Florida Senate - 2026 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
Bill No. CS for SB 1756
Ì150652ÈÎ150652
LEGISLATIVE ACTION
Senate . House
Comm: RCS .
03/04/2026 .
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The Committee on Rules (Yarborough) recommended the following:
1 Senate Amendment (with title amendment)
2
3 Delete everything after the enacting clause
4 and insert:
5 Section 1. This act may be cited as the “Medical Freedom
6 Act.”
7 Section 2. Section 9 of chapter 2023-43, Laws of Florida,
8 as amended by section 1 of chapter 2025-114, Laws of Florida, is
9 repealed.
10 Section 3. Paragraph (d) of subsection (2) of section
11 381.00315, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
12 381.00315 Public health advisories; public health
13 emergencies; isolation and quarantines.—The State Health Officer
14 is responsible for declaring public health emergencies, issuing
15 public health advisories, and ordering isolation or quarantines.
16 (2)
17 (d) The State Health Officer, upon declaration of a public
18 health emergency, may take actions that are necessary to protect
19 the public health. Such actions include, but are not limited to:
20 1. Directing manufacturers of prescription drugs or over
21 the-counter drugs who are permitted under chapter 499 and
22 wholesalers of prescription drugs located in this state who are
23 permitted under chapter 499 to give priority to the shipping of
24 specified drugs to pharmacies and health care providers within
25 geographic areas identified by the State Health Officer. The
26 State Health Officer must identify the drugs to be shipped.
27 Manufacturers and wholesalers located in the state must respond
28 to the State Health Officer’s priority shipping directive before
29 shipping the specified drugs.
30 2. Notwithstanding chapters 465 and 499 and rules adopted
31 thereunder, directing pharmacists employed by the department to
32 compound bulk prescription drugs and provide these bulk
33 prescription drugs to physicians and nurses of county health
34 departments or any qualified person authorized by the State
35 Health Officer for administration to persons as part of a
36 prophylactic or treatment regimen.
37 3. Notwithstanding s. 456.036, temporarily reactivating the
38 inactive license of the following health care practitioners,
39 when such practitioners are needed to respond to the public
40 health emergency: physicians licensed under chapter 458 or
41 chapter 459; physician assistants licensed under chapter 458 or
42 chapter 459; licensed practical nurses, registered nurses, and
43 advanced practice registered nurses licensed under part I of
44 chapter 464; respiratory therapists licensed under part V of
45 chapter 468; and emergency medical technicians and paramedics
46 certified under part III of chapter 401. Only those health care
47 practitioners specified in this paragraph who possess an
48 unencumbered inactive license and who request that such license
49 be reactivated are eligible for reactivation. An inactive
50 license that is reactivated under this paragraph shall return to
51 inactive status when the public health emergency ends or before
52 the end of the public health emergency if the State Health
53 Officer determines that the health care practitioner is no
54 longer needed to provide services during the public health
55 emergency. Such licenses may only be reactivated for a period
56 not to exceed 90 days without meeting the requirements of s.
57 456.036 or chapter 401, as applicable.
58 4. Ordering an individual to be examined, tested, treated,
59 isolated, or quarantined for communicable diseases that have
60 significant morbidity or mortality and present a severe danger
61 to public health. Individuals who are unable or unwilling to be
62 examined, tested, or treated for reasons of health, religion, or
63 conscience may be subjected to isolation or quarantine. For the
64 purposes of this subparagraph, the State Health Officer′s
65 authority to treat or order treatment does not include the
66 authority to order a vaccination.
67 a. Examination, testing, or treatment may be performed by
68 any qualified person authorized by the State Health Officer.
69 b. If the individual poses a danger to the public health,
70 the State Health Officer may subject the individual to isolation
71 or quarantine. If there is no practical method to isolate or
72 quarantine the individual, the State Health Officer may use any
73 means necessary to treat the individual.
74 c. Any order of the State Health Officer given to
75 effectuate this paragraph is immediately enforceable by a law
76 enforcement officer under s. 381.0012.
