Michelle Smith, NFIB Leadership Council Chair and owner of Source 1 Specialties in Orlando, wrote an op-ed in the Orlando Sentinel titled, “Florida’s Lawsuit Abuse Reform is a Model for the South.” Smith writes on the importance of the 2023 tort reform legislation and why the Legislature should reject rolling those measures back.

She wrote, “Now, some in the Legislature have threatened to roll back these hard-won gains with legislation that would undo the very reforms that have turned Florida into a model for other states. The question is simple: why risk undoing the progress we’ve made? Florida’s legal reforms have saved consumers millions by cutting costs, specifically in the property and auto insurance sectors, while protecting small businesses from predatory legal practices.

“Currently, I serve as the NFIB member Chairman in Florida, and I hear firsthand from small business owners from across the nation who want to achieve the tort reform efforts Florida has. States like Alabama, Texas and Louisiana are closely watching Florida’s lead and are beginning to implement similar reforms. Under Gov. Brian Kemp, Georgia recently signed comprehensive tort reform into law, aiming to stabilize insurance costs, protect consumers, and reduce litigation abuse. Florida has become a model for good policy, leading the way in the South, and these neighboring states are looking to Florida as the prototype for creating a balanced and fair legal environment.”

Read her full column here.