Written by Judi Marraccini / FL NOW Legislative Director / legislative@flnow.org
01.15.26 / The bills for the 2026 Legislation Session, which started on January 13th, are being voted on in committees and on the Floor. Notice of votes, where and when, comes a few days before the vote. The next voting in the Senate may be on Wednesday, January 21. Please be ready to act quickly when we send out an Action Alert.
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Latest Legislative Update: 1.16.26
On Thursday, January 15th, 2 awful bills were passed by the FL House.
HB 289 Civil Liability for the Wrongful Death of An Unborn Child (Personhood Bill). Before the bill was voted on, amendments had been added to limit who could sue ( the woman’s abuser, rapist, ex partners,). The bill passed along party lines and all amendments were voted down. Now it goes to the FL Senate. As soon as I know some thing, I will pass it on.
HB 133 Minimum Age for Firearms (Reducing Age to 18) This bill was passed along party lines. It now goes to the FL Senate. The good news is that there is not a Senate companion for it, YET. As soon as I know some thing, I will pass it on.
Good Bills
HB 6001 / SB 242 Pregnancy Support & Wellness Services: Ends taxpayer funding for so‑called “crisis pregnancy centers” that provide misleading information and do not offer comprehensive reproductive health care. This bill redirects public money away from anti‑abortion propaganda and affirms that state resources should support evidence‑based, patient‑centered health care and bodily autonomy.
HB 547 / SB 32 Injunctions for Protection in Cases of Repeat or Serious Violence Expands access to protective injunctions by allowing survivors to seek court protection after a single act of serious violence or credible threat, rather than requiring repeated harm. This bill prioritizes survivor safety and early intervention, recognizing that waiting for “repeat” violence often puts lives at risk.
HB 425 / SB 34 Historic Cemeteries Program: Establishes and funds a program to identify, preserve, and restore historic cemeteries, with particular importance for neglected and endangered Black cemeteries.
HB 59 / SB 172 Pregnant Women In Custody Creates baseline protections for incarcerated pregnant people, including access to pregnancy testing upon request, notification of rights, reporting requirements, and limited alternatives to incarceration. While the bill still operates within a carceral system, it is a harm‑reduction step that acknowledges the humanity and health needs of pregnant people in state custody.
HB 269 / SB 296 Victims of Domestic Violence and Dating Violence Strengthens survivor support infrastructure by creating coordinated councils, expanding address confidentiality protections, and improving access to services for survivors of domestic and dating violence. This bill moves toward a survivor‑centered model that emphasizes safety, privacy, and support over punishment alone. 1.15.26 Passed in Senate Committee – 7Y & 0N
HB 6019 / SB 952 Repeal of Discriminatory Marriage Language (Repeal of 19197 State Law – Marriage of 1 man & 1 woman) Repeals outdated statutory language defining marriage as between one man and one woman. While there are still federal protections, this bill matters for security, dignity, and equality by removing discriminatory language from Florida law and affirming LGBTQ+ families.
HB 235 / SB 252 Hairstyle Discrimination Prohibits discrimination based on natural or protective hairstyles historically associated with race