77 Section 4. Section 456.0575, Florida Statutes, is amended
78 to read:
79 456.0575 Duty to notify patients.—
80 (1) ADVERSE INCIDENTS.—A Every licensed health care
81 practitioner shall inform each patient, or an individual
82 identified pursuant to s. 765.401(1), in person about adverse
83 incidents that result in serious harm to the patient.
84 Notification of outcomes of care that result in harm to the
85 patient under this section does not constitute an acknowledgment
86 of admission of liability, nor can such notifications be
87 introduced as evidence.
88 (2) VACCINATIONS OF MINORS.—
89 (a) Each health care practitioner authorized by law to
90 administer vaccines, and each paramedic acting pursuant to s.
91 401.272, shall, before administering one or more vaccines to a
92 minor child, provide the parent or guardian with the following:
93 1. The most recently issued Vaccine Information Statement
94 published by the United States Centers for Disease Control and
95 Prevention pertaining to each vaccine being administered.
96 2. Materials approved and adopted by joint rule of the
97 Board of Medicine and the Board of Osteopathic Medicine relating
98 to the role of immunizations in communicable disease prevention.
99 (b) Before administering one or more vaccines to a minor
100 child, the health care practitioner or paramedic must obtain the
101 signature of the parent or guardian acknowledging receipt of the
102 information required under paragraph (a).
103 (c) When more than one vaccine is to be administered, the
104 health care practitioner shall discuss the timing of multiple
105 vaccinations with the child′s parent or guardian and the
106 parent’s or guardian’s options for such timing before
107 administering the initial vaccination. At the request of the
108 parent or guardian, a health care practitioner may administer
109 vaccines to the minor child over multiple encounters.
110 (3) GOOD FAITH ESTIMATE OF CHARGES.—Upon request by a
111 patient, before providing nonemergency medical services in a
112 facility licensed under chapter 395, a health care practitioner
113 shall provide, in writing or by electronic means, a good faith
114 estimate of reasonably anticipated charges to treat the
115 patient’s condition at the facility. The health care
116 practitioner shall provide the estimate to the patient within 7
117 business days after receiving the request and is not required to
118 adjust the estimate for any potential insurance coverage. The
119 health care practitioner shall inform the patient that the
120 patient may contact his or her health insurer or health
121 maintenance organization for additional information concerning
122 cost-sharing responsibilities. The health care practitioner
123 shall provide information to uninsured patients and insured
124 patients for whom the practitioner is not a network provider or
125 preferred provider which discloses the practitioner’s financial
126 assistance policy, including the application process, payment
127 plans, discounts, or other available assistance, and the
128 practitioner’s charity care policy and collection procedures.
129 Such estimate does not preclude the actual charges from
130 exceeding the estimate. Failure to provide the estimate in
131 accordance with this subsection, without good cause, shall
132 result in disciplinary action against the health care
133 practitioner and a daily fine of $500 until the estimate is
134 provided to the patient. The total fine may not exceed $5,000.
135 Section 5. The amendments made by this act to s.
136 456.0575(2)(a) and (b), Florida Statutes, relating to
137 information that must be provided to parents or guardians before
138 the administration of a vaccination to a minor are effective
139 July 1, 2026, or 30 days after the Board of Medicine and the
140 Board of Osteopathic Medicine adopt by joint rule the
141 informational materials as required under that subsection,
142 whichever occurs later. The Board of Medicine and the Board of
143 Osteopathic Medicine shall adopt the joint rule no later than
144 120 days after this act becomes a law and shall notify the
145 Division of Law Revision immediately upon their adoption of the
146 joint rule. This section takes effect upon becoming a law.
147 Section 6. Section 458.3351, Florida Statutes, is created
148 to read:
149 458.3351 Prescription or administration of ivermectin.—A
150 health care practitioner who is licensed under this chapter and
151 whose license includes prescribing authority is immune from
152 civil or criminal liability or disciplinary action for
153 prescribing or administering ivermectin to an adult in good
154 faith, in accordance with the applicable standard of care and in
155 accordance with this chapter and the rules pertaining to his or
156 her practice.
