The bill amends various sections of Florida Statutes to introduce new regulations concerning civil actions related to former phosphate mine sites and insurance contracts. It establishes a new section, 378.213, which allows landowners to record a notice identifying their property as a former phosphate mine and defines what constitutes a "former phosphate mine." Additionally, section 404.0561 mandates the Department of Health to conduct gamma radiation surveys of former phosphate land parcels upon request. The bill also creates section 768.405, requiring plaintiffs in civil actions related to phosphate mining to include a radiation survey prepared by certified professionals with their complaints.

Moreover, the bill revises existing provisions regarding attorney fees in civil actions involving insurance contracts. It introduces sections 626.9375 and 627.4275, which require courts to award reasonable attorney fees to the prevailing party in certain civil actions involving surplus lines insurers and other insurers, respectively. The bill specifies that judges must provide written findings to substantiate any award of attorney fees, calculated without a contingency risk multiplier. It also clarifies the applicability of these attorney fee provisions and amends the admissibility of evidence regarding medical expenses in personal injury or wrongful death actions. The amendments will apply to all causes of action that accrued after March 24, 2023, and to insurance policies issued on or after July 1, 2025, with the act set to take effect on that date.

Statutes affected:
H 947 c2: 624.1552, 624.123, 624.488, 627.062, 627.736, 627.756, 628.6016, 768.0427