Sign Up
SB 68 Florida Senate · 2026 Regular Session

Health Care Patient Protection

Summary
Health Care Patient Protection; Requiring hospitals with emergency departments to develop and implement policies and procedures and conduct training; authorizing a hospital with an emergency department to conduct the National Pediatric Readiness Project’s Open Assessment under certain circumstances; requiring the Agency for Health Care Administration to adopt certain rules for comprehensive emergency management plans, etc.
Issues: ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires hospitals to implement patient safety policies, training, and emergency protocols, directly protecting patient rights and strengthening emergency care standards.90% confidence
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Jan 13, 2026 Last action Mar 11, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

S 68 Filed → S 68 c1 · 3 edits
MINOR
The bill was updated from an original filing to a committee substitute version, changing the title to reflect committee work and adjusting the effective date to July 1, 2026. The most significant policy change involves an earlier deadline for hospitals to complete pediatric readiness assessments, moving the target date from December 31, 2027, to December 31, 2026, and shifting the subsequent annual reporting deadline from April 1, 2028, to April 1, 2027. These adjustments accelerate the timeline for hospitals to evaluate and improve their emergency preparedness for children.
Scope change
The bill's scope remains focused on health care patient protection and hospital emergency management, but the applicability of the reporting requirements is now subject to a stricter, earlier timeline.
TIMELINE

The deadline for hospitals to complete the National Pediatric Readiness Assessment was moved forward by one year, from December 31, 2027, to December 31, 2026.

The deadline for publishing pediatric readiness assessment scores was moved forward by one year, from April 1, 2028, to April 1, 2027.

TECHNICAL

The bill title was updated to indicate it is a Committee Substitute, and the effective date was changed to July 1, 2026.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
18
Key actions
8
Committee
9
Feb 12, 2026
Upper · Passed
Favorable by- Fiscal Policy; YEAS 19 NAYS 0
upper
Feb 9, 2026
Upper · Passed
On Committee agenda-- Fiscal Policy, 02/12/26, 9:00 am, 110 Senate Building
upper
Feb 6, 2026
Upper · Passed
Pending reference review under Rule 4.7(2) - (Committee Substitute)
upper
Feb 4, 2026
Upper · Passed
CS by Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services; YEAS 7 NAYS 0
upper
Jan 30, 2026
Upper · Passed
On Committee agenda-- Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services, 02/04/26, 1:00 pm, 412 Knott Building
upper
Jan 13, 2026
Introduced
Introduced
upper
Nov 18, 2025
Upper · Passed
Now in Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services
upper
Nov 18, 2025
Upper · Passed
Favorable by Health Policy; YEAS 8 NAYS 0
upper
Nov 10, 2025
Upper · Passed
On Committee agenda-- Health Policy, 11/18/25, 10:00 am, 412 Knott Building
upper
Oct 6, 2025
Committee
Referred to Health Policy; Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services; Fiscal Policy
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Gayle Harrell
Gayle Harrell
RRepublican
FL
31