SB 688 Florida Senate · 2026 Regular Session

Naturopathic Medicine

Summary

Naturopathic Medicine; Creating the Board of Naturopathic Medicine within the Department of Health; prohibiting unlicensed persons from practicing naturopathic medicine or promoting, identifying, or describing themselves using specified titles or abbreviations; providing for licensure by examination of naturopathic doctors; providing for licensure by endorsement of naturopathic doctors; revising continuing education requirements for naturopathic doctors, etc.

Issues: ✓ Healthcare

Bill status vetoed 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

House Passage

Mar 2026

Vetoed

Jun 2026

Introduced Jan 13, 2026 Vetoed Jun 26, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

S 688 c1 → S 688 er · 7 edits

MODERATE

This bill transforms Florida's regulation of naturopathy from a near-total ban into a formal licensure system for 'naturopathic doctors.' It creates a new Board of Naturopathic Medicine, establishes specific educational and examination requirements for licensure, and defines the scope of practice to include natural therapies while explicitly excluding surgery, prescription drugs, and high-velocity chiropractic adjustments. The bill also updates related statutes to reflect the new professional title and removes the criminal penalty for unlicensed practice of naturopathy, replacing it with a misdemeanor charge.

Scope change

The bill significantly expands the scope of legal practice by allowing licensed naturopathic doctors to practice in Florida, whereas previously the practice was largely prohibited. It also clarifies that unlicensed individuals may use general terms like 'naturopath' for wellness education but cannot use protected titles like 'naturopathic doctor' or 'N.D.' without a license.

DEFINITION

Created a new definition for 'naturopathic medicine' that lists specific natural therapies allowed, while explicitly excluding surgery, prescription drugs, anesthetics, and high-velocity spinal adjustments unless the practitioner is also licensed in those fields.

REQUIREMENT

Established a new Board of Naturopathic Medicine within the Department of Health and set specific criteria for board membership, including four licensed naturopathic doctors, two physicians, and one non-practitioner.

Mandated a continuing education requirement of at least 60 hours per biennial renewal period and required doctors to use the state's electronic tracking system.

ELIGIBILITY

Created a new licensure pathway requiring applicants to be at least 21 years old, hold a bachelor's degree, obtain a naturopathic doctoral degree from an accredited program, pass a national licensing exam, and undergo background screening.

ENFORCEMENT

Changed the penalty for practicing without a license from a specific offense under s. 462.17 to a general misdemeanor of the second degree under s. 462.006.

SCOPE

Added exemptions for students, residents, and out-of-state doctors performing educational demonstrations, as well as for the domestic administration of family remedies.

TIMELINE

Set the effective date of the act to December 31, 2026.

S 688 Filed → S 688 c1 · 7 edits

MODERATE

This bill updates Florida's naturopathic medicine laws to modernize the profession by creating a new Board of Naturopathic Medicine and establishing a clear licensure pathway. It distinguishes between 'naturopathy' (general wellness advice available to unlicensed people) and 'naturopathic medicine' (clinical diagnosis and treatment requiring a license). The changes include adding naturopathic doctors to the list of telehealth providers, setting specific continuing education requirements, and defining the scope of practice to exclude procedures like surgery and acupuncture unless the doctor holds additional licenses.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of practice for licensed naturopathic doctors to include diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of conditions using natural therapies, while explicitly excluding high-risk procedures like surgery, acupuncture, and chiropractic adjustments unless the practitioner is also licensed in those fields. It also clarifies that unlicensed individuals can offer general wellness advice but cannot practice clinical naturopathic medicine.

DEFINITION

Created a clear legal distinction between 'naturopathy' (general wellness) and 'naturopathic medicine' (clinical practice), defining the latter as diagnosis and treatment using specific natural therapies.

ELIGIBILITY

Established a new licensure by examination process requiring a naturopathic doctoral degree from an accredited program and passing a national competency exam.

Added licensed naturopathic doctors to the list of eligible telehealth providers under Florida law.

REQUIREMENT

Mandated a Board of Naturopathic Medicine with seven members, including four licensed naturopathic doctors and two physicians, to oversee the profession.

Set continuing education requirements at 60 hours per biennial period and required use of the state's electronic tracking system.

ENFORCEMENT

Authorized the Board to deny licensure or impose disciplinary actions directly for violations, rather than relying solely on the Department of Health.

TIMELINE

Set the effective date of the new regulations to December 31, 2026.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 5, 2026 · House Mar 11, 2026

How they voted

34–3

Passed · 3 other

Total votes 40

Mar 5, 2026

D Democratic11

10 Yea 1

90% Yea

I Independent1

0% Nay

R Republican28

24 Yea 3 Nay 1

85% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Jun 26, 2026

Vetoed

Vetoed by Governor

legislature

Mar 11, 2026

Lower · Passed

CS passed; YEAS 85, NAYS 22

lower

Mar 10, 2026

Committee

Bill referred to House Calendar

lower

Mar 5, 2026

Upper · Passed

CS passed; YEAS 33 NAYS 3

upper

Mar 3, 2026

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Feb 25, 2026

Upper · Passed

On Committee agenda-- Fiscal Policy, 03/02/26, 12:00 pm, 412 Knott Building

upper

Feb 25, 2026

Upper · Passed

Favorable by Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services; YEAS 5 NAYS 1

upper

Feb 20, 2026

Upper · Passed

On Committee agenda-- Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services, 02/25/26, 10:00 am, 412 Knott Building

upper

Feb 12, 2026

Upper · Passed

Now in Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services

upper

Feb 11, 2026

Upper · Passed

Favorable by Health Policy; YEAS 8 NAYS 3

upper

Feb 6, 2026

Upper · Passed

On Committee agenda-- Health Policy, 02/11/26, 3:00 pm, 412 Knott Building

upper

Jan 13, 2026

Introduced

upper

Dec 16, 2025

Committee

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

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors