With the deadline to register for healthcare several weeks behind us, the last thing many of us want to think about right now is insurance.  Although Obamacare registration may have come and gone, there is another important piece of insurance legislation on the horizon in the State of Florida, one that aims to protect residents’ second amendment rights.

You may be wondering what in the world gun ownership has to do with insurance rates and eligibility, and that’s precisely what legislators themselves have been wondering.  In response to scattered reports of “insurance discrimination,” state Congressmen Matt Gaetz and Tom Lee introduced Bill 424 with the intention of protecting gun owners’ rights.

The bill, which has now received heavy support in the Florida House and Senate, makes it illegal for insurance companies to deny coverage, refuse policy renewal, or increase rates based on whether or not a person owns a gun.  Furthermore, insurers cannot share information with third parties regarding the gun-owning status of their clients.

Senators Gaetz and Lee both have cited insurance firms who have inquired specifically about gun ownership as a part of the insurance screening process, even naming one company that allegedly canceled a man’s policy because of the armaments he kept in his home.

Proponents of the bill, including the National Rifle Association, are hopeful that Bill 424 will pass and help to prevent any unfair obstacles for policy seekers in the future.

The Senate approved the bill with a vast majority vote in March, and the House just passed Bill 424 with a 74-44 majority.  The next stop is Governor Rick Scott’s desk for the bill to be signed into law.

What does this mean for you?  The passage of Bill 424 would be good news for gun owners.  If you own legal firearms and ammunition, you will no longer need to fear the sudden termination of your insurance policy because of it.  Owning a gun will no longer threaten a Florida resident’s chances of approval for coverage.  After Bill 424 becomes law, it will no longer be necessary for insurers to ask whether or not you own a gun.

It is no small task to stay current with the latest state legislature, but knowing your rights in the eyes of the law is  important to your personal safety and liberty.  We’re here to keep you up to speed with the latest news in Florida state law so you know where you stand.