AM Best to Hold Briefing on Florida Property Insurance Market
AM Best has announced that it will host a complimentary analytical briefing focused on the current state of Florida’s property and casualty insurance market as the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season approaches. Scheduled for Thursday, May 21, 2026, the event will bring together AM Best analysts and leading industry experts to discuss the evolving insurance landscape in one of the nation’s most closely watched and catastrophe-exposed markets.
The briefing, titled “AM Best’s Analytical Briefing – The State of Florida Property Market,” comes at a critical time for insurers, brokers, reinsurers, policyholders, and investors. Florida’s insurance market has undergone significant transformation in recent years as carriers continue responding to rising catastrophe exposure, escalating reinsurance costs, legal system reforms, and shifting market competition. With hurricane season beginning June 1, the discussion is expected to provide timely insights into the market’s preparedness and long-term stability.
Florida remains one of the most challenging property insurance markets in the United States due to its high concentration of coastal risks, frequent severe weather events, and historically elevated litigation activity. In recent years, lawmakers and regulators have introduced a series of reforms aimed at improving market conditions, reducing legal abuse, stabilizing insurer performance, and encouraging private market participation.
The AM Best briefing will examine how those reforms are impacting the market today and whether they are likely to produce lasting improvements over time.
One of the key topics to be discussed is the changing market dynamic following Florida’s legislative reforms. Industry stakeholders have closely monitored the effects of these measures, which were designed to curb excessive litigation and reduce financial pressure on insurers operating in the state. Panelists are expected to analyze whether these reforms are beginning to improve underwriting profitability, attract capital back into the market, and create a healthier competitive environment.
Another major area of focus will be the June 1 reinsurance renewals, which are particularly important for Florida insurers given their heavy dependence on catastrophe reinsurance protection. Reinsurance costs and availability directly affect insurers’ ability to write business, manage risk exposure, and maintain financial stability during hurricane season.
Industry participants will discuss how global reinsurance market conditions are shaping pricing, capacity, and coverage terms for Florida carriers in 2026. The outcome of these renewals is expected to have a significant influence on policy pricing, insurer profitability, and market confidence moving forward.
The briefing will also explore increasing levels of competition and the formation of new insurance companies in Florida. After years of market instability and carrier insolvencies, recent signs of renewed market interest have emerged. Some insurers are expanding operations, while new entrants are seeking opportunities within the state.
Experts participating in the event will examine whether this increased competition signals growing confidence in the market or if significant risks remain that could continue challenging insurers operating in Florida.
Another important topic on the agenda is operating performance trends within the Florida property insurance sector. This includes discussion around the current rate environment, profitability pressures, underwriting results, and the broader impact of inflation and catastrophe losses on insurer balance sheets.
Panelists will also evaluate the ongoing depopulation program at Citizens Property Insurance Corporation, the state-backed insurer of last resort. Citizens has grown significantly in recent years as private insurers reduced exposure or exited the market. State officials have since focused on transferring policies back into the private market to reduce the concentration of risk held by Citizens.
The effectiveness and sustainability of this depopulation strategy will be a major point of discussion during the briefing, particularly as private insurers attempt to expand their market share while maintaining financial discipline.
Litigation trends will also be addressed during the event. Historically, Florida has experienced exceptionally high levels of property insurance litigation compared to other states, contributing to rising claims costs and insurer losses. Although recent legislative reforms were intended to reduce lawsuit frequency and abusive claims practices, industry observers continue monitoring whether meaningful long-term improvements are occurring.
The panel is expected to provide insight into current litigation patterns and discuss whether legal reforms are successfully improving insurer operating conditions.
A broader discussion regarding the sustainability of recent legislative actions will round out the briefing. While many industry participants have welcomed the reforms introduced over the past several years, questions remain about whether these measures will be sufficient to create lasting market stability in the face of ongoing catastrophe exposure and economic uncertainty.
AM Best Senior Associate Editor John Weber will moderate the discussion and lead a panel featuring experts from across the insurance and risk management sectors.
The panelists include Lauren Magro, senior financial analyst at AM Best, who will provide analytical perspectives on insurer performance and market trends. Joining her will be Chris Dittman, executive managing director at Aon, who brings extensive expertise in reinsurance and risk management. Dave Newell, vice president of membership and industry relations at the Florida Association of Insurance Agents, will also participate, offering insight into agent and broker perspectives within the Florida insurance market.
The one-hour briefing is being offered free of charge and is intended to provide valuable information for insurance professionals, market analysts, investors, brokers, and other stakeholders monitoring Florida’s evolving property insurance landscape ahead of hurricane season.
AM Best is widely recognized as a global credit rating agency, news publisher, and data analytics provider specializing in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company operates in more than 100 countries and maintains regional offices in cities including London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Mexico City. Through its research, ratings, and analytical events, AM Best continues to provide insight into global insurance market conditions and emerging industry trends.
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