ORLANDO, Fla. — A house bill submitted by State Rep.Johanna López is focused on residential swimming pool requirements.
What You Need To Know
Rep. Johanna López filed House Bill 117 to increase residential pool safety
The bill would require pools to have at least one safety barrier when the property is transferred or sold
Homeowners would have to install a safety barrier and take an educational course if violating the bill
So far, DCF has reported more than 100 child fatalities as a result of drowning in 2025
So far, DCF has reported more than 100 child fatalities as a result of drowning in 2025
HB 117 would require residential pools to have at least one safety barrier when the property is sold or transferred. If violated, it would give homeowners 45 days to fix the issue and attend a drowning prevention education program.
López said she was moved after speaking with a family whose son died after drowning in 2016, saying, “This bill is a step to make sure no other family has to experience the same tragedy.”
Data from the Florida Department of Children and Families reports 104 child deaths as a result of drowning in 2025 statewide, as of November 2. In 2024, DCF reported 106 deaths.
The bill has received bipartisan support. The mirror bill in the Senate, SB 244, is sponsored by Senator Ana Maria Rodriguez.
“If House Bill 117 becomes law, my hope is that it saves lives. By requiring at least one layer of protection for pools in homes being sold or transferred, we can prevent accidents before they happen and give parents peace of mind. I also hope this bill raises greater awareness about drowning prevention and the importance of safety education,” López said.
Ava Smith, a swim instructor at the Dr. P. Phillips YMCA Family Center, says she teaches all age groups how to swim, from infants to adults. She says it’s important for kids to get enrolled early because you never know when they could drown.
“You can be at home, you can be outside, they can be anywhere,” said Smith. “We live in Florida, we have a lot of open water, and we just want to keep our kids safe and our adults safe.”
Leaders at the YMCA of Central Florida say they are making sure families are going home with knowledge too.
“What we always recommend to parents or caregivers of young children is there’s no substitution for active supervision, so that’s at the top of the list when it comes to how you can prevent a drowning from happening. But we know that things happen and things happen very quickly, so any additional barriers that you can have in place can help to reduce that risk,” said John Lewis, associate vice president of aquatics.
López said the reality is that the current law only applies to newly built pools — so if the bill becomes law, it will require older homes that are sold or transferred to take those extra steps too.
If passed in it’s current form, HB 117 would go into effect in July 2026.