157 Section 7. Section 459.0156, Florida Statutes, is created
158 to read:
159 459.0156 Prescription or administration of ivermectin.—A
160 health care practitioner who is licensed under this chapter and
161 whose license includes prescribing authority is immune from
162 civil or criminal liability or disciplinary action for
163 prescribing or administering ivermectin to an adult in good
164 faith, in accordance with the applicable standard of care and in
165 accordance with this chapter and the rules pertaining to his or
166 her practice.
167 Section 8. Section 464.0181, Florida Statutes, is created
168 to read:
169 464.0181 Prescription or administration of ivermectin.—A
170 health care practitioner who is licensed under this chapter and
171 whose license includes prescribing authority is immune from
172 civil or criminal liability or disciplinary action for
173 prescribing or administering ivermectin to an adult in good
174 faith, in accordance with the applicable standard of care and in
175 accordance with this chapter and the rules pertaining to his or
176 her practice.
177 Section 9. Section 465.1897, Florida Statutes, is created
178 to read:
179 465.1897 Sale of ivermectin without a prescription.—
180 (1) A pharmacist may provide ivermectin to a person 18
181 years of age or older without a prescription as a behind-the
182 counter medication until the United States Food and Drug
183 Administration approves it for over-the-counter sale.
184 (2) Before providing ivermectin under this section, the
185 pharmacist shall provide the person with written information
186 regarding the indications and contraindications for ivermectin,
187 the appropriate dosage, and the need to seek follow-up care from
188 the person’s primary care physician.
189 (3) A pharmacist acting in good faith is immune from civil
190 or criminal liability or disciplinary action for providing
191 ivermectin to an adult in accordance with this section.
192 (4) The board may adopt rules to implement this section.
193 Section 10. Subsections (5) and (9) of section 1003.22,
194 Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
195 1003.22 School-entry health examinations; immunization
196 against communicable diseases; exemptions; duties of Department
197 of Health.—
198 (5) A child is exempt from immunization requirements in
199 subsection (3) The provisions of this section shall not apply
200 if:
201 (a) The parent of the child presents to the school, on a
202 form adopted by rule of the Department of Health and made
203 available on its website, an attestation objects in writing that
204 the administration of immunizing agents conflicts with the
205 parent’s his or her religious tenets or practices or conscience;
206 (b) A physician licensed under the provisions of chapter
207 458 or chapter 459 certifies in writing, on a form approved and
208 provided by the Department of Health, that the child should be
209 permanently exempt from one or more of the required
210 immunizations immunization for medical reasons stated in
211 writing, based upon valid clinical reasoning or evidence,
212 demonstrating the need for the permanent exemption;
213 (c) A physician licensed under the provisions of chapter
214 458, chapter 459, or chapter 460 certifies in writing, on a form
215 approved and provided by the Department of Health, that the
216 child has received as many immunizations as are medically
217 indicated at the time and is in the process of completing the
218 other required necessary immunizations;
219 (d) The Department of Health determines that, according to
220 recognized standards of medical practice, any required
221 immunization is unnecessary or hazardous; or
222 (e) An authorized school official issues a temporary
223 exemption, for up to 30 school days, to allow permit a student
224 who transfers into a new county to attend class until his or her
225 records can be obtained. Children and youths who are
226 experiencing homelessness and children who are known to the
227 department, as defined in s. 39.0016, shall be given a temporary
228 exemption for 30 school days. The public school health nurse or
229 authorized private school official is responsible for follow-up
230 followup of each such student until proper documentation or
231 immunizations are obtained. An exemption for 30 days may be
232 issued for a student who enters a juvenile justice program to
233 allow permit the student to attend class until his or her
234 records can be obtained or until the immunizations can be
235 administered obtained. An authorized juvenile justice official
236 is responsible for follow-up followup of each student who enters
237 a juvenile justice program until proper documentation is
238 obtained or immunizations are administered obtained.
