or customer
195 representative for the purpose of soliciting or handling
196 “controlled business” as defined in s. 626.730 with respect to
197 general lines agents, s. 626.784 with respect to life agents,
198 and s. 626.830 with respect to health agents.
199 (m) Willful failure to comply with, or willful violation
200 of, any proper order or rule of the department or willful
201 violation of any provision of this code.
202 (n) Having been found guilty of or having pleaded guilty or
203 nolo contendere to a misdemeanor directly related to the
204 financial services business, any felony, or any crime punishable
205 by imprisonment of 1 year or more under the law of the United
206 States of America or of any state thereof or under the law of
207 any other country, without regard to whether a judgment of
208 conviction has been entered by the court having jurisdiction of
209 such cases.
210 (o) Fraudulent or dishonest practice in submitting or
211 aiding or abetting any person in the submission of an
212 application for workers’ compensation coverage under chapter 440
213 containing false or misleading information as to employee
214 payroll or classification for the purpose of avoiding or
215 reducing the amount of premium due for such coverage.
216 (p) Sale of an unregistered security that was required to
217 be registered, pursuant to chapter 517.
218 (q) In transactions related to viatical settlement
219 contracts as defined in s. 626.9911:
220 1. Commission of a fraudulent or dishonest act.
221 2. No longer meeting the requirements for initial
222 licensure.
223 3. Having received a fee, commission, or other valuable
224 consideration for his or her services with respect to viatical
225 settlements that involved unlicensed viatical settlement
226 providers or persons who offered or attempted to negotiate on
227 behalf of another person a viatical settlement contract as
228 defined in s. 626.9911 and who were not licensed life agents.
229 4. Dealing in bad faith with viators.
230 Section 13. Section 626.621, Florida Statutes, is amended
231 to read:
232 626.621 Grounds for discretionary refusal, suspension, or
233 revocation of agent’s, adjuster’s, customer representative’s,
234 service representative’s, or managing general agent’s license or
235 appointment.—The department may, in its discretion, require a
236 license reexamination, deny an application for, suspend, revoke,
237 or refuse to renew or continue the license or appointment of any
238 applicant, agent, adjuster, customer representative, service
239 representative, or managing general agent, and it may suspend or
240 revoke the eligibility to hold a license or appointment of any
241 such person, if it finds that as to the applicant, licensee, or
242 appointee any one or more of the following applicable grounds
243 exist under circumstances for which such denial, suspension,
244 revocation, or refusal is not mandatory under s. 626.611:
245 (1) Any cause for which issuance of the license or
246 appointment could have been refused had it then existed and been
247 known to the department.
248 (2) Violation of any provision of this code or of any other
249 law applicable to the business of insurance in the course of
250 dealing under the license or appointment.
251 (3) Violation of any lawful order or rule of the
252 department, commission, or office.
253 (4) Failure or refusal, upon demand, to pay over to any
254 insurer he or she represents or has represented any money coming
255 into his or her hands belonging to the insurer.
256 (5) Violation of the provision against twisting, as defined
257 in s. 626.9541(1)(l).
258 (6) In the conduct of business under the license or
259 appointment, engaging in unfair methods of competition or in
260 unfair or deceptive acts or practices, as prohibited under part
261 IX of this chapter, or having otherwise shown himself or herself
262 to be a source of injury or loss to the public.
263 (7) Willful overinsurance of any property or health
264 insurance risk.
265 (8) If a life agent, violation of the code of ethics.
266 (9) Cheating on an examination required for licensure or
267 violating test center or examination procedures published
268 orally, in writing, or electronically at the test site by
269 authorized representatives of the examination program
270 administrator. Communication of test center and examination
271 procedures must be clearly established and documented.
272 (10) Failure to inform the department in writing within 30
273 days after pleading guilty or nolo contendere to, or being
274 convicted or found guilty of, any felony or a crime punishable
275 by imprisonment of 1 year or more under the law of the United
276 States or of any state thereof, or under the law of any other
277 country without regard to whether a judgment of conviction has
278 been entered by the court having jurisdiction of the case.
279 (11) Knowingly aiding, assisting, procuring, advising, or
280 abetting any person in the violation of or to violate a
281 provision of the insurance code or any order or rule of the
282 department, commission, or office.
