Florida Senate - 2026 SB 1508
By Senator Davis
5-01089A-26 20261508__
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to maternal health and early learning;
3 providing a short title; creating s. 383.012, F.S.;
4 requiring the Department of Health to establish a
5 certain home visit program for expectant mothers;
6 providing program requirements; requiring health
7 insurance providers and Medicaid to provide coverage
8 for the program, as applicable; amending s. 383.305,
9 F.S.; authorizing the Agency for Health Care
10 Administration to authorize reduced fees for an
11 applicant or a licensee for certain birthing centers;
12 amending s. 383.31, F.S.; deleting acceptance criteria
13 for birthing centers; creating s. 383.55, F.S.;
14 defining the term “blood pressure monitor and cuff”;
15 requiring the department to provide a blood pressure
16 monitor and cuff to an expectant mother for certain
17 purposes and to repair the device and provide
18 replacement parts as necessary; requiring the
19 department to create certain educational materials;
20 creating ss. 395.3043 and 395.6071, F.S.; defining the
21 terms “doula” and “midwife”; authorizing a doula or
22 midwife to be present with his or her client during
23 childbirth at a hospital; creating s. 402.822, F.S.;
24 requiring the Department of Children and Families to
25 provide incentives for early learning centers to
26 remain open 24 hours; specifying the incentives;
27 creating ss. 458.355 and 459.075, F.S.; revising
28 continuing education requirements for physicians to
29 include education on certain Medicaid payments for
30 pregnant women; amending s. 1002.83, F.S.; requiring
31 that certain child care facilities be called early
32 learning centers; requiring the Department of
33 Education to ensure certain instruction and curriculum
34 for early learning centers; amending s. 1003.21, F.S.;
35 lowering the age at which children are required to
36 attend school regularly; amending ss. 1002.53,
37 1002.61, and 1002.87, F.S.; conforming cross
38 references; providing an effective date.
39
40 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
41
42 Section 1. This act may be cited as “The Motherhood
43 Initiative.”
44 Section 2. Section 383.012, Florida Statutes, is created to
45 read:
46 383.012 Home visit program for expectant mothers.—
47 (1) The Department of Health shall expand the current home
48 visit program to include a home visit program for expectant
49 mothers within the Healthy Start program, which shall include
50 Healthy Start Care Coordination Programs.
51 (2) The program shall:
52 (a)1. Conduct screenings for expectant mothers for
53 depression and substance abuse disorders provided by a
54 registered nurse or licensed practical nurse licensed under part
55 I of chapter 464.
56 2. Refer at-risk expectant mothers for mental health
57 treatment.
58 (b) Ensure that an expectant mother is monitoring her blood
59 pressure and that the educational materials created under s.
60 383.55(3) are provided and reviewed with her.
61 (c) Include a 3-hour course on the care of a newborn
62 including, but not limited to, bathing, dressing, and feeding;
63 cardiopulmonary resuscitation; and setting up sleep routines for
64 the newborn and the mother which hospitals and birth centers
65 shall offer to a mother before going home with her newborn.
66 (3) Health insurance providers and Medicaid shall provide
67 coverage for the program, as applicable.
68 Section 3. Subsection (1) of section 383.305, Florida
69 Statutes, is amended to read:
70 383.305 Licensure; fees.—
71 (1) In accordance with s. 408.805, an applicant or a
72 licensee shall pay a fee for each license application submitted
73 under ss. 383.30-383.332 and part II of chapter 408. The amount
74 of the fee shall be established by rule. The Agency for Health
75 Care Administration may reduce the fees for an applicant or a
76 licensee under this section for birthing centers in rural and
77 other medically underserved areas.
78 Section 4. Section 383.31, Florida Statutes, is amended to
79 read:
80 383.31 Selection of clients; Informed consent.—
81 (1)(a) A birth center may accept only those patients who
82 are expected to have normal pregnancies, labors, and deliveries.
83 (b) The criteria for the selection of birth center clients
84 and the establishment of risk status shall be defined by rule of
85 the agency.
86 (2)(a) A patient may not be accepted for care at a birth
87 center until the patient has signed a client informed-consent
88 form.
89 (b) The agency shall develop a client informed-consent form
90 to be used by the center to inform the client of the benefits
91 and risks related to childbirth outside a hospital.
92 Section 5. Section 383.55, Florida Statutes, is created to
93 read:
94 383.55 Coverage of blood pressure monitors and cuffs.—
95 (1) As used in this section, the term “blood pressure
96 monitor and cuff” means a device designed for the purpose of
97 aiding in the treatment of hypertension by measuring blood
98 pressure levels through a validated blood pressure measurement
99 device at home or elsewhere outside of the clinic setting.
100 (2) The Department of Health shall provide a blood pressure
101 monitor and cuff for an expectant mother to monitor for
102 preeclampsia and shall provide all necessary repairs or
103 replacement parts for the blood pressure monitor and cuff.
