summary
Introduced
12/08/2025
12/08/2025
In Committee
12/16/2025
12/16/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
2026 Regular Session
Bill Summary
An act relating to health care; providing a short title; repealing ss. 286.31, 286.311, and 381.00321, F.S., relating to the prohibited use of state funds for travel to another state for the purpose of abortion services, the prohibited use of state funds for sex-reassignment prescriptions or procedures, and the right of medical conscience of health care providers and health care payors, respectively; creating s. 381.027, F.S.; providing a short title; defining terms; requiring a covered entity to, by a specified date, adopt a policy relating to providing written notice of a complete list of its refused services to patients; providing requirements for such notice; requiring a covered entity to submit a complete list of its refused services to the Department of Health by a specified date; requiring a covered entity to notify the department within a specified timeframe after a change is made to such list; requiring a covered entity to submit the list, along with its application, if applying for certain state grants or contracts; providing a civil penalty; requiring the department to adopt rules; requiring the department to publish and maintain on its website a current list of covered entities and their refused hb681-00 services by a specified date; requiring the department to develop and administer a certain public education and awareness program; providing construction; providing for severability; amending s. 381.96, F.S.; revising the definition of the term "eligible client" and redefining the term "pregnancy and parenting support services" as "pregnancy support services"; revising department duties and contract requirements to conform to changes made by the act; removing an obsolete provision; amending s. 390.011, F.S.; deleting the definition of the term "fatal fetal abnormality"; amending s. 390.0111, F.S.; revising the timeframe in which a physician may perform a termination of pregnancy; revising exceptions; deleting the prohibition against the use of telehealth to perform abortions, the requirement that medications intended for use in a medical abortion be dispensed in person by a physician, and the prohibition against dispensing such medication through the United States Postal Service or any other courier or shipping service; amending s. 390.012, F.S.; revising rules the Agency for Health Care Administration may develop and enforce to regulate abortion clinics; repealing s. 395.3027, F.S., relating to patient immigration status data collection in hospitals; amending s. 409.905, hb681-00 F.S.; defining the terms "gender identity" and "transgender individual"; requiring the agency to provide Medicaid reimbursement for medically necessary treatment for or related to gender dysphoria or a comparable or equivalent diagnosis; prohibiting the agency from discriminating in its reimbursement on the basis of a recipient's gender identity or that the recipient is a transgender individual; amending s. 456.001, F.S.; deleting the definition of the terms "sex" and "sex-reassignment prescriptions or procedures"; amending s. 456.47, F.S.; deleting the prohibition against the use of telehealth to perform abortions, including medical abortions; repealing ss. 456.52 and 766.318, F.S., relating to sex-reassignment prescriptions and procedures and civil liability for provision of sex-reassignment prescriptions or procedures to minors, respectively; amending ss. 61.517, 61.534, 409.908, 409.913, 456.074, and 636.0145, F.S.; conforming provisions and cross- references to changes made by the act; providing an effective date.
AI Summary
This bill, titled the "Health Care Freedom Act," makes several significant changes to Florida's healthcare laws, primarily focusing on abortion services, gender-affirming care, and healthcare service transparency. The legislation repeals previous restrictions on state-funded travel for abortion services and sex-reassignment procedures, and introduces a new requirement for healthcare facilities to provide written notice of refused services to patients. The bill mandates that healthcare facilities submit a comprehensive list of services they will not provide to the Department of Health by October 1, 2026, and requires the department to publish this information online. Additionally, the bill modifies Medicaid coverage to explicitly include reimbursement for gender-affirming care, prohibiting discrimination based on gender identity. It removes previous restrictions on telehealth for abortion services and eliminates definitions related to sex-reassignment procedures. The bill also updates provisions related to pregnancy support services and removes certain legal constraints on medical procedures. Notably, the bill changes the timeframe for pregnancy terminations, shifting from a 6-week limit to allowing terminations up to the third trimester under specific medical circumstances. The legislation is set to take effect on July 1, 2026, and represents a significant shift in Florida's approach to healthcare services and patient rights.
Committee Categories
Health and Social Services
Sponsors (3)
Last Action
1st Reading (Original Filed Version) (on 01/13/2026)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/681 |
| BillText | https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/681/BillText/Filed/PDF |
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