Florida lawmakers OK funds for program said to cut homeowner insurance bills

The state House and Senate passed the funding during a special session that included hurricane relief and sanctions against Iran.

By Louis Llovio
| 6:00 p.m. November 8, 2023
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Lawmakers approve funding for program that's said to better prepare homes for hurricanes.

Florida

As Florida deals with the threat of ever strengthening hurricanes and a property insurance system on, if not over, the brink of disaster, legislators approved $181.5 million in funding for a program to “harden” the homes of residents.

The House and Senate both unanimously passed the legislation to provide the funds to the My Safe Florida Home Program, which was created during the 2022 legislative session. Gov. Ron DeSantis is expected to sign the funding into law.

The bill passed Wednesday at the end of a three-day special session called by DeSantis to show support for Israel and penalize Iran. The governor praised lawmakers in a statement Wednesday for using the session to pass sanctions against Iran as well as for providing $45 million to protect Jewish institutions in the state and for expanding the Florida’s Family Empowerment Scholarship for students “with unique abilities.”