104 (3) The department shall create educational materials on
105 the use of the blood pressure monitor and cuff, including, but
106 not limited to, the proper use of the blood pressure monitor and
107 cuff and the urgent maternal warning signs and symptoms provided
108 by the Hear Her campaign established by the United States
109 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
110 Section 6. Section 395.3043, Florida Statutes, is created
111 to read:
112 395.3043 Doula and midwife services.—
113 (1) As used in this section, the term:
114 (a) “Doula” means a nonmedical professional who provides
115 physical, emotional, and informational support to individuals
116 and families before, during, and after childbirth.
117 (b) “Midwife” has the same definition as in s. 467.003.
118 (2) A doula or midwife may be present with his or her
119 client during childbirth at a hospital.
120 Section 7. Section 395.6071, Florida Statutes, is created
121 to read:
122 395.6071 Doula and midwife services.—
123 (1) As used in this section, the term:
124 (a) “Doula” means a nonmedical professional who provides
125 physical, emotional, and informational support to individuals
126 and families before, during, and after childbirth.
127 (b) “Midwife” has the same definition as in s. 467.003.
128 (2) A doula or midwife may be present with his or her
129 client during childbirth at a rural hospital.
130 Section 8. Section 402.822, Florida Statutes, is created to
131 read:
132 402.822 Twenty-four hour early learning centers.—The
133 Department of Children and Families shall provide incentives for
134 early learning centers to remain open 24 hours for the children
135 of first responders, health care practitioners, and people
136 employed in other industries who work nontraditional hours.
137 Incentives for child care facilities may include, but need not
138 be limited to:
139 (1) Raising subsidy rates for child care outside of
140 traditional hours.
141 (2) Authorizing local agencies to restructure their subsidy
142 systems.
143 (3) Authorizing counties to create contract nontraditional
144 hours slots for child care providers or to create shared service
145 agreements.
146 Section 9. Section 458.355, Florida Statutes, is created to
147 read:
148 458.355 Continuing education; Medicaid payment
149 information.—The continuing education requirements prescribed by
150 the board for a physician under this chapter or chapter 459 must
151 include education on the mandatory Medicaid payments for a
152 pregnant woman for the duration of her pregnancy and the
153 postpartum period, consisting of the 12-month period beginning
154 on the last day of her pregnancy.
155 Section 10. Section 459.075, Florida Statutes, is created
156 to read:
157 459.075 Continuing education; Medicaid payment
158 information.—The continuing education requirements prescribed by
159 the board for a physician under this chapter or chapter 458 must
160 include education on the mandatory Medicaid payments for a
161 pregnant woman for the duration of her pregnancy and the
162 postpartum period, consisting of the 12-month period beginning
163 on the last day of her pregnancy.
164 Section 11. Subsection (15) of section 1002.83, Florida
165 Statutes, is amended to read:
166 1002.83 Early learning coalitions.—
167 (15)(a) Each school district shall, upon request of the
168 coalition, make a list of all individuals currently eligible to
169 act as a substitute teacher within the school district, pursuant
170 to rules adopted by the school district pursuant to s. 1012.35,
171 available to an early learning coalition serving students within
172 the school district.
173 (b) Child care facilities as defined in s. 402.302 may
174 employ individuals listed as substitute instructors for the
175 purpose of offering the school readiness program, the Voluntary
176 Prekindergarten Education Program, and all other legally
177 operating child care programs.
178 1. Child care facilities that receive support from early
179 learning coalitions shall be called early learning centers.
180 2. The Department of Education shall ensure appropriate
181 instruction and pacing of an approved curriculum for each early
182 learning center.
183 Section 12. Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) and subsection
184 (4) of section 1003.21, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
185 1003.21 School attendance.—
186 (1)(a)1. All children who have attained the age of 5 6
187 years or who will have attained the age of 5 6 years by February
188 1 of any school year or who are older than 5 6 years of age but
189 who have not attained the age of 16 years, except as otherwise
190 provided, are required to attend school regularly during the
191 entire school term.
192 2. Children who will have attained the age of 5 years on or
193 before September 1 of the school year are eligible for admission
194 to public kindergartens during that school year under rules
195 adopted by the district school board.
