{"id":281855,"date":"2026-05-23T09:23:08","date_gmt":"2026-05-23T09:23:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/281855\/"},"modified":"2026-05-23T09:23:08","modified_gmt":"2026-05-23T09:23:08","slug":"gov-desantis-just-approved-these-27-new-florida-laws-heres-the-list","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/281855\/","title":{"rendered":"Gov. DeSantis just approved these 27 new Florida laws. Here\u2019s the list"},"content":{"rendered":"

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. \u2013 On Friday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis approved another batch of 27 new bills, bringing the total number this year up to over 100<\/a>.<\/p>\n

While this latest load of new laws covers a wide variety of topics, DeSantis spoke at length about two in particular during a news conference in Jacksonville.<\/p>\n

Both of these laws \u2014 SB 538 and SB 178 \u2014 touch on extracurricular issues in public schools, and DeSantis argued that they may help support coaches, too.<\/p>\n

We recognize the value of strong coaches and strive to ensure that student-athletes have the opportunities they need to thrive.<\/p>\n

Together, the bills I signed today will strengthen Florida’s K-12 athletic programs and support the students and coaches who help them achieve their\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/sb2995HJh2<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) May 22, 2026<\/a> <\/p>\n

\u201cWe recognize the value of strong coaches and strive to ensure that student athletes have the opportunities they need to thrive,\u201d he said. \u201cTogether, the bills I signed today will strengthen Florida\u2019s K-12 athletic programs and support the students and coaches who help them achieve their potential.\u201d<\/p>\n

Per state officials, the full list of new laws signed on Friday is as follows:<\/p>\n

HB 167<\/a> \u2014 Phosphate Mining<\/p>\n

House Bill 167 establishes a defense from strict liability in lawsuits related to environmental pollution brought under the WQAA<\/a>.<\/p>\n

More specifically, the defense kicks in if the lawsuit is related to pollution caused by a former phosphate mine and certain requirements are met.<\/p>\n

The law takes effect on July 1.<\/p>\n

HB 178<\/a> \u2014 School Athletics<\/p>\n

House Bill 178 requires that head coaches of sports teams be allowed to use personal funds to support the welfare of students under the FHSAA.<\/p>\n

Under this law, coaches may provide help in the form of food, transportation and recovery services.<\/p>\n

That said, coaches are limited to using $15,000 in personal funds per athletic team per year.<\/p>\n

The law takes effect on July 1.<\/p>\n

SB 296<\/a> \u2014 Domestic Violence<\/p>\n

Senate Bill 296 requires the Division of Telecommunications to investigate the feasibility of a domestic and dating violence 911 alert system.<\/p>\n

The results of the study must be reported to the Senate President and House Speaker by Jan. 31, 2027.<\/p>\n

The law takes effect on July 1.<\/p>\n

HB 327<\/a> \u2014 Uterine Fibroid Research<\/p>\n

House Bill 327 requires healthcare providers to submit identified information to the FDOH for inclusion in the Uterine Fibroid Research Database.<\/p>\n

Furthermore, uterine fibroids are added to the list of diseases of public health significance, which requires providers to submit identified uterine fibroid data to the FDOH for epidemiological research.<\/p>\n

The law takes effect on the same date as HB 1515, if DeSantis signs it.<\/p>\n

HB 355<\/a> \u2014 Patient Protection<\/p>\n

House Bill 355 requires the AHCA to establish minimum standards for pediatric patient care in hospital emergency departments.<\/p>\n

Furthermore, the bill requires all hospitals with emergency departments to develop and implement policies and procedures for pediatric patient care in the department.<\/p>\n

The law takes effect on July 1.<\/p>\n

SB 474<\/a> \u2014 Military Affairs<\/p>\n

Senate Bill 474 revises laws relating to military service leave for public employees.<\/p>\n

For example, the law expands eligibility for certain leave protections to include public officials who are also members of the U.S. Coast Guard or Florida State Guard.<\/p>\n

SB 474 also expands the eligibility requirements for financial assistance from the Soldiers and Airmen Assistance Program.<\/p>\n

