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CS/SB 68 — Health Facilities
by Health Policy Committee and Senator Martin
This summary is provided for information only and does not represent the opinion of any Senator, Senate Officer, or Senate Office.
Prepared by: Community Affairs Committee (CA)
Health Facilities Authorities
Health facilities authorities (HFAs) are special districts created by counties or municipalities pursuant to the Health Facilities Authority Law in ch. 154, F.S., to assist nonprofit health care organizations in financing the acquisition, construction, expansion, or renovation of health care facilities. HFAs primarily issue tax-exempt revenue bonds, which provide lower-cost financing options for eligible projects.
Current law allows HFAs to provide financial assistance only to not-for-profit corporations. As a result, a health facility or health care system that is organized as a not-for-profit limited liability company is precluded from receiving financing under the law. The bill authorizes not-for-profit limited liability companies and not-for-profit corporate parents of health systems to receive financing from HFAs.
The bill also authorizes HFAs to structure their transactions as loan agreements. Specifically, the bill authorizes HFAs to make mortgages, or other secured or unsecured loans, to or for the benefit of a health facility, in accordance with an agreement between the HFA and the facility. The bill requires such loans to be used to finance the cost of a project, or to refund or refinance outstanding bonds, obligations, loans, indebtedness, or advances issued, made, given, or incurred by a health facility.
Fentanyl Testing
The bill also amends a provision of CS/HB 1195, passed prior to CS/SB 68 during the 2025 Regular Session and which subsequently became law (Chapter 2025-19, L.O.F.). Effective July 1, 2025, CS/HB 1195 requires hospitals to test a patient for fentanyl if the patient is receiving emergency services and care for a possible drug overdose and the hospital conducts a urine test to assist in diagnosing the individual. If the urine test comes back positive for fentanyl, the hospital must perform a confirmation test and retain the results of the urine test and the confirmation test as part of the patient’s clinical record.
The bill (CS/SB 68) amends the fentanyl testing requirement in CS/HB 1195 to authorize, instead of require, hospitals to perform a confirmation test if a urine test comes back positive for fentanyl.
If approved by the Governor, or allowed to become law without the Governor’s signature, these provisions take effect on July 1, 2025.
Vote: Senate 36-0; House 113-0