TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Friday signed another 20 bills into law that cover a variety of issues, including insurance, medical payments and sexual assault evidence.
The new laws signed on Friday include:
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HB 215 — Risk Retention Groups
House Bill 215 lets motor vehicle coverage issued by a risk retention group (RRG) satisfy financial requirements under the state’s motor vehicle law.
RRGs are a type of liability insurance company owned by its members. They usually let businesses with similar insurance needs pool their risks under state and federal laws.
The law goes into effect on July 1.
HB 287 — Transportation
House Bill 287 addresses several issues related to transportation in the state, primarily as it relates to FDOT and the DHSMV.
For example, the law limits the amount of fuel tax revenues and motor vehicle license-related fees that can be spent on public transit projects.
Other changes include the following:
- Requires the DHSMV to annually review major traffic law changes each year so that driving course content can be modified accordingly
- Motor vehicles used for the performance of work on an FDOT road/bridge project must be registered in compliance with state standards
- Amends provisions related to funding a fire station along the Alligator Alley toll road
- Amends provisions that a property owner’s right of first refusal for property that FDOT acquired but later determined is no longer needed for a transportation facility
The law goes into effect on July 1.
HB 437 — Anchoring Limitation Areas
House Bill 437 expands on parts of Biscayne Bay in Miami-Dade County, which are designated as anchoring limitation areas.
“Anchoring” refers to when boaters seek and use a safe harbor on a public waterway for an indefinite period using an anchor.
Previously, Florida law designated certain areas that are densely populated with narrow waterways as “anchoring limitation areas.” When in these areas, people are prohibited from anchoring between a half-hour after sunset and a half-hour before sunrise.
This law designates sections of Biscayne Bay between Palm Island and State Road A1A; and between San Marino Island and Di Lido Island as anchoring limitation areas.
The law goes into effect on July 1.
HB 935 — Home Health Care Services
House Bill 935 allows Medicaid to pay for home health services.
According to Legislative analysts, this will be allowed if ordered by advanced practice registered nurses or physician assistants.
The law goes into effect on July 1.
HB 1065 — Substance Abuse Treatment
House Bill 1065 amends requirements for substance abuse treatment policies.
For starters, the law prohibits a “recovery residence” — used in the treatment of substance abuse — from denying access solely on the basis that a person has been prescribed federally approved medication for the treatment of a substance abuse disorder.
In addition, the law increases the number of residents whom a recovery residence administrator may actively manage at a given time from 100 to 150.
The law also increases the timeframe for a certified recovery residence to find a new administrator if one is removed from 30 days to 90 days.
The law goes into effect on July 1.
HB 1083 — Permanency for Children
House Bill 1083 seeks to create a more efficient, less costly adoption process.
According to analysts, the law streamlines the adoption process for orphaned children so long as they already know the prospective guardian.
In addition, this law expands the criteria for Post-Secondary Education and Support (PESS), Aftercare, and Extended Guardianship and Adoption Assistance Programs, which aim to make it easier for those ages 18 - 23 to receive benefits as they transition out of foster care.
The law also expands eligibility for adoption incentives and increases the award amounts.
The law goes into effect on July 1.
HB 1335 — Department of Business and Professional Regulation
House Bill 1335 makes various changes regarding the DBPR and its policies.
Applicants and licensees will be required to create and maintain an online account to communicate with the DBPR if they’re part of the tobacco, nicotine, alcohol, CPA, or elevator industries.
Furthermore, the law removes certain requirements and provisions for practices like barbers, cosmetologists, pilots, specialty electrical contractors and asbestos abatement professionals.
The law goes into effect on July 1.
HB 1503 — Citizens Property Insurance
House Bill 1503 makes certain changes to Citizens Property Insurance, including:
- Surplus Lines: Surplus line insurers meeting state standards may take out policies from Citizens issued on homes that aren’t primary residences or homesteaded properties.
- Flood Coverage: Citizens policyholders who must purchase flood insurance for coverage eligibility are required to buy only dwelling coverage for a flood loss — rather than dwelling and contents coverage. This rule took effect upon the bill’s signing.
- Combining Accounts: The law eliminates unnecessary statutory language now that Citizens has combined the Personal Lines Account, Commercial Lines Account and Coastal Account.
- Operations and Management: Citizens’ executive director may appoint a designee to act as the agency head, and Citizens can share information with the NICB to help fight insurance fraud.
This law goes into effect on July 1.
HB 1561 — Office Liposuction Surgeries
House Bill 1561 involves more restrictions on physicians offering liposuction services out of their offices.
Currently, physicians are required to register their offices with the Department of Health if they’re performing liposuction procedures under certain conditions. Under this law, they will have to register regardless of whether the fat is temporarily or permanently removed.
Furthermore, fines are increased to $5,000 each time a physician performs such a procedure in an office that isn’t registered with the DOH. Previously, the fine was set at $5,000 per day, so the change will allow the DOH to go after physicians who violate the law several times within the same day.
The law went into effect upon being signed.
HB 1557 — Department of Environmental Protection
House Bill 1557 makes several changes involving the DEP, including:
- Requires each water management district (WMD) to develop rules by the end of 2025 to promote the reuse of reclaimed water
- Expands the types of projects undertaken by local governments that can be awarded funding by the Resilient Florida Grant Program.
- Requires the DEP to work on maintaining data on rising sea levels and statewide flood vulnerability
The law goes into effect on July 1.
HB 1611 — Insurance Changes
House Bill 1611 makes several changes to the state’s insurance rules, including:
- Data Reporting: Property insurers must report information to the OIR on a monthly basis rather than a quarterly one. Data must be reported based on ZIP code instead of county.
