SESSION 2026: 3rd Legislative Committee Week

Capitol Update: Quick highlights of health care issues discussed as the Florida Legislature moves toward the start of the 2026 Legislative Session.

Provided by Toni Large, Large Strategies

House Health & Human Services Committee

Chair: Rep Josie Tomkow, R, Auburndale

• The application for the Rural Health Transformation Program was submitted by the Agency, on November 3, 2025, to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

• CMS will review applications and announce awards by December 31, 2025, with funding distributed beginning in calendar year 2026 and continuing through 2030.

AHCA Press Release: Florida Submits Application to Federal Rural Health Transformation Program 

Review AHCA's full briefing HERE

House Health Care Budget

Chair: Rep Alex Andrade, R, Pensacola

Presentation on Medicaid Managed Care Plan Performance

- Agency for Health Care Administration

Review AHCA's full Medicaid briefing HERE

Other Health Care Briefings this Week

House Human Services Subcommittee

Implementation briefing on HB 7021 (2024) Mental Health and Substance Abuse (Maney) by representatives of the Department of Children and Families.

House Health Care Facilities & Systems Subcommittee

Implementation briefing by the Agency on Health Care Administration:

- HB 1085 (2025) Children's Medical Services (Oliver)

- HB 1227 (2025) Medicaid Enrollment for Permanently Disabled Individuals (Tramont)

- HB 1529 (2025) Home Health Aides for Medically Fragile Children Program (Tramont)

Health Professions & Programs Subcommittee

Briefing on the Florida Rare Disease Council, Pediatric Rare Disease Grant Program and the Sunshine Genetics Act Pilot Program by the Department of Health.

Health Care Bills Debated

House Education & Employment Committee

HB 121 Nursing Education Programs by Rep Toby Overdorf

Members asked how state agencies would coordinate to crack down on fraudulent programs, questioned whether uniform admission standards exist, and emphasized the need to protect students from incurring debt without passing the NCLEX. In debate, they largely supported raising standards to ensure quality instruction, strengthen oversight, and address Florida’s nursing shortage.

House Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee

HB 145 Suits Against the Government by Rep McFarland

Raises sovereign immunity caps in multiple phases, reaching as high as $600,000 per individual claim and $1.2 million per incident after October 1, 2031.

No member posed questions to the sponsor. In debate, Reps. Dean Black (R) and Michael “Mike” Gottlieb (D) emphasized fairness and modernizing sovereign immunity caps.

House Industries & Professional Activities Subcommittee

HB 197 Employment Eligibility by Rep Jacques

Require all private employers to use the E-Verify system beginning July 1, 2026.

Members asked about E-Verify’s accuracy, the financial and procedural impact on small businesses, and how enforcement would be handled; supporters emphasized that E-Verify is free and efficient, while critics raised concerns about database errors, burdens on employers, and the need for comprehensive immigration reform.

Senate Judiciary

SB 164 Civil Liability for the Wrongful Death of an Unborn Child by Senator Grall

Include unborn children under wrongful death claims while prohibiting actions against mothers and medical providers providing lawful care.

Members questioned whether the measure encourages wrongful death suits against medical providers, businesses, or even supportive friends, focusing on concerns about lawsuits from rapists or abusive partners and the speculative nature of possible damages. Advocates argued the bill codifies consistent legal remedies for unborn children and stressed that lawful medical care and the mother remain exempt from liability.

Health Care Bills Filed THIS Week

HB 6003        Recovery of Damages for Medical Negligence Resulting in Death by Trabulsy

SB 0202         Mandatory Human Reviews of Insurance Claim Denials by Bradley

HB 0173        Parental Rights by Kendall

SB 0166         Parental Rights (Grall)

SB 0196         Uterine Fibroid Research Database by Sharief

HB 0121        Nursing Education Programs by Overdorf

HB 0137        Coverage for Mammograms and Supplemental Breast Cancer Screenings by Hart

HB 0093        Protection from Surgical Smoke by Woodson

SB 0162         Protection From Surgical Smoke (Davis)

HB 0081        Postsurgical Recovery Homes by Robinson, F.

SB 0192         Patient Funds Held in Trust by Chiropractic Physicians by Martin

SB 0190         Impact of Perimenopause and Menopause on Women’s Health by Sharief

HB 0161        Impact of Perimenopause and Menopause on Women’s Health (Hinson)

HB 0169        Acupuncture by Alvarez, J.

SB 0188         Medical Examiners’ Duties by García

SB 0186         Student Health and Safety by García

HB 0163        Access to Medicaid Providers by Robinson, F.

SB 0040         Medicaid Providers by Sharief

HB 0155        Mental Health Programs for Gun Violence Prevention by Hinson

HB 0153        Reports of Child Abuse, Abandonment, or Neglect by Sirois

HB 0151        Licensure by Endorsement to Practice Dentistry and Dental Hygiene by Conerly

SB 0152         Medicaid Provider Networks by Harrell

SB 0148         Temporary Licensure of Anesthesiologist Assistants by Harrell

SB 0146         Use of Artificial Intelligence by State Agencies by Harrell

SB 0138         Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Autonomous Practice by Truenow

SB 0136         Protections for Public Employees who use Medical Marijuana as Qualified Patients by Polsky

SB 0130         Protection of Parental Rights by Polsky

HB 0047        Specific Medical Diagnoses in Child Protective Investigations by Bartleman

SB 0042         Specific Medical Diagnoses in Child Protective Investigations (Sharief)

SB 0046         Nonparticipating and Out-of-network Nurse Registries and Home Health Agencies by Sharief

SB 0054         Use of Substances Affecting Cognitive Function by Sharief

HB 0021        Pub. Rec./Medical Examiners by Kendall

Full Listing of ALL Health Care Bills before the Legislature CLICK HERE