The law takes effect on July 1.<\/p>\n

HB 538<\/a> \u2014 Extracurricular Activities<\/p>\n

House Bill 538 revises student eligibility and participation requirements for extracurricular activities, including athletics. It makes a variety of changes, including:<\/p>\n

Allowing districts to use funds raised through high school booster clubs for activities to pay the coaches of those activities<\/p>\n

Authorizing districts to classify athletic coaches and activity sponsors of extracurricular activities as administrative personnel and thusly negotiate salary compensation<\/p>\n

Permitting students who wish to participate in a sport that their current school doesn\u2019t offer to participate in that sport through another school in the same district<\/p>\n

The law takes effect on July 1.<\/p>\n

HB 561<\/a> \u2014 Educator Preparation<\/p>\n

House Bill 561 makes it easier for teachers whose licenses expired to get back into the classroom, but without having to retake subject area exams that have already been passed.<\/p>\n

The bill also gives these educators a temporary license so that they can work and earn the classes or training hours they need, and it sets up free training to help them renew or fix their license.<\/p>\n

The law takes effect on July 1.<\/p>\n

SB 584<\/a> \u2014 Commercial Driving Schools<\/p>\n

Senate Bill 584 allows for county tax collectors to enforce statutory provisions related to commercial driving schools.<\/p>\n

More specifically, the law allows these agencies to enter into agreements with the DHSMV to better crack down on fraudulent or deceitful business practices by these sorts of schools.<\/p>\n

The law takes effect on July 1.<\/p>\n

SB 590<\/a> \u2014 Statute of Limitations<\/p>\n

Senate Bill 590 extends the window to prosecute someone who willfully fails to make a required report of suspected child abuse, abandonment, neglect or sexual abuse.<\/p>\n

This is done by pausing the statute of limitations until a law enforcement agency becomes aware of the reporting violation.<\/p>\n

The law takes effect on July 1.<\/p>\n

SB 656<\/a> \u2014 Crimes Against Children<\/p>\n

Senate Bill 656 renames the \u201cOnline Sting Operations Grant Program<\/a>\u201d to the \u201cInternet Crimes Against Children Grant Program.\u201d<\/p>\n

Under this program, grants may be awarded to local law enforcement agencies to help them combat online child exploitation and to target those preying on children online.<\/p>\n

The law takes effect on July 1.<\/p>\n

HB 753<\/a> \u2014 School Counselors<\/p>\n

House Bill 753 exempts prospective school counselors from certain professional preparation and educational competence requirements otherwise imposed on classroom teachers by state law.<\/p>\n

However, the bill clarifies that individual school districts may still require these requirements as a condition of employment for school counselors.<\/p>\n

The law takes effect on July 1.<\/p>\n

SB 772<\/a> \u2014 Eyewear Insurance<\/p>\n

Senate Bill 772 expands Florida\u2019s limited-license portable electronics insurance agent license to also cover eyewear insurance, including smart glasses and non-electronic eyewear.<\/p>\n

The law takes effect on July 1.<\/p>\n

SB 800<\/a> \u2014 Engineering Violations<\/p>\n

Senate Bill 800 provides an escalating fine schedule for subsequent violations of engaging in the unlicensed practice of engineering. These fees are as follows:<\/p>\n

$10,000 for a second violation<\/p>\n

$15,000 for a third violation<\/p>\n

$20,000 for a fourth violation<\/p>\n

$25,000 for a fifth and subsequent violation<\/p>\n

The law takes effect on July 1.<\/p>\n

HB 809<\/a> \u2014 Temporary Certificates<\/p>\n

House Bill 809 allows health care practitioners who hold temporary certificates for practice in an \u201carea of critical need\u201d to continue providing primary care services in that area even if it loses that designation.<\/p>\n

The law took effect immediately upon being signed.<\/p>\n

HB 851<\/a> \u2014 Autism Learning<\/p>\n

House Bill 851 requires each school district to provide at least one annual autism-specific professional learning opportunity for instructional personnel and school-based administrators.<\/p>\n