- Public Housing Authority: The maximum per-loss occurrence amount that a PHA self-insurance fund may retain is changed from $350,000 to an amount that the fund can withstand, so long as it meets sustainability criteria.
- Cancellation Prohibition: Surplus lines insurers’ ability to cancel or non-renew personal and commercial lines residential insurance polices because of unrepaired damage after a hurricane or wind-loss following a declared emergency is restricted.
- Hurricane Modeling: Insurers using the average of at least two models in their rate filing must use the same average model throughout the state. If using a weighted average instead, insurers must justify their decision with the OIR.
- Citizens Property Insurance: This law eliminates a provision that lets Citizens charge up to 50% above the established rate for policyholders whose coverage was provided by an insurer who was determined to be “unsound.”
- Roof Inspections: Roofing contractors are added to the list of authorized inspectors whom an insurer can approve to inspect a roof.
This law goes into effect on July 1.
HB 7089 — Transparency in Health and Human Services
House Bill 7089 sets standards for medical billing to increase price transparency.
First, the law requires hospitals to publish the costs of 300 or more “shoppable services” or provide an online resource that meets federal guidelines. In addition, hospitals will be required to set up an internal process for patient billing disputes.
“Hospitals and (Ambulatory Surgical Centers) must disclose when an insured patient’s cost-sharing amount exceeds a non-insured person’s cash price or pay a maximum fine of $500 per incident,” the Legislative analysis reads. “The bill requires hospitals and ASCs to provide each patient with an estimate and requires health plans to provide an advanced explanation of benefits on certain timelines.”
Alongside these rules, the law prohibits hospitals from filing an “extraordinary collection action” for medical debt, and a three-year statute of limitation period for medical debt collection will be implemented on the day that the hospital refers the debt to a third party.
The law also exempts up to $10,000 of a debtor’s property from garnishment or other legal actions by a hospital to recover medical debt.
The law goes into effect on July 1.
SB 168 — Congenital Cytomegalovirus Screenings
Senate Bill 168 amends state statutes regarding newborn health screening requirements.
Under this law, all newborns born under 35 weeks and requiring cardiac care in a hospital with neonatal intensive care services must be tested for Cytomegalovirus (CMV).
CMB is a common virus, though a healthy immune system typically keeps it from making people sick. However, some babies with a congenital CMV infection can have health problems that are apparent at birth and which can result in death.
The law also requires that CMV screening and medically necessary follow-up reevaluations that lead to a diagnosis are covered for Medicaid patients.
In addition, children diagnosed with CMV must be referred to a primary care physician and the Children’s Medical Services Early Intervention Program for management of the condition.
The law goes into effect on July 1.
SB 186 — Neurodegenerative Diseases
Senate Bill 186 requires the state’s Surgeon General to establish a policy committee for progressive supranuclear palsy and other neurodegenerative diseases.
The committee is aimed at identifying the impact of these diseases on Floridians while providing recommendations to improve awareness, detection and outcomes.
Members of the committee must be appointed by Sept. 1, and the initial meeting must be held by Oct. 1.
The law goes into effect on July 1.
SB 364 — Public Service Commission Rules
Senate Bill 364 amends state statutes regarding rulemaking by the Public Service Commission.
Under this law, rules about the Florida Public Service Regulatory Trust Fund and assessment fees charged to Florida utilities can be adopted by the PSC without being subject to potential ratification under state law.
The law goes into effect on July 1.
SB 366 — Gas Safety Law of 1967
Senate Bill 366 revises the maximum civil penalties for violating Florida’s Gas Safety Law of 1967.
Under SB 366, maximum penalties are increased from $25,000 to $266,015 for each violation for each day that a violation persists. This can reach over $2.6 million in total for any related series of violations.
The law goes into effect on July 1.
SB 532 — Securities
Senate Bill 532 amends the Securities and Investor Protection Act.
Many of the changes are aimed at improving investor protection through the Securities Guaranty Fund and providing more opportunities for investment within the state.
According to Legislative analysts, the changes were recommended by a Florida task force that was aimed at increasing the ability of small businesses in the state to raise capital.
There were also several small changes regarding business financing provisions that were made to be consistent with recent federal rules.
The law goes into effect on Oct. 1.
SB 764 — Retention of Sexual Offense Evidence
Senate Bill 764 amends state statutes to specify the standards for storing sexual assault evidence kits (SAKs).
SAKs must be retained for a minimum of 50 years if they are collected from alleged victims who:
- do not report the sexual offense to law enforcement during the forensic physical exam
- do not ask to have the evidence tested
In addition, the medical facility or certified rape crisis center that collected the SAK must transfer the kit to the FDLE within 30 days of collection.
The FDLE must then store the evidence anonymously with a documented chain of custody.
The law goes into effect on July 1.
SB 998 — Liquefied Petroleum Gas
Senate Bill 998 makes several changes regarding liquefied petroleum (LP) gas.
Many of these changes are regulatory and aimed at ensuring proper handling and storage of LP.
The law goes into effect on July 1.
SB 1380 — Disability Transportation Services
Senate Bill 1380 involves special transportation services geared for those with disabilities.
The law revises the duties of FDOT regarding requirements in its grants and agreements with firms that provide paratransit services.
For example, the law requires that such providers:
- offer both pre-booking and on-demand service to paratransit service users
- establish reasonable time periods between a trip request and arrival, best practices for limiting travel times, and transparency about service quality
- offer specific technology-based ride booking and vehicle tracking services in accessible formats
- provide training to each paratransit driver for the professional development of staff providing direct services
The law goes into effect on July 1.
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