On June 13, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed House Bill 1549 into law. Among other things, the bill has removed the “diligent effort” requirement applicable to surplus lines agents.

Zachary Lerner
Join Us for Our Next InsurTech Legal Academy Webinar: A Deep Dive Into Producer, Adjuster and Reinsurance Intermediary Licensing Regimes
Join Locke Lord, InsurTechNY and InsurTech Hartford for their next InsurTech Legal Academy webinar series on common licensing issues that InsurTechs face when starting up or expanding their insurance-related activities. Expectations differ between the various states, as well as the NAIC, regarding what activities do and do not require insurance producer and surplus lines broker licensure (both on an individual and entity level). Moreover, even if an InsurTech is not making a final decision on whether to accept or deny a claim, it may “cross the line” into licensable activity as well. Zach and Moya will also touch on nuances in the reinsurance intermediary space as well, which differ substantially from insurance producer licensing standards in a number of states.…
Excess and Surplus Lines Law Manual 2024 Update
We are happy to provide the 2024 edition of our Excess and Surplus Lines Law Manual. This edition reflects all of the pertinent changes in the surplus lines laws and regulations of the 50 states and U.S. territories during the past year. The website provides you with the ability to click on the states and territories of interest to view the updates, and a PDF of the entire manual.…
Join Us for our Next InsurTech Legal Academy Webinar: Inducements and Rebates for InsurTechs
Join Locke Lord, InsurTechNY and InsurTech Hartford for their next InsurTech Legal Academy webinar series on legal and regulatory issues impacting the InsurTech industry. Each quarter, we’ll tackle a new important topic.…
A Deep Dive into the Diligent Effort (Search) Requirement
The excess and surplus lines insurance market is a rapidly-growing avenue for the placement of insurance policies in the United States. Many alien (non-U.S.) insurance carriers write surplus lines insurance coverage via their inclusion on the NAIC IID Quarterly Listing of Alien Insurers, and there has been exponential growth in the formation of “domestic surplus lines insurers” that are U.S.-based insurers authorized for the express purpose of writing only surplus lines insurance.…
Excess and Surplus Lines Law Manual 2023 Update
We are happy to provide the 2023 edition of our Excess and Surplus Lines Law Manual. This edition reflects all of the pertinent changes in the surplus lines laws and regulations of the 50 states and U.S. territories during the past year. The website provides you with the ability to click on the states and territories of interest to view the updates, and a PDF of the entire manual.…
You’re Invited: InsurTech Legal Academy Webinar Presented by Locke Lord and InsurTechNY
Join Locke Lord and InsurTechNY for their InsurTech Academy webinar series on legal and regulatory issues impacting the InsurTech industry. Each quarter, we’ll tackle a new important topic, starting with a primer on surplus lines insurance for InsurTechs.…
The Rise of the Domestic Surplus Lines Insurer
Zachary Lerner, Partner in Locke Lord’s New York office, authored an article in the New York Law Journal discussing the rise of the Domestic Surplus Lines Insurer (DSLI), key benefits of pursuing the formation or purchase of a DSLI and the associated challenges.…
Senate Banking Committee Chair Urges FIO And the NAIC To Monitor Private Equity and Affiliated Offshore Reinsurance in the Life Insurance Industry
Earlier this month, United States Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Chair of the Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, urged the Federal Insurance Office (FIO) and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) to examine the increasing role of private equity and alternative investment classes in the life insurance market as well as offshore reinsurance. …
Excess and Surplus Lines Law Manual 2022 Update
We are happy to provide the 2022 edition of our Excess and Surplus Lines Law Manual. This edition reflects all of the pertinent changes in the surplus lines laws and regulations of the 50 states and U.S. territories during the past year.…