Insurance bills near zero hour.

Byline: PAIGE ST. JOHN

When Republican leaders, under threat of veto, pulled a bill that would allow property insurers to raise rates without regulation, many consumers breathed a sigh of relief.

Not so fast.

Another bill, passed by the Senate on Friday, would allow property insurance companies to automatically raise rates as much as 10 percent a year.

And, unlike the earlier deregulation bill that died in the Senate under Crist's threat of veto, the one passed Friday has many of the elements Crist said he would embrace.

If the bill can win approval in the House next week and avoid Crist's veto, the average homeowner could see bills increase …