TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – On Thursday, Florida lawmakers got busy by approving their first big slew of bills.
The bevy of bills addresses subjects like drug use, Constitutional amendments, and even the newly coined “Gulf of America.”
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These bills were approved in either the state House of Representatives or Senate, meaning they must still be reviewed in the opposite house of the Legislature before going to Gov. Ron DeSantis for signature.
The list of bills is as follows:
HB 259 — Fentanyl Awareness Day
House Bill 259 aims to designate August 21 each year as “Fentanyl Awareness and Education Day.”
The bill would encourage state agencies, local governments and public schools to promote awareness of the dangers of fentanyl and potential overdoses.
If approved, the bill will take effect on July 1.
HB 299 — Elevator Accessibility
House Bill 299 specifies that only one support rail inside an elevator must be continuous and at least 42 inches long.
This would change the current rules, which dictate that all inside rails in an elevator meet these requirements.
If approved, the bill will take effect on July 1.
HB 355 — Opioid Treatments in Schools
House Bill 355 would allow public schools to buy a supply of any FDA-approved emergency opioid antagonist for situations where a student experiences an overdose.
Current rules only specify that these schools can purchase naloxone for these emergencies.
If approved, the bill will take effect on July 1.
HB 479 — Leaving the Scene of a Crash
House Bill 479 would allow a court to order drivers who fled the scene of a crash after striking property to make restitution to the property’s owner.
If approved, the bill will take effect on Oct. 1.
HB 513 — Electronic Court Orders
House Bill 513 would require clerks of court to electronically submit the following within six hours of being issued to a local sheriff’s office:
- A court order for involuntary examination
- A summons related to a petition for involuntary services
- A court order requiring a hearing to be held on a petition for a risk protection order, a copy of the petition, and a notice of hearing
- A copy of notice of hearing, the petition, and the temporary ex parte risk protection order or final risk protection order
If approved, the bill will take effect on July 1.
HB 519 — Controlled Substances
House Bill 519 would allow certain supervised paramedics to administer controlled substances when providing emergency services.
If approved, the bill will take effect immediately.
HB 549 / HB 575 — Gulf of America
House Bill 549 would require state agencies to update their geographic materials to reflect the new federal designation of “Gulf of America.”
This requirement extends to public and charter schools.
If approved, the bill will take effect on July 1.
HB 615 — Electronic Notice to Tenants
House Bill 615 would allow landlords to deliver notices to tenants electronically if both parties agree to the method.
Under this bill, both tenants and landlords would be allowed to revoke such an agreement simply by providing written notice to the other party.
If approved, the bill will take effect on July 1.
HB 649 — Nurse Anesthetists
House Bill 649 would allow autonomous certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNA) to perform the following procedures:
- Conducting pre-anesthesia evaluations
- Administering the anesthetic as appropriate
- Monitoring and interpreting patient’s vital signs
- Managing the patient during surgery and in recovery
If approved, the bill will take effect on July 1.
HB 655 — Pet Insurance
House Bill 655 would amend state statutes to include pet insurance in the definition of “property insurance.”
More specifically, the bill would include coverage for accidents involving pets or when pets fall ill.
The bill also seeks a myriad of changes to disclosure requirements and regulations, such as mandating that pet insurance agents avoid misrepresenting wellness programs as pet insurance.
If approved, the bill will take effect on Jan. 1, 2026.
HB 693 — Capital Felonies
House Bill 693 would let juries consider other factors when determining whether someone convicted of a capital felony is eligible for the death penalty.
These factors include whether the person was with other people for a school activity, a religious activity, or a public government meeting.
If approved, the bill will take effect on Oct. 1.
HB 791 — Surrendered Infants
House Bill 791 would allow certain hospitals and fire stations to use “infant safety devices” to accept surrendered infants.
Under this bill, such a device would have to be equipped with a surveillance system to monitor the device 24 hours a day.
If approved, the bill will take effect on July 1.
HB 1099 — Arresting People with Significant Medical Conditions
House Bill 1099 specifies that a law enforcement officer may use his/her discretion to determine whether to make an immediate arrest of someone with a “significant medical condition.”
Under the bill, such a person would have to be a patient at a hospital, nursing home or assisted living facility.
The bill also specifies that officers making such an arrest consider whether the person is an active threat to him/herself or others.
If approved, the bill will take effect on July 1.
HB 1145 — Workforce Education
House Bill 1145 would expressly allow charter schools to receive funds under the CAP Program.
The bill would also require school districts to expand their money-back guarantee programs to cover six workforce education programs, as opposed to the three mandated under current rules.
