Ron DeSantis, the governor of Florida, announced that the 2023 litigation reforms are prompting auto insurance rebates and rate cuts in the state, with further reductions anticipated. The statement was made on X.
“We recently announced that Progressive was rebating $1 billion to its FL auto insurance policyholders and reducing rates,” said Ronald Dion Desantis. “Now, State Farm has filed for another 10% reduction for its auto policies. This is due to FL’s 2023 litigation reforms, and more companies will be following with both rebates and rate reductions.”
Florida’s 2023 litigation reform law (HB 837) significantly altered negligence and insurance litigation rules. According to a summary by the Florida Senate, these changes included reducing the statute of limitations for general negligence claims from four years to two, implementing a 50 percent fault bar, and tightening the admissibility of medical billing evidence. These measures were intended to curb excessive lawsuits and insurance costs, leading insurers to initiate rate cuts and rebates during 2024–2025 as claim volumes decreased.
Progressive Insurance announced nearly $1 billion in rebates for Florida auto policyholders in early 2025. This translates to an average refund of about $300 per driver. According to a release from the Florida Governor’s Office, this rebate reflects improved market conditions attributed to HB 837 and increased competition among insurers responding to declining legal expenses.
State Farm filed for a 10 percent average rate reduction for Florida auto policies in 2025, marking its second cut since late 2024. State Farm’s newsroom op-ed indicated that total reductions since October 2024 now exceed 20 percent on average, returning more than $1 billion annually to customers. Other major insurers such as GEICO and Progressive have also adjusted rates downward amid reform-driven cost savings.
DeSantis has served as Florida’s governor since 2019 after three terms in the U.S. House of Representatives. His background includes graduating from Yale University and Harvard Law School and serving as a U.S. Navy Judge Advocate General (JAG) officer. These roles have influenced his focus on litigation reform, economic deregulation, and insurance-market stability within state policy.
Florida’s Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR) is responsible for overseeing insurer licensing, rate approvals, solvency monitoring, and market conduct under the Florida Insurance Code. According to OIR’s official site, the agency is led by the Insurance Commissioner within the state’s executive branch and reports to the Financial Services Commission, supporting consumer protection and fair competition in the insurance sector.
