SB 36 Florida Senate · 2026 Regular Session

Use of Professional Nursing Titles

Summary

Use of Professional Nursing Titles; Providing that licensed advanced practice registered nurses who hold specified degrees may use titles and abbreviations associated with those degrees in a specified manner; prohibiting such persons from holding themselves out to patients or prospective patients as a doctor in advertising without also clearly denoting their licensed profession, etc.

Bill status died 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 13, 2026 Last action Mar 13, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

S 36 c1 → S 36 c2 · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was revised to expand its scope from all licensed nurses with doctoral degrees to specifically advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs). The amendment also clarifies that violations of title usage rules are grounds for disciplinary action rather than criminal penalties, and adds specific provisions about advertising restrictions.

Scope change

The bill's scope narrowed from all nurses with doctoral degrees to specifically advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) who hold specified doctoral degrees.

ELIGIBILITY

Changed eligibility from any licensed nurse with a doctoral degree to specifically licensed advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) who hold a Doctor of Philosophy or Doctor of Nursing Practice degree.

ENFORCEMENT

Added that violations of title usage rules constitute grounds for disciplinary action rather than being classified as a criminal misdemeanor.

REQUIREMENT

Expanded advertising restrictions to prohibit APRNs from holding themselves out as doctors in advertising without clearly denoting their licensed profession.

DEFINITION

Added a new subsection (8) specifically governing the use of the title 'Advanced Practice Registered Nurse' and abbreviation 'A.P.R.N.' for licensed APRNs.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Feb 26, 2026

Upper · Passed

On Committee agenda-- Rules, 03/03/26, 9:00 am, 412 Knott Building --Temporarily Postponed

upper

Feb 16, 2026

Upper · Passed

Pending reference review under Rule 4.7(2) - (Committee Substitute)

upper

Feb 12, 2026

Upper · Passed

CS/CS by Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services; YEAS 8 NAYS 1

upper

Feb 9, 2026

Upper · Passed

On Committee agenda-- Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services, 02/12/26, 2:30 pm, 412 Knott Building

upper

Feb 4, 2026

Upper · Passed

Now in Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services

upper

Feb 3, 2026

Upper · Passed

Pending reference review under Rule 4.7(2) - (Committee Substitute)

upper

Jan 28, 2026

Upper · Passed

On Committee agenda-- Health Policy, 02/02/26, 3:30 pm, 412 Knott Building

upper

Jan 13, 2026

Introduced

upper

Oct 6, 2025

Committee

Referred to Health Policy; Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services; Rules

upper

1 primary · 4 co-sponsors