Committee Spotlight: Legislative & Regulatory Advocacy Council

• Starting in early 2020, the property insurance market was facing lots of challenges and there were several carriers that went out of business. I started to reach out to the FAIA team to present our issues and the concerns we were seeing in the marketplace. Then we had Hurricane Sally in Escambia County, and we relayed our consumers’ challenges to FAIA. I felt like I needed to do more to change the market to help the community and industry, so I got involved with the council. 

What are you most passionate about related to the committee’s mission? 

• The results that we’ve been seeing the last couple of years. We made some of the most changes on the legislative and tort side ever. And we’ve started to see the effect of them and the improvement in the market. I’m proud that the team was able to go and achieve all that success. 

What would you say to someone who is interested in being involved in the council? 

• Number one, you probably need to go to Capitol Days to get more involved with FAIA. You should try to learn, visit the Capitol, and listen to what the association is forecasting and the issues we’re facing. Number two, get involved on a local level and try to meet legislators in your area by going to fundraisers, local events, and other philanthropy events. At that point, they’ll start to know you on a first-name basis, and you can create a relationship that allows you to explain to them more in-depth about our issues.  

As the chair of this council, what is/was one of your priorities for this year? 

• The main thing for me has been to see more consumer protections. Ultimately, without the consumers, we don't exist, right? We’ve done a lot to help the industry on a company and carrier level in the last few years, but I want to try to see that consumer voices are heard. That’s what I hope to achieve.  

What’s one thing people would be surprised to learn about you? 

• People would be surprised to know I used to play rock and roll music on my guitar when I was a young kid.  

The Legislative and Advocacy Council works to improve the insurance industry in Florida by recommending actions to the FAIA Board and encouraging other members to be politically involved in causes affecting the independent agency system. This council analyzes trends and issues, proposes actions to benefit agents and consumers, and fights against harmful regulations with the goal of creating a healthy and competitive insurance environment, in line with FAIA's mission.  

If you want to get involved or volunteer with this council, check out their webpage to learn more and email Melissa Weaver to get started.