The law takes effect on July 1.<\/p>\n

HB 867<\/a> \u2014 Dry Needling<\/p>\n

House Bill 867 allows occupational therapists to perform dry needling, and establishes minimum experience, education, and training requirements to do so.<\/p>\n

The law takes effect on July 1.<\/p>\n

HB 913<\/a> \u2014 Inmate Services<\/p>\n

House Bill 913 requires money in the Contractor-Operated Institutions Welfare Trust Fund to be used exclusively for programs to help inmates reintegrate back into society, as well as environmental\/health upgrades in contractor-operated institutions.<\/p>\n

The law takes effect on July 1.<\/p>\n

HB 925<\/a> \u2014 Court Clerks<\/p>\n

House Bill 925 increases funding to the Clerks of the Court.<\/p>\n

However, the law doesn\u2019t raise any existing service charges or fees, or create any new service charges or fees that the Clerks may assess.<\/p>\n

The law takes effect on July 1.<\/p>\n

SB 984<\/a> \u2014 Firefighter Benefits<\/p>\n

Senate Bill 984 expands the eligibility for disability and death benefits available to firefighters after a cancer diagnosis.<\/p>\n

Current law provides a $25,000 one-time payout as a disability benefit resulting from an initial diagnosis. <\/p>\n

However, the bill would make that available to a former firefighter regardless of whether he\/she elects to continue coverage in an employer-sponsored health plan or group health insurance trust fund.<\/p>\n

The law takes effect on July 1.<\/p>\n

SB 1022<\/a> \u2014 Children\u2019s Initiatives<\/p>\n

Senate Bill 1022 provides for the creation of the Bay County 32401 Children\u2019s Initiative in Bay County, and the Pompano RYZE Children\u2019s Initiative in Broward County.<\/p>\n

These sorts of initiatives are community-based service networks located in disadvantaged areas of the state to improve education, economic and health outcomes for local residents.<\/p>\n

The law takes effect on July 1.<\/p>\n

HB 1031<\/a> \u2014 Callback Queues<\/p>\n

House Bill 1031 sets up a pilot program to implement callback queues at two state agencies: the Department of Commerce, and the Department of Children and Families.<\/p>\n

The law takes effect on July 1.<\/p>\n

HB 1069<\/a> \u2014 Background Screenings<\/p>\n

House Bill 1069 makes several changes to background screenings in the state, including:<\/p>\n

Prohibits a person from acting as an athletic coach if he\/she doesn\u2019t pass specified background screening qualifications<\/p>\n

Specifies that volunteers required to undergo such background screenings are limited to volunteer coach, assistance coach, manager, or referee for a youth athletic team<\/p>\n

Prohibits a person from denying or failing to acknowledge arrests covered by expunged or sealed criminal records if he\/she is screened through the Clearinghouse by a qualified entity<\/p>\n

The law takes effect on July 1.<\/p>\n

HB 1085<\/a> \u2014 Cyber Security<\/p>\n

House Bill 1085 creates the Local Government Cybersecurity Protection Program within the University of South Florida, to be administered by Cyber Florida.<\/p>\n

The program must help eligible local governments with developing cybersecurity risk management programs to defend against cybersecurity threats.<\/p>\n

The law takes effect on July 1.<\/p>\n

SB 1246<\/a> \u2014 Nursing Education Fund<\/p>\n

Senate Bill 1246 expands the scope of the Linking Industry to Nursing Education Fund<\/a> to address workforce shortages in health science education programs, in addition to nursing education programs.<\/p>\n

The law takes effect on July 1.<\/p>\n

SB 1404<\/a> \u2014 Memory Care<\/p>\n

Senate Bill 1404 creates a new assisted living facility specialty license type for \u201cmemory care services.\u201d<\/p>\n

The law took effect immediately upon being signed.<\/p>\n

HB 1407<\/a> \u2014 Civil Actions<\/p>\n

House Bill 1407 sets clear filing deadlines for people who claim to have been illegally discriminated against at work under the FCRA<\/a> to file a lawsuit after they complain to the state.<\/p>\n

The law takes effect on July 1.<\/p>\n

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