House Bill 1551 is profoundly flawed legislation that undermines recent insurance reforms, prioritizes special interests, and threatens to drive up costs for Florida homeowners. It is the latest power grab from the Florida legislature during a session that is turning out to be the most contentious, self-serving political time in over a decade.
The “Republican” RINO caucus is working nonstop on legislation that does nothing for Floridians but does everything to line the pockets of a small group of legislators who have further political aspirations and their trial attorney friends. Don’t fall for it.
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HB 1551 is sponsored by Representative Hillary Cassel, a trial attorney from Dania Beach, who was recently elected as a Democrat but who seems to have seen, as many others have seen during times of political change, the opportunity to gain personal and political power by switching parties. Her claim was the party switch had to do with the Democrat stance on Israel that didn’t align with her values, but the timing of the switch to the GOP, which happened after she was elected as a Democrat with no opposition, reeks of opportunism. She would never have been allowed to advance this legislation without switching parties. HB 1551 is not about protecting consumers—it’s about serving trial lawyers and insurers at the expense of everyday Floridians while being used as a fundraising vehicle for elected officials in “leadership” to fill their campaign accounts with millions of dollars for whatever powerful political ambitions they aspire to next, as evidenced by considerable donations to various politicians from trial attorneys. This bill, which undoes tort reform legislation enacted just a couple of years ago, feels like a long con that will hurt Floridians. HB 1551 is a disaster waiting to happen for Florida homeowners.
HB 1551 in a Nutshell
Florida House Bill 1551 threatens to undo recent insurance reforms in the state. It would reintroduce the policy of the past, which resulted in $3 of every $4 of payouts by insurance companies for plaintiff attorney fees. This is why rates skyrocketed, and insurance companies were leaving the state as fast as the winds of a CAT 5 hurricane. This change could result in higher premiums for Florida homeowners and destabilize the insurance market that has begun to recover after previous reforms. Critics argue that the bill, despite its “prevailing party” language, essentially reverts to the problematic one-way attorney fee system that Florida had recently eliminated.
In a white paper written by attorney Matthew Lavisky, HB 1551 Is Bad for Florida (March 18, 2025) states that:
Lawyers are being paid thousands of dollars from Florida’s homeowner’s premiums, often as much as a teacher or firefighter might make in six months, just to testify about how much another lawyer should be awarded.
He concludes that HB 1551 undoes all of the prior reforms. It is a windfall for plaintiffs’ lawyers. The bill is good for lawyers but bad for Florida.
A Step Backward for Insurance Reform
Under this proposed system, policyholders could be deemed “prevailing parties” even if they recover a dollar of claims, causing insurance companies to pay all of the trial attorneys’ fees and costs, which sometimes amount to hundreds of thousands of dollars. Thus, the bill would incentivize unnecessary litigation and drive up costs for everyone involved.
The bill also eliminates insurers’ ability to use Proposals for Settlement under Florida law, replacing them with a more complex mechanism. This change will likely increase litigation costs and reduce incentives for early settlements, further burdening the already strained insurance market.
William Large, President of the Florida Justice Reform Institute, gave this example of what would happen if HB 1551 became law.
Example scenario:
The insured sues the insurer. Several months into litigation, the insurer conducts a deposition of the insured’s expert, who offers, for the first time, a credible explanation of why a specific aspect of damages sought by the insured should be recoverable. The insurer recognizes the validity of the explanation and makes an offer to settle for the specific item addressed by the insured’s expert, plus interest. The insured rejects the offer.
At trial, the jury only awards the insured the specific damages for the repair that was the very subject of the insurer’s settlement offer. Even though the jury awards the insured the exact damages that the insurer previously offered to settle the case for, under HB 1551, the insured will have prevailed and be entitled to recover all their attorney fees because the “judgment” includes the insured’s attorney’s fees. This would be the result even if the insured recovered only 10% of the damages sought in the lawsuit. ~William Large, President of the Florida Justice Reform Institute
Higher Premiums for Homeowners
One of the most alarming aspects of HB 1551 is its potential impact on insurance premiums. According to a House expert staff analysis, “the bill is unlikely to lower premiums and could even lead to higher costs for policyholders.” This prediction contradicts supporters’ claims that the bill will stabilize the market. Instead, it risks undoing recent reforms that have helped attract new insurers to Florida and reduce litigation rates.
Mike Caruso (R-West Palm Beach), who voted against HB 1551, highlighted this issue:
HB 1551 isn’t going to lower premiums either. Staff predicted it could lead to higher costs for consumers. And why (are they filing this bill) now? We’ve seen insurance rates stabilize because of past reforms—this bill jeopardizes that progress. This bill prioritizes special interests over the people we’re supposed to serve. ~State Rep. Mike Caruso
A Self-Serving Agenda
Representative Hillary Cassel’s sponsorship of this bill raises significant ethical concerns. As an attorney specializing in lawsuits against property insurers, Cassel stands to benefit professionally from increased litigation opportunities created by HB 1551. Critics argue that her involvement represents an apparent conflict of interest, as the bill would directly benefit her industry while harming Florida homeowners.
Cassel has defended the bill as a balanced approach to consumer protection and litigation reform. However, her claims ring hollow when viewed alongside the broader implications of HB 1551. The bill’s true beneficiaries are not consumers but trial lawyers and insurers who profit from prolonged litigation.
The Bottom Line
HB 1551 is not Republican—it betrays conservative principles by favoring powerful lobbyists over individual rights and responsibilities. It undermines free-market competition by enabling trial lawyers to profit at the expense of homeowners. Floridians deserve better than this. Haven’t we seen enough billboards with trial attorney ads?
Lawmakers must reject HB 1551 and focus on policies that protect consumers and stabilize Florida’s insurance market. Anything less is a betrayal of public trust.
The bottom line is that HB1551 will result in a significant rise in our insurance premiums, which is bad for Florida.
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