283 (12) Has been the subject of or has had a license, permit,
284 appointment, registration, or other authority to conduct
285 business subject to any decision, finding, injunction,
286 suspension, prohibition, revocation, denial, judgment, final
287 agency action, or administrative order by any court of competent
288 jurisdiction, administrative law proceeding, state agency,
289 federal agency, national securities, commodities, or option
290 exchange, or national securities, commodities, or option
291 association involving a violation of any federal or state
292 securities or commodities law or any rule or regulation adopted
293 thereunder, or a violation of any rule or regulation of any
294 national securities, commodities, or options exchange or
295 national securities, commodities, or options association.
296 (13) Failure to comply with any civil, criminal, or
297 administrative action taken by the child support enforcement
298 program under Title IV-D of the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C.
299 ss. 651 et seq., to determine paternity or to establish, modify,
300 enforce, or collect support.
301 (14) Directly or indirectly accepting any compensation,
302 inducement, or reward from an inspector for the referral of the
303 owner of the inspected property to the inspector or inspection
304 company. This prohibition applies to an inspection intended for
305 submission to an insurer in order to obtain property insurance
306 coverage or establish the applicable property insurance premium.
307 (15) Denial, suspension, or revocation of, or any other
308 adverse administrative action against, a license to practice or
309 conduct any regulated profession, business, or vocation by this
310 state, any other state, any nation, any possession or district
311 of the United States, any court, or any lawful agency thereof.
312 (16) Taking an action that allows the personal financial or
313 medical information of a consumer or customer to be made
314 available or accessible to the general public, regardless of the
315 format in which the record is stored.
316 (17) Initiating in-person or telephone solicitation after 9
317 p.m. or before 8 a.m. local time of the prospective customer
318 unless requested by the prospective customer.
319 (18) Cancellation of the applicant’s, licensee’s, or
320 appointee’s resident license in a state other than Florida.
321 Section 14. Subsection (1) of section 626.731, Florida
322 Statutes, is amended to read:
323 626.731 Qualifications for general lines agent’s license.—
324 (1) The department may shall not grant or issue a license
325 as general lines agent to any individual found by it to be
326 untrustworthy or incompetent or who does not meet each all of
327 the following qualifications:
328 (a) The applicant is a natural person at least 18 years of
329 age.
330 (b) The applicant is a United States citizen or legal alien
331 who possesses work authorization from the United States Bureau
332 of Citizenship and Immigration Services and is a bona fide
333 resident of this state. An individual who is a bona fide
334 resident of this state shall be deemed to meet the residence
335 requirement of this paragraph, notwithstanding the existence at
336 the time of application for license of a license in his or her
337 name on the records of another state as a resident licensee of
338 such other state, if the applicant furnishes a letter of
339 clearance satisfactory to the department that the resident
340 licenses have been canceled or changed to a nonresident basis
341 and that he or she is in good standing.
342 (c) The applicant’s place of business will be located in
343 this state and he or she will be actively engaged in the
344 business of insurance and will maintain a place of business, the
345 location of which is identifiable by and accessible to the
346 public.
347 (d) The license is not being sought for the purpose of
348 writing or handling controlled business, in violation of s.
349 626.730.
350 (e) The applicant is qualified as to knowledge, experience,
351 or instruction in the business of insurance and meets the
352 requirements provided in s. 626.732.
353 (f) The applicant has passed any required examination for
354 license required under s. 626.221.
355 Section 15. Subsection (2) of section 626.785, Florida
356 Statutes, is amended to read:
357 626.785 Qualifications for license.—
358 (2) An individual who is a bona fide resident of this state
359 shall be deemed to meet the residence requirement of paragraph
360 (1)(b), notwithstanding the existence at the time of application
361 for license of a license in his or her name on the records of
362 another state as a resident licensee of such other state, if the
363 applicant furnishes a letter of clearance satisfactory to the
364 department that the resident licenses have been canceled or
365 changed to a nonresident basis and that he or she is in good
366 standing.
367 Section 16. Section 626.831, Florida Statutes, is amended
368 to read:
369 626.831 Qualifications for license.—
370 (1) The department may shall not grant or issue a license
371 as health agent as to any individual found by it to be
372 untrustworthy or incompetent, or who does not meet all of the
373 following qualifications:
374 (1)(a) Is Must be a natural person of at least 18 years of
375 age.
