HB 947 Florida House · 2025 Regular Session

Civil Actions

Summary

Civil Actions; Provides conditions for cause of action against certain former phosphate mine sites; provides for certain notice of former phosphate mines for purposes of civil liability; requires DOH to conduct surveys of former phosphate land parcels for purposes of civil liability upon petition; revises applicability of offer of judgment & demand for judgment provisions to civil actions involving an insurance contract; requires award of prevailing party attorney fees in certain civil actions involving insurers; provides specified circumstance under which settlement offer is not good faith settlement offer; specifies applicability of offer of judgment & demand for judgment provisions if prevailing party attorney fees apply; provides evidence that is admissible to demonstrate past & future medical expenses in personal injury & wrongful death actions.

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Feb 24, 2025 Last action Apr 25, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

H 947 c1 → H 947 c2 · 6 edits

MODERATE

The bill text was completely rewritten from a single amendment about medical expense evidence in personal injury cases to a comprehensive civil procedure bill covering phosphate mine liability, radiation surveys, and attorney fee provisions across multiple insurance statutes. This represents a fundamental change in subject matter rather than a minor amendment.

Scope change

The bill's scope changed from a narrow focus on medical expense evidence rules in personal injury cases to a broad civil procedure bill affecting phosphate mining liability, radiation survey requirements, and attorney fee provisions across multiple insurance-related statutes.

SCOPE

Removed the original bill's sole focus on admissibility of medical expense evidence in personal injury and wrongful death actions

Added provisions creating new statutes for phosphate mine liability defenses and radiation survey requirements

REQUIREMENT

Added requirements for landowners to record notices of former phosphate mines and for the Department of Health to conduct gamma radiation surveys

Added attorney fee provisions across multiple insurance statutes including workers' compensation, property insurance, and liability insurance

TIMELINE

Changed effective date provisions and applicability dates for various new statutory provisions

DEFINITION

Added definition of 'former phosphate mine' and related terminology for liability purposes

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 17, 2025

Committee

Bill referred to House Calendar

lower

Apr 17, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reported out of Judiciary Committee

lower

Apr 17, 2025

Lower · Passed

Favorable with CS by Judiciary Committee

lower

Apr 15, 2025

Lower · Passed

PCS added to Judiciary Committee agenda

lower

Apr 3, 2025

Lower · Passed

Now in Judiciary Committee

lower

Apr 3, 2025

Committee

Recommitted to Judiciary Committee

lower

Mar 26, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reported out of Judiciary Committee

lower

Mar 26, 2025

Lower · Passed

Favorable by Judiciary Committee

lower

Mar 24, 2025

Lower · Passed

Added to Judiciary Committee agenda

lower

Mar 21, 2025

Lower · Passed

Now in Judiciary Committee

lower

Mar 21, 2025

Committee

Referred to Judiciary Committee

lower

Mar 20, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reported out of Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee

lower

Mar 20, 2025

Lower · Passed

Favorable with CS by Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee

lower

Mar 18, 2025

Lower · Passed

Added to Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee agenda

lower

Mar 2, 2025

Lower · Passed

Now in Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee

lower

Mar 2, 2025

Committee

Referred to Judiciary Committee

lower

Mar 2, 2025

Committee

Referred to Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee

lower

2 primary · 1 co-sponsor