summary
Introduced
01/08/2026
01/08/2026
In Committee
01/16/2026
01/16/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
2026 Regular Session
Bill Summary
An act relating to maternal health and early learning; providing a short title; creating s. 383.012, F.S.; requiring the Department of Health to establish a certain home visit program for expectant mothers; providing program requirements; requiring health insurance providers and Medicaid to provide coverage for the program, as applicable; amending s. 383.305, F.S.; authorizing the Agency for Health Care Administration to authorize reduced fees for an applicant or a licensee for certain birthing centers; amending s. 383.31, F.S.; deleting acceptance criteria for birthing centers; creating s. 383.55, F.S.; defining the term “blood pressure monitor and cuff”; requiring the department to provide a blood pressure monitor and cuff to an expectant mother for certain purposes and to repair the device and provide replacement parts as necessary; requiring the department to create certain educational materials; creating ss. 395.3043 and 395.6071, F.S.; defining the terms “doula” and “midwife”; authorizing a doula or midwife to be present with his or her client during childbirth at a hospital; creating s. 402.822, F.S.; requiring the Department of Children and Families to provide incentives for early learning centers to remain open 24 hours; specifying the incentives; creating ss. 458.355 and 459.075, F.S.; revising continuing education requirements for physicians to include education on certain Medicaid payments for pregnant women; amending s. 1002.83, F.S.; requiring that certain child care facilities be called early learning centers; requiring the Department of Education to ensure certain instruction and curriculum for early learning centers; amending s. 1003.21, F.S.; lowering the age at which children are required to attend school regularly; amending ss. 1002.53, 1002.61, and 1002.87, F.S.; conforming cross references; providing an effective date.
AI Summary
This bill, titled "The Motherhood Initiative," aims to improve maternal and early childhood health and learning by establishing a home visit program for expectant mothers through the Department of Health, which will include screenings for depression and substance abuse, blood pressure monitoring, and newborn care education, with coverage mandated for health insurance providers and Medicaid. It also allows for reduced fees for birthing centers in underserved areas, removes certain acceptance criteria for birthing centers, and requires the Department of Health to provide expectant mothers with blood pressure monitors and cuffs along with educational materials. The bill defines "doula" as a nonmedical professional providing childbirth support and "midwife" as defined by state law, and permits them to be present with clients during hospital births. Furthermore, it directs the Department of Children and Families to offer incentives for early learning centers to operate 24 hours a day to support essential workers, mandates continuing education for physicians on Medicaid payments for pregnant women, renames child care facilities receiving coalition support to "early learning centers" and requires the Department of Education to ensure appropriate instruction and curriculum, and lowers the compulsory school attendance age to 5 years old, with conforming changes to related early learning program eligibility and enrollment provisions.
Sponsors (1)
Last Action
Introduced (on 01/22/2026)
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/2026/1508 |
| BillText | https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/1508/BillText/Filed/HTML |
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