March 25 • 10:30 P.M.

The big news in Tallahassee today is the arrival of more than 700 Realtors for Great American Realtor Days. Over the next two days, Realtors will meet one-on-one with the state Senators and Representatives to obtain lower property taxes for second and vacation homeowners and commercial property owners. They’ll also campaign for lower property insurance rates and passage of a health care package sponsored by Sen. Peadon (SB 2534).

In other news:

The Senate Banking and Insurance Committee unanimously approved CFO Sink’s proposal to downsize the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund by $3 billion to reduce the risk to the state and business owners if or when a costly storm hits the state. Last year's Legislature expanded the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund — consumer-backed cheap coverage for private insurance companies against huge hurricane losses. Losses in the fund and Citizens deficits could mean assessments for all Florida policyholders to pay them off. And after nearly two hours of testimony by private property insurers, the committee also advanced SB 2860 by Sen. Jeff Atwater (R-North Palm Beach) which, among other things, continues a freeze on Citizens Property Insurance Corp. rates until Dec. 31, 2009. It would also repeal a law passed last year that prevents owners of $1 million homes to apply to Citizens Insurance.