Florida insurance news, Nov. 9, 2026: Citizens changes child-care-home and tenant-contents rules, 32 days left on flood insurance, workers’ comp comments close Tuesday, and a strong cold front ahead
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Four updates for South Florida drivers, homeowners and small-business owners this Monday. Each item is summarized in our own words, with a link to the original source.
1.New: Citizens opens eligibility to homes running a large family child care home and drops three tenant-contents policy types on Dec. 1
A Nov. 5 Citizens bulletin says that, effective Dec. 1, 2026, its underwriting rules follow Senate Bill 1690: “Family Day Care Home” becomes “Family Child Care Home,” and a dwelling where a licensed or registered large family child care home operates may now qualify for Homeowners, Dwelling, Mobile Home Dwelling and Mobile Homeowners policies, since running one can’t be the only reason for a denial. Citizens still provides no liability coverage for any child care operation, and Florida law (s. 627.70161) keeps child-care liability out of home policies unless it is added specifically or through a business rider or endorsement. In the same bulletin, Citizens says that, with OIR approval, it will stop offering DP-1, DP-3 and MDP-1 tenant contents policies because of low demand; existing ones will be nonrenewed, and an HO-4 or MHO-4 contents policy may be available if underwriting requirements are met.
Why it matters for you: If you care for children at home, the house policy and the child-care liability are two separate things; the statute lets an insurer decline or nonrenew a provider who doesn’t keep separate liability coverage for the operation. If you rent and hold a Citizens tenant-contents dwelling policy, watch your mail for a nonrenewal notice and plan replacement coverage before it ends. See our Citizens guide and business insurance page.
Source: Citizens Property Insurance Corporation,
Source: Florida Statutes (Online Sunshine),
2.Update: 32 days left on the flood insurance program, and the outgoing Congress has to act
FEMA’s reauthorization page says the National Flood Insurance Program is authorized only through 11:59 p.m. on Dec. 11, 2026, which is 32 days from today. After the Nov. 3 midterms, Democrats won majorities in both chambers, Insurance Business reports, but the new Congress doesn’t take office until January, so the NFIP deadline falls to the outgoing Congress in its post-election session; the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America is pressing for a long-term reauthorization or, at a minimum, no lapse. If it lapses, the Congressional Research Service says the program loses authority to issue new policies (existing ones run to the end of their term) and its Treasury borrowing limit drops from $30.425 billion to $1 billion, while FEMA says it would still pay valid claims with available funds. Congress has passed 36 short-term NFIP extensions since the end of fiscal 2017.
Why it matters for you: If you are buying, refinancing or renewing an NFIP policy in December, line up your flood coverage early rather than near Dec. 11. A new NFIP policy usually has a 30-day waiting period, and a lender can accept a qualifying private flood policy. See our flood insurance page.
Source: FEMA,
Source: Congressional Research Service,
Source: Insurance Business,
3.Update: Public comments on the 2027 workers’ comp rate filing close Tuesday at 5 p.m.
The Office of Insurance Regulation keeps its record on NCCI’s 2027 workers’ compensation filing open for public comment until Tuesday, Nov. 10, at 5 p.m. ET. NCCI requests an overall average change of −7.4% for the voluntary market on new and renewal policies effective Jan. 1, 2027; that is a request, not an approved rate. Comments go to ratehearings@floir.gov with “National Council on Compensation Insurance” in the subject line, and OIR notes that written comments, including email addresses, are public record. (Our Nov. 5–7 editions listed this deadline as Monday; the correct day is Tuesday.)
Why it matters for you: Your own workers’ comp cost depends on your class codes and payroll at renewal, not only on the statewide average. Contractors should also keep current certificates from every subcontractor; see today’s guide on collecting subcontractor certificates.
4.New: King tides fade this morning as a strong cold front heads for South Florida late this week
NWS Miami kept its Coastal Flood Statement for coastal Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach only until 9 a.m. today, with isolated minor flooding at this morning’s king-tide high tide. The 6:35 a.m. Area Forecast Discussion calls for a few showers early in the week, then rising chances of showers and thunderstorms as a strong cold front approaches and passes Thursday into Friday; computer models still disagree on its timing, and any stronger storms could bring heavy downpours and gusty winds. Behind the front, forecasters expect the coolest air of the season so far by next weekend. Miami-Dade’s next king-tide window is Nov. 23–26.
Why it matters for you: Slow down in heavy rain and avoid flooded streets; water damage to a car is generally a comprehensive claim (comprehensive vs. collision). If you want flood coverage before the next king tides, note that a new NFIP policy usually takes 30 days to start. See our king-tides guide.
Source: National Weather Service Miami,
Source: National Weather Service Miami,
Source: Miami-Dade County,
This week
National Hurricane Center, 7 a.m. Monday: no tropical cyclone formation is expected in the Atlantic, Caribbean or Gulf over the next seven days. Citizens offices are closed Wednesday, Nov. 11, for Veterans Day; claims can still be reported through myPolicy or the 24/7 claims line, 866-411-2742. OIR’s Hurricane Isaias claims page still shows data as of Nov. 6, which we covered on Saturday.
This roundup is general information, not legal advice or policy language. Each item is our own short summary of the linked original report; details can change after publication, so check the source for the full story. Coverage depends on the terms, limits and exclusions of your policy. Talk with a licensed agent about your situation.