HB 1191 Florida House · 2025 Regular Session

Supervision of Children

Summary
Supervision of Children ; Revises definitions of "harm" & "neglect of child" for purposes of child protection & criminal child abuse & neglect provisions, respectively, to revise required standards for supervision of children & specify that certain activities are not restricted.
Bill status in committee 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Apr 2025
House Passage
Apr 2025
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Feb 26, 2025 Last action Apr 29, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

H 1191 Filed H 1191 c1 · 4 edits
MODERATE
This bill amends Florida's definitions of child harm and neglect to clarify what constitutes appropriate supervision and discipline. The changes expand the scope of independent activities children can engage in without adult supervision and modify the standard for caregiver negligence from 'grossly negligent' to 'reckless'.
Scope change
The bill broadens the definition of acceptable independent activities for children and changes the legal standard for caregiver negligence in supervision situations.
DEFINITION

Changed the supervision exemption language to allow children of sufficient maturity to engage in independent activities without adult supervision, including traveling to/from school by bicycle or on foot, playing outdoors, or staying at home for reasonable periods.

Replaced 'grossly negligent' with 'reckless' as the standard for determining when allowing independent activities endangers a child's health or safety.

Updated the judgment standard for caregivers from 'minimally acceptable good judgment' to 'reasonable good judgment' when assessing crisis response situations.

Changed the supervision requirement language from 'necessary adult supervision or arrangement appropriate for the child's age or mental or physical condition' to simply 'adult supervision or arrangement appropriate for the child's age or mental or physical condition'.

Floor votes · House Apr 15, 2025

How they voted

220
Passed · 4 other
Total votes 26
Apr 15, 2025
D Democratic7
6 Yea 1
85% Yea
R Republican19
16 Yea 3
84% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
26
Key actions
13
Committee
17
Apr 15, 2025
House · Passed
House Vote: pass (22-0-4)
house
Apr 15, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported out of Health & Human Services Committee
lower
Apr 15, 2025
Lower · Passed
Favorable by Health & Human Services Committee
lower
Apr 11, 2025
Lower · Passed
Added to Health & Human Services Committee agenda
lower
Apr 8, 2025
Lower · Passed
Now in Health & Human Services Committee
lower
Apr 8, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported out of Judiciary Committee
lower
Apr 8, 2025
Lower · Passed
Favorable by Judiciary Committee
lower
Apr 4, 2025
Lower · Passed
Added to Judiciary Committee agenda
lower
Apr 3, 2025
Lower · Passed
Now in Judiciary Committee
lower
Apr 3, 2025
Committee
Referred to Health & Human Services Committee
lower
Apr 3, 2025
Committee
Referred to Judiciary Committee
lower
Apr 2, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported out of Human Services Subcommittee
lower
Apr 1, 2025
Lower · Passed
Favorable with CS by Human Services Subcommittee
lower
Mar 28, 2025
Lower · Passed
Added to Human Services Subcommittee agenda
lower
Mar 5, 2025
Lower · Passed
Now in Human Services Subcommittee
lower
Mar 5, 2025
Committee
Referred to Health & Human Services Committee
lower
Mar 5, 2025
Committee
Referred to Judiciary Committee
lower
Mar 5, 2025
Committee
Referred to Human Services Subcommittee
lower
1 primary · 1 co-sponsor

Sponsors