Uniform Mitigation Verification Inspection Form:
SB 1596 would amend Florida law governing the uniform mitigation verification inspection form used to document home and property features that qualify for insurance premium discounts. The bill keeps the existing wind-mitigation inspection framework in place but gives the Financial Services Commission explicit authority to add flood mitigation criteria to the same form. Under current law, the commission must develop the form by rule for use by insurers when policyholders seek wind insurance discounts; this bill would expand that rulemaking authority to include flood-related mitigation measures as well.
The bill also preserves the list of professionals and qualified individuals who may sign the form, including licensed home inspectors, building code inspectors, contractors, engineers, architects, and others recognized by insurers. It would take effect July 1, 2025. In practical terms, the measure is aimed at making it easier for property owners to document both wind and flood resilience features in one standardized inspection process, which could affect insurance underwriting and discount eligibility for Florida homeowners and other insured property owners.
The bill would amend section 627.711, Florida Statutes, by expanding the scope of the uniform mitigation verification inspection form from wind mitigation alone to potentially include flood mitigation criteria. This would give the Financial Services Commission discretion to revise the form by rule and could influence how insurers evaluate and discount properties with flood-resilient features. The measure would not itself mandate new discounts, but it would create a statutory pathway for incorporating flood mitigation into an existing insurance-related inspection system.
The available record suggests the bill was generally favorable in concept, as it addresses insurance affordability and resilience by allowing flood mitigation to be recognized alongside wind mitigation. However, the bill ultimately died in the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee, indicating that it did not advance through the legislative process. No committee transcript or recorded votes are available here, so the public record provided does not show detailed debate or a formal split in sentiment.
The main policy issue appears to be whether Florida should expand the uniform mitigation form beyond wind mitigation to include flood mitigation, and how much discretion the Financial Services Commission should have in defining those criteria. Potential points of concern likely include insurer implementation, the reliability and standardization of flood-related inspection criteria, and whether expanding the form could affect premium discount structures or administrative burdens. Because there are no transcripts or votes provided, specific objections or supporters cannot be identified from the record, but the bill’s failure to move out of Banking and Insurance suggests unresolved concerns within that policy area.