Florida Gov. Rick Scott is interviewing a House lawmaker to fill the post of insurance commissioner. Rep. Bill Hager (R-Delray Beach) already has a good rapport with the Cabinet.
Hager is in the running to lead Florida’s Office of Insurance Regulation, and it appears some of his work this session may have laid a foundation for that next gig. He partnered with Florida’s CFO on a bill requiring insurers increase efforts to find life insurance beneficiaries.
“Under the leadership of Chief Financial Officer Atwater and the Office of Insurance Regulation,” Hager said during session, “a series of market conduct exams have been conducted across the past five years prosecuting this issue and settlements have been reached with 20-plus life insurers.”
Atwater is one of the Cabinet officials that will have to vote on Hager if Gov. Scott decides to nominate him. Hager held a similar position in Iowa in the late 1980s. Florida’s current insurance commissioner is leaving the post in May.