376 (2)(b) Is Must be a United States citizen or legal alien
377 who possesses work authorization from the United States Bureau
378 of Citizenship and Immigration Services and is a bona fide
379 resident of this state.
380 (3)(c) Is Must not be an employee of the United States
381 Department of Veterans Affairs or state service office, as
382 referred to in s. 626.833.
383 (4)(d) Has taken Must take and passed pass any examination
384 for license required under s. 626.221.
385 (5)(e) Is Must be qualified as to knowledge, experience, or
386 instruction in the business of insurance and meets meet the
387 requirements relative thereto provided in s. 626.8311.
388 (2) An individual who is a bona fide resident of this state
389 shall be deemed to meet the residence requirement of paragraph
390 (1)(b), notwithstanding the existence at the time of application
391 for license of a license in his or her name on the records of
392 another state as a resident licensee of such other state, if the
393 applicant furnishes a letter of clearance satisfactory to the
394 department that the resident licenses have been canceled or
395 changed to a nonresident basis and that he or she is in good
396 standing.
397 Section 17. Subsections (4) and (5) of section 626.8417,
398 Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
399 626.8417 Title insurance agent licensure; exemptions.—
400 (4) Title insurers, acting through designated corporate
401 officers, or attorneys duly admitted to practice law in this
402 state and in good standing with The Florida Bar are exempt from
403 the provisions of this chapter relating to title insurance
404 licensing and appointment requirements.
405 (5) An insurer may designate a corporate officer of the
406 insurer to occasionally issue and countersign binders,
407 commitments, and policies of title insurance. The designated
408 officer is exempt from the provisions of this chapter relating
409 to title insurance licensing and appointment requirements while
410 the officer is acting within the scope of the designation.
411 Section 18. Subsection (24) is added to section 626.854,
412 Florida Statutes, to read:
413 626.854 “Public adjuster” defined; prohibitions.—The
414 Legislature finds that it is necessary for the protection of the
415 public to regulate public insurance adjusters and to prevent the
416 unauthorized practice of law.
417 (24) A public adjuster, public adjuster apprentice, or
418 public adjusting firm must respond with specific information to
419 a written or electronic request for claims status from a
420 claimant or insured or their designated representative within 14
421 days after the date of the request and shall document in the
422 file the response or information provided.
423 Section 19. Section 627.797, Florida Statutes, is repealed.
424
425 ================= T I T L E A M E N D M E N T ================
426 And the title is amended as follows:
427 Delete lines 75 - 101
428 and insert:
429 application; amending s. 626.0428, F.S.; conforming a
430 provision to changes made by the act; amending s.
431 626.171, F.S.; deleting reinsurance intermediaries
432 from certain application requirements; revising the
433 list of persons from whom the department is required
434 to accept uniform applications; making clarifying
435 changes regarding the voluntary submission of cellular
436 telephone numbers; revising the exemption from the
437 application filing fee for members of the United
438 States Armed Forces; amending s. 626.292, F.S.;
439 revising applicant requirements for a license
440 transfer; amending s. 626.611, F.S.; requiring the
441 department to require license reexamination of certain
442 persons, and suspend or revoke the eligibility to hold
443 a license or appointment of such persons under certain
444 circumstances; amending the grounds for suspension or
445 revocation; amending 626.621, F.S.; authorizing the
446 department to require a reexamination of certain
447 persons; amending s. 626.731, F.S.; revising the
448 qualifications for a general lines agent’s license;
449 amending s. 626.785, F.S.; revising the qualifications
450 for a life agent’s license; amending s. 626.831, F.S.;
451 revising the qualifications for a health agent’s
452 license; amending s. 626.8417, F.S.; revising the
453 persons who are exempt from certain provisions
454 relating to title insurance licensing and appointment
455 requirements; amending s. 626.854, F.S.; requiring a
456 public adjuster, public adjuster apprentice, or public
457 adjusting firm to respond with specific information
458 within a specified timeframe and document in the file
459 the response or information provided; repealing s.
460 627.797, F.S., relating to agents exempt from title
461 insurance licensing; amending s.