How would David Jolly's catastrophe fund be paid for?
It can be funded through a mix of forcing insurance companies to pay the taxes they avoid, a fee on real estate transactions, or existing tourist taxes.
The sources
A mix of forcing insurance companies to pay the taxes they currently avoid, a fee on real estate transactions, or existing tourist taxes.
The Legislature will be involved in creating the specific policies, including the funding.
Coverage does not begin until a fiscally sound amount of money is set aside and backup reinsurance for catastrophic storms is in place.
What is not in the plan
There is no annual charge on homeowners. There is no "$1,000 hurricane tax." The claim that there is comes from a Byron Donalds ad whose sources are a legislative feasibility study of a different proposal and an opinion blog post. Does David Jolly want a $1,000 hurricane tax?
Built before it covers anyone
The order matters. Florida creates the fund. The fund is built to a financially sound level and buys reinsurance for catastrophic storms. Only then does coverage become available, and only then do private insurers stop pricing hurricane risk into policies. In the end, the costs will be lower for Floridians, or it does not happen. Will the catastrophe fund raise costs for Floridians?
Frequently asked questions
Q. Do homeowners pay into the fund?
No. The plan funds it through insurance companies paying the taxes they currently avoid and through other sources that do not fall on homeowners.
Q. What are the other sources?
The campaign has named a fee on real estate transactions and existing tourist taxes, as part of a mix the Legislature would write into law.
Q. Who decides the final funding formula?
The Legislature. The campaign has said the Legislature will be involved in creating the specific policies, including the funding.
Q. When does the fund start covering homes?
After a fiscally sound amount of money is set aside and backup reinsurance is in place. Not before.
Where this comes from
The funding sources, the rollout order and the Legislature's role are from the Jolly campaign's published proposal and its September 2026 statement on the Donalds ads. The campaign's tourist tax proposal was reported by the Orlando Sentinel on September 6, 2026, and the three funding sources by the Miami Herald.
This page was last reviewed on September 15, 2026 and is re-verified as the story develops.