196 (4) Before admitting a child to kindergarten, the principal
197 shall require evidence that the child has attained the age at
198 which he or she should be admitted in accordance with the
199 provisions of paragraph (1)(a) subparagraph (1)(a)2. The
200 district school superintendent may require evidence of the age
201 of any child who is being enrolled in public school and who the
202 district school superintendent believes to be within the limits
203 of compulsory attendance as provided for by law; however, the
204 district school superintendent may not require evidence from any
205 child who meets regular attendance requirements by attending a
206 school or program listed in s. 1003.01(16)(b)-(e). If the first
207 prescribed evidence is not available, the next evidence
208 obtainable in the order set forth below shall be accepted:
209 (a) A duly attested transcript of the child’s birth record
210 filed according to law with a public officer charged with the
211 duty of recording births;
212 (b) A duly attested transcript of a certificate of baptism
213 showing the date of birth and place of baptism of the child,
214 accompanied by an affidavit sworn to by the parent;
215 (c) An insurance policy on the child’s life that has been
216 in force for at least 2 years;
217 (d) A bona fide contemporary religious record of the
218 child’s birth accompanied by an affidavit sworn to by the
219 parent;
220 (e) A passport or certificate of arrival in the United
221 States showing the age of the child;
222 (f) A transcript of record of age shown in the child’s
223 school record of at least 4 years prior to application, stating
224 date of birth; or
225 (g) If none of these evidences can be produced, an
226 affidavit of age sworn to by the parent, accompanied by a
227 certificate of age signed by a public health officer or by a
228 public school physician, or, if these are not available in the
229 county, by a licensed practicing physician designated by the
230 district school board, which states that the health officer or
231 physician has examined the child and believes that the age as
232 stated in the affidavit is substantially correct. Children and
233 youths who are experiencing homelessness and children who are
234 known to the department, as defined in s. 39.0016, shall be
235 given temporary exemption from this section for 30 school days.
236 Section 13. Subsection (2) of section 1002.53, Florida
237 Statutes, is amended to read:
238 1002.53 Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program;
239 eligibility and enrollment.—
240 (2) Each child who resides in this state who will have
241 attained the age of 4 years on or before September 1 of the
242 school year is eligible for the Voluntary Prekindergarten
243 Education Program during either that school year or the
244 following school year. The child remains eligible until the
245 child is admitted to kindergarten, or unless he or she will have
246 attained the age of 6 years by February 1 of any school year
247 under s. 1003.21(1)(a) s. 1003.21(1)(a)1.
248 Section 14. Subsection (2) of section 1002.61, Florida
249 Statutes, is amended to read:
250 1002.61 Summer prekindergarten program delivered by public
251 schools and private prekindergarten providers.—
252 (2) Each summer prekindergarten program delivered by a
253 public school or private prekindergarten provider must:
254 (a) Comprise at least 300 instructional hours;
255 (b) Not begin earlier than May 1 of the school year; and
256 (c) Not deliver the program for a child earlier than the
257 summer immediately before the school year for which the child is
258 eligible for admission to kindergarten in a public school under
259 s. 1003.21(1)(a) s. 1003.21(1)(a)2.
260 Section 15. Paragraph (c) of subsection (1) of section
261 1002.87, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
262 1002.87 School readiness program; eligibility and
263 enrollment.—
264 (1) Each early learning coalition shall give priority for
265 participation in the school readiness program as follows:
266 (c) Subsequent priority shall be given, based on the early
267 learning coalition’s local priorities identified under s.
268 1002.85(2)(i), to children who meet the following criteria:
269 1. A child from birth to the beginning of the school year
270 for which the child is eligible for admission to kindergarten in
271 a public school under s. 1003.21(1)(a) s. 1003.21(1)(a)2. who is
272 from a working family that is economically disadvantaged, and
273 may include such child’s eligible siblings, beginning with the
274 school year in which the sibling is eligible for admission to
275 kindergarten in a public school under s. 1003.21(1)(a) s.
276 1003.21(1)(a)2. until the beginning of the school year in which
277 the sibling is eligible to begin 6th grade, provided that the
278 first priority for funding an eligible sibling is local revenues
279 available to the coalition for funding direct services.
280 2. A child of a parent who transitions from the work
281 program into employment as described in s. 445.032 from birth to
282 the beginning of the school year for which the child is eligible
283 for admission to kindergarten in a public school under s.
284 1003.21(1)(a) s. 1003.21(1)(a)2.
285 3. An at-risk child who is at least 9 years of age but
286 younger than 13 years of age. An at-risk child whose sibling is
287 enrolled in the school readiness program within an eligibility
288 priority category listed in paragraphs (a) and (b) and
289 subparagraph 1. shall be given priority over other children who
290 are eligible under this paragraph.
291 4. A child who is younger than 13 years of age from a
292 working family that is economically disadvantaged.
293 5. A child of a parent who transitions from the work
294 program into employment as described in s. 445.032 who is
295 younger than 13 years of age.
296 6. A child who has special needs and has been determined
297 eligible as a student who requires additional accommodations
298 beyond those required by the Americans with Disabilities Act.
299 The child’s special needs and associated accommodations must be
300 validated by a licensed health care professional, a licensed
301 mental health professional, or an educational psychologist. Such
302 person may not be the child’s parent or relative or a person
303 employed by a child care provider. The following documentation
304 must be used to determine the child’s eligibility for such
305 accommodations:
306 a. A current individual education plan with a Florida
307 school district;
308 b. A current individualized family support plan;
309 c. A diagnosed special need; or
310 d. A written determination of required accommodations by a
311 licensed health care professional, a licensed mental health
312 professional, or an educational psychologist.
313 7. A child who otherwise meets one of the eligibility
314 criteria in paragraphs (a) and (b) and subparagraphs 1. and 2.
315 but who is also enrolled concurrently in the federal Head Start
316 Program and the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program.
317 Section 16. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.