If approved, the bill will take effect on July 1.
HB 1205 — Constitutional Amendments
House Bill 1205 aims to impose new requirements for the state’s ballot initiative process for amending the state Constitution.
Some of these changes include the following:
- Mandates that petitions collect details from voters like driver’s license numbers to verify their identities
- Requires petition sponsors to submit a $1 million bond after reaching certain signature thresholds
- Shortens the deadlines for petition forms to be delivered to election supervisors from 30 days to 10 days
- Allows voters to revoke their signatures on petitions
- Establishes criminal penalties for violations of the initiative petition process
If approved, the bill will take effect immediately.
HB 1313 — Trust Funds
House Bill 1313 seeks to re-create the Resilient Florida Trust Fund for the associated state grant program.
If approved, the bill will take effect on July 1.
HB 4031 — City of Oviedo
House Bill 4031 would designate a special zone in the city of Oviedo as the “Oviedo Arts and Entertainment District.”
The bill would also set up an exception to the state’s Beverage Law by letting licensed businesses sell alcoholic beverages in open containers on the premises.
If approved, the bill will take effect immediately.
SB 56 — Weather Control Ban
Senate Bill 56 would ban weather-modifying activities like cloud seeding or solar radiation modification.
If approved, the bill will take effect on July 1.
SB 164 — Vessel Accountability
Senate Bill 164 would provide that an abandoned vessel be declared a public nuisance if it’s found to be at risk of becoming derelict three times within a two-year period.
The bill also aims to enhance penalties for violating anchoring laws.
If approved, the bill will take effect on July 1.
SB 166 — Public Schools
Senate Bill 166 seeks to streamline the administrative process for school districts by reducing regulations and increasing flexibility in policymaking.
Some of these changes are as follows:
- Allows students to pass fourth grade without passing the Algebra 1 and Grade 10 ELA assessments (the latter will count for part of their final grade)
- Schools can choose how to evaluate teachers to allow more focus on student performance
- Establishes fewer rules for schools to follow, making it easier to manage finances and construction projects
If approved, the bill will take effect on July 1.
SB 234 — Jason Raynor Act
Senate Bill 234 aims to expand protections for law enforcement by prohibiting people from using or threatening force against officers during arrest, regardless of whether the arrest is valid.
Under this bill, someone convicted of manslaughter against certain law enforcement officers must be sentenced to life imprisonment.
The bill is named after Jason Raynor, a Daytona Beach police officer who was killed in 2021.
If approved, the bill will take effect on Oct. 1.
SB 282 — Warranty Associations
Senate Bill 282 aims to revise financial requirements for service warranty and home warranty associations.
If approved, the bill will take effect on July 1.
SB 316 — Limited Liability Companies
Senate Bill 316 would amend the Florida Revised Limited Liability Company Act.
More specifically, the bill would provide for the creation of a protected series LLC under state law.
If approved, the bill will take effect on July 1, 2026.
SB 384 — Annexing State-Owned Lands
Senate Bill 384 would amend the procedure for municipal annexation to require a municipality to notify each member of the local delegation prior to the first public hearing on a proposal to annex state-owned lands.
If approved, the bill will take effect on July 1.
SB 421 — Peer Support for First Responders
Senate Bill 421 seeks to expand the definition of a “first responder” to include law enforcement agency support personnel.
The change would give these personnel the same access to peer support services and ensuring they receive the same confidentiality protections as other first responders.
If approved, the bill will take effect on July 1.
SB 472 — Education in Correctional Facilities
Senate Bill 472 would require that inmates who successfully complete classes that are necessary for licensure in certain professions to receive credit toward licensure.
If approved, the bill will take effect on July 1.
SB 480 — Nonprofit Agricultural Organizations
Senate Bill 480 would let nonprofit agricultural organizations offer medical benefit plans, though it specifies that such plans don’t actually constitute insurance.
If approved, the bill will take effect on July 1.
SB 538 — State Courts System
Senate Bill 538 would allow a circuit court duty judge to hold and conduct hearings in places other than his/her chambers.
The bill also aims to repeal the $1,500 per day limit on fees paid to a court-appointed arbitrator, as well as letting judges authenticate documents containing written statements under oath made by others without using a personal or court seal.
If approved, the bill will take effect on July 1.
SB 878 — Probation for Misdemeanors
Senate Bill 878 aims to amend state statutes regarding misdemeanor probation services.
Under this bill, courts would be allowed to sentence a defendant who is found guilty of any misdemeanor to a term of probation of up to one year if a controlled substance was a significant factor in the crime.
If approved, the bill will take effect on July 1.