239
240 Upon making the exemption form referenced under paragraph (a)
241 available on its website, the Department of Health shall ensure
242 that when the form is downloaded, such download includes, as a
243 single document, the form and materials approved and adopted by
244 joint rule of the Board of Medicine and the Board of Osteopathic
245 Medicine under s. 456.0575(2)(a) relating to the role of
246 immunizations in communicable disease prevention. This
247 requirement shall take effect upon the adoption of the joint
248 rule. The webpage containing the download link must also include
249 and prominently display a link or links to the United States
250 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s current Vaccine
251 Information Statements.
252 (9) The presence of any of the communicable diseases for
253 which immunization is required under subsection (3) by the
254 Department of Health in a Florida public or private school
255 authorizes shall permit the county health department director or
256 administrator or the State Health Officer to declare a
257 communicable disease emergency. The declaration of such
258 emergency must shall mandate that all students attending in
259 attendance in the school who have not been immunized against the
260 diseases specified in subsection (3) or related Department of
261 Health rules are not in compliance with the provisions of this
262 section be identified by the district school board or by the
263 governing authority of the private school,; and the school
264 health and immunization records of such children must shall be
265 made available to the county health department director or
266 administrator. Those Children who are identified as not having
267 been being immunized against the disease for which the emergency
268 has been declared must shall be temporarily excluded from school
269 attendance by the district school board, or the governing
270 authority of the private school, until such time as is specified
271 by the county health department director or administrator
272 declares that the communicable disease emergency has ended.
273 Section 11. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this
274 act and except for this section, which shall take effect upon
275 this act becoming a law, this act shall take effect July 1,
276 2026.
277
278 ================= T I T L E A M E N D M E N T ================
279 And the title is amended as follows:
280 Delete everything before the enacting clause
281 and insert:
282 A bill to be entitled
283 An act relating to medical freedom; providing a short
284 title; repealing s. 9 of chapter 2023-43, Laws of
285 Florida, as amended by chapter 2025-114, Laws of
286 Florida, relating to the future repeal of the
287 definition of the term “messenger ribonucleic acid
288 vaccine”; amending s. 381.00315, F.S.; providing
289 construction; amending s. 456.0575, F.S.; requiring
290 certain health care practitioners and paramedics to,
291 before administering one or more vaccines to a minor
292 child, provide the parent or legal guardian with
293 specified materials; requiring such practitioners and
294 paramedics to obtain the signature of a minor child’s
295 parent or guardian acknowledging receipt of such
296 information; requiring health care practitioners to
297 discuss certain information with a minor child’s
298 parent or guardian when more than one vaccine is to be
299 administered; authorizing a health care practitioner,
300 at the request of the parent or guardian, to
301 administer the vaccines to the minor child over
302 multiple encounters; providing that specified
303 amendments made by the act to s. 456.0575, F.S., take
304 effect on a specified date or within a specified
305 timeframe after the Board of Medicine and the Board of
306 Osteopathic Medicine adopt certain materials by joint
307 rule, whichever occurs later; requiring the boards to
308 adopt the joint rule within a specified timeframe and
309 immediately notify the Division of Law Revision of
310 their adoption of the joint rule; creating ss.
311 458.3351, 459.0156, and 464.0181, F.S.; providing
312 certain health care practitioners immunity from civil
313 and criminal liability and disciplinary action for
314 prescribing or administering ivermectin to adults
315 under certain circumstances; creating s. 465.1897,
316 F.S.; authorizing pharmacists to provide ivermectin to
317 adults without a prescription as a behind-the-counter
318 medication until the United States Food and Drug
319 Administration approves it for over-the-counter sale;
320 requiring pharmacists to provide specified information
321 before providing the ivermectin; providing pharmacists
322 acting in good faith with immunity from civil and
323 criminal liability and disciplinary action for
324 providing ivermectin to adults; authorizing the Board
325 of Pharmacy to adopt rules; amending s. 1003.22, F.S.;
326 revising exemptions from school-entry immunization
327 requirements; requiring the Department of Health to
328 make the immunization exemption form for religious or
329 conscience-based exemptions publicly available on its
330 website; specifying procedures and requirements for
331 receiving such exemptions; requiring the department to
332 ensure that when a certain exemption form is
333 downloaded from its website, the download includes the
334 form and specified materials as a single document;
335 providing that the requirement takes effect upon
336 adoption of a specified rule; requiring that the
337 webpage containing the download link also include and
338 prominently display certain other links; revising
339 requirements and procedures for declarations of a
340 communicable disease emergency; providing effective
341 dates.