CFO Jimmy Patronis Applauds Signing of the Focus on Florida’s Future Budget

~ Includes critical funding to support first responders and fund the My Safe Florida Home Program ~

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jimmy Patronis applauded Governor Ron DeSantis’ signing of Florida’s 2024 Focus on Florida’s Future Budget. The Department of Financial Services (DFS) requested and received critical funding including $7 million to bolster insurance consumer services and expand the agency’s footprint across the state. DFS also secured $200 million to fund the My Safe Florida Home program to harden homes against storms and help cut insurance costs. Lastly, the Department will receive $7 million to support the state fire college and arson lab and $10 million to aid veterans and first responders in their battle against PTSD.

CFO Jimmy Patronis said, “Florida is in the best fiscal health that it has ever been because, unlike Washington D.C., we live within our means and value taxpayer dollars. With the 2024 Focus on Florida’s Budget now signed into law, we will bolster the state’s insurance consumer services division with more than $7 million in funding to keep policyholders first in Florida. We will support first responders and bolster our state fire college with $7 million to improve the facilities where we train future firefighters. We will also help Floridians lower their insurance rates and protect their homes through the $200 million funding of the My Safe Florida Home program. This budget is yet another example of how Florida fights for freedom all while being stewards of taxpayer dollars by placing $17 billion in reserves and $500 million to pay down state debt. I’m also grateful for the Governor vetoing more than $1 billion to ensure we keep spending in check. Thank you to Governor DeSantis and the Florida Legislature for their leadership in ensuring that Florida remains the best place to work, raise a family and live the American dream.”

Insurance Consumer Advocate Tasha Carter said, “With the increase in funding for the highly successful My Safe Florida Home program and the creation of the Condominium Pilot Program, Governor DeSantis has once again demonstrated his commitment to Floridians and prioritization of mitigation. More consumers will have the opportunity to strengthen one of their largest assets – their home – while realizing insurance discounts, which are much-needed financial relief.”

CFO Jimmy Patronis’ Budget Victories

My Safe Florida Home Expansion
The budget includes $200 million in funding for the My Safe Florida Home Program. The program provides grants to policyholders to protect their homes from wind damage by keeping roofs, doors and windows intact during a hurricane. The program has successfully completed more than 100,000 free home inspections and obligated nearly $400 million in home hardening grants. Homeowners who reported a discount on their insurance premium following completion of the program, reported an average savings of $1,000.

Bolstering Insurance Consumer Services
To better serve Florida’s insurance policyholders, this budget will bolster the service provided by the Florida Department of Financial Services (DFS), Division of Insurance Consumer Services. Through the DFS budget request, $7 million was secured to strengthen the Division through increased staffing, field offices, mediation services, and training to better serve Florida insurance policyholders and short-circuits claims issues before they escalate, especially following disasters. This includes $560,000 in funding for Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools to better serve insurance consumers on the state’s insurance helpline and ensures carriers have personnel to troubleshoot and expedite claims.

Urban Search & Rescue Training
Following disasters, Florida Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) Task Forces are the first boots on the ground working to save lives. This budget provides $1 million to US&R teams for vital training and resources needed to protect Floridians when disasters strike.  

PTSD Support for Veteran’s and First Responders
The tragic impacts of PTSD within Florida’s first responder and military communities are real, and this year CFO Patronis fought for $10 million in funding for a cutting-edge Electroencephalogram (EEG) Pilot Program to assist veterans and first responder battling with PTSD. EEG is used to study changes in brain functioning associated with PTSD so first responders can better understand how to combat it’s affects and save more lives.

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About CFO Jimmy Patronis  
Chief Financial Officer and State Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis is a statewide elected official and a member of Florida’s Cabinet who oversees the Department of Financial Services. CFO Patronis works each day to fight insurance fraud, support Florida’s firefighters, and ensure the state’s finances are stable to support economic growth in the state. Follow the activities of the Department on Facebook (FLDFS) and X (@FLDFS).