Rep. Karen Gonzalez Pittman

Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances; Prohibits, beginning on specified date, certain use & sale, purchase, or distribution of aqueous film-forming foam; requires, beginning on specified date, certain entities to submit aqueous film-forming foam inventories & disposal plans to DEP; prohibits, beginning on specified date, possession & use of aqueous film-forming foam; authorizes DEP to administer certain grants or cost share programs; provides penalties & injunctive relief; requires certain public entities disposing of domestic wastewater biosolids and treated effluent to quarterly conduct specified samplings & submit results to DEP; limits purpose such samplings until specified standards are established by EPA & adopted by DEP.

Domestic Violence and Protective Injunctions; Reclassifying penalties for committing a domestic violence offense if a person has a prior conviction for domestic violence; providing that sentencing and incentive gain-time eligibility determinations are made without regard to a penalty enhancement; establishing an electronic monitoring pilot program in a specified county; requiring the sheriff, in consultation with certain persons, to design and implement the pilot program; providing requirements for the pilot program; requiring the Department of Corrections to complete an evaluation and provide specified reports to the Legislature; requiring the Department of Law Enforcement to enter injunctions against dating violence and sexual violence into a statewide verification system, etc.

Maddy summaryHB 249 designates the S.S. American Victory - a 1944 World War II merchant vessel now operating as a maritime museum in Tampa - as Florida's official state flagship, replacing the previous designation. The bill amends Florida Statutes to formally recognize this ship, which served in multiple conflicts and now functions as an educational and tourism site. This is a ceremonial designation with no new funding, regulations, or direct impact on residents or businesses, solely updating the state's symbolic representation. The change takes effect July 1, 2026.

Refrigerant Safety and Agricultural Continuity; Requires DACS to provide annual report to Legislature by specified date; authorizes DACS to coordinate with certain entities for specified purpose.

Public School Personnel Compensation; Provides that cost-of-living adjustments are for employees with direct student contact; provides that such adjustments do not preclude district school boards from providing other adjustments; removes limitation on such adjustments; revises requirement for use of advanced degrees when setting salary schedules for instructional personnel & school administrators; removes certain limitations for salary adjustments under performance salary schedule.

Health Insurer Accountability; Requires health plan to participate in filed claim dispute; provides penalties for failure to respond to claim; requires AHCA to notify certain entity within specified timeframe when health plan fails to pay provider; requires health plan to pay provider within specified timeframe after agency's order; provides credentialing requirements for managed care plan; requires each managed care plan to identify to agency & OIR any ownership interest of affiliation of any kind with certain entities; provides requirements for identification of such information; removes provision requiring results of certain audit reports to be dispositive; requires managed care contracts to include provider notifications regarding certain denials of coverage; prohibits insurer from denying certain claims; provides notification requirements & penalties.

Health Care Services Jurisdiction and Reimbursement; Provides that health insurance, health maintenance organization coverage, health plan coverage, & travel insurance providers are subject to jurisdiction of courts of this state under certain circumstances; prohibits health care providers from collecting & attempting to collect from patients any sums owed by insurers & HMOs for emergency services rendered; authorizes nonparticipating health care providers to pursue causes of action for quantum meruit for specified purpose.

Locations of Sheriffs' Offices; Authorizes sheriffs' offices to be located at any location in counties, rather than requires offices to be at county seats.

Neurofibromatosis Research Grants; Creates Neurofibromatosis Disease Grant Program within DOH; provides purpose program; requires, subject to appropriation, program to award certain grants; provides requirements for grant applications; requires Rare Disease Advisory Council & peer review panels to establish & follow specified guidelines; prohibits members of council & panels from participating in certain discussions & decisions; authorizes certain appropriation funds to be carried forward.

Leave for Living Organ Donation; Defines "living organ donor"; requires state agencies to grant administrative leave, not to exceed specified number of days, to allow employee to serve as living organ donor; specifies that such leave is in addition to other leave authorized by law; defines "employer" and "living organ donor"; requires certain employers to grant unpaid leave of absence to allow employee to serve as living organ donor; specifies length of such leave of absence; authorizes employers to grant paid or unpaid leave for period longer than required period of time; provides effective date.