WATCH: Legislative Leaders Discuss Lawsuit Abuse, Other Issues at NFIB Dinner, Small Business Day

March 30, 2023 Last Edit: June 5, 2025

It was a great opportunity for owners to learn more and speak about the issues affecting their businesses

WATCH: Legislative Leaders Discuss Lawsuit Abuse, Other Issues at NFIB Dinner, Small Business Day

Over 90 small business owners from across the state attended the annual NFIB Boots and Business Dinner on Tuesday, March 28, at the Governor’s Club in Tallahassee. This year’s keynote speaker was House Speaker Paul Renner, who discussed a host of small business issues including House Bill 837, historical legislation that promises to stop lawsuit abuse in Florida. Gov. Ron DeSantis signed it into law on Friday, March 24. Speaking with NFIB Legislative Director Tim Nungesser in the crowded meeting room, Speaker Renner said the measure would create a more predictable legal climate for small businesses and make Florida an even better place to locate a business. Other speakers at the dinner included Sen. Blaise Ingoglia and Sen. Travis Hutsen.

Thank you, Sen. Blaise Ingoglia, for making time to talk to our members at tonight’s @NFIB Boots & Business Dinner about what’s happening in this year’s session of the Florida Legislature! @GovGoneWild #SmallBusiness pic.twitter.com/RDbcCT4TAJ
— NFIB Florida (@nfib_fl) March 28, 2023

It was good hearing from Sen. Travis Hutson at last night’s @NFIB Boots & Business Dinner connecting #SmallBusiness owners with their elected leaders! pic.twitter.com/aiqn4mJ03d
— NFIB Florida (@nfib_fl) March 29, 2023

The next morning, at Small Business Day at the Capitol, small business owners greeted Rep. Tommy Gregory with a standing ovation. Gregory sponsored the lawsuit abuse reform bill.

Standing ovation this morning at @NFIB #SmallBusiness Day for House Judiciary Chair @tommygregoryFL to thank him for sponsoring #HB837, the bill to stop lawsuit abuse in Florida pic.twitter.com/gmBNbDgp9R
— NFIB Florida (@nfib_fl) March 29, 2023

Gregory, in turn, thanked NFIB members for advocating in support of the bill and told attendees it wasn’t easy to pass the measure in the face of such strong opposition from many in the legal community. Nungesser said media reports indicate county clerks statewide were slammed with lawsuits in the days before the reforms took effect. HB 837 makes Florida’s legal system more fair to defendants by:

Repealing one-way attorney fees in most cases, undercutting “you don’t pay if we don’t win” advertising claims.
Prohibiting plaintiffs from collecting an award if they are found to be more than 50% responsible for their own injuries.
Limiting “bad faith” claims, which is how overzealous trial lawyers win awards in excess of a business’s insurance policy limits.
Requiring “truth in damages” to stop bad doctors from colluding with unscrupulous trial lawyers to inflate medical damages.

Other speakers at Small Business Day included Rep. Tom Leek, Rep. Tom Fabricio, and Rep. Toby Overdorf.

Great update on the #Florida budget from Rep. Tom Leek at @NFIB #SmallBusiness Day! @leek_tj pic.twitter.com/9nDQTi8hDb
— NFIB Florida (@nfib_fl) March 29, 2023

Thank you Rep. @TPFabricio for taking time to engage with our members at @NFIB #SmallBusiness Day! pic.twitter.com/TVwaNr2Bxm
— NFIB Florida (@nfib_fl) March 29, 2023

NFIB State Executive Director Bill Herrle said, “We want to thank all of the legislators who support small business and took the time to come and engage with our members at the Boots and Business Dinner and Small Business. It was a great opportunity for owners to learn more and speak about the issues affecting them, their businesses, and their employees.”

Topics:

Guardian of Small Business

State:

Florida

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