Florida lawmakers are spending part of the special session this week on homeowners insurance.
One notable bill filed by state Sen. Corey Simon, R-Tallahassee, centers on hurricane relief and aims to add $175 million to the My Safe Florida Home Program.
"The program has been such an amazing success we ran out of money," state Rep. Toby Overdorf, R-Stuart, said. "That's why we're here and felt it was important to reauthorize and get some additional money because frankly it's helped out a lot of different folks."
The program offers state-paid inspections for wind mitigation to help reduce insurance bills and grants for qualified homeowners to make necessary repairs for storms.
"I had sent an email to let them know I was having difficulties with the system and all they said was, 'We're out of funds,'" Devii Pratt of Palm Beach County said.
She tried sending in an application online earlier this year.
She said she is still hoping to get through and eventually install new windows in her home, once the program has new funding.
Some Democrats are also pushing for a bill that would award $2,500 one-time grants to homeowners to help with premiums.
"It's a short-term solution, but we know that we have many families that are fiscally restrained," state Rep. Anna V. Eskamani, D-Orlando, said. "They cannot afford to maintain a home because of the rate of their property insurance."
However, Republicans in the majority seemed unsupportive. Overdorf said it "only puts a Band-Aid on an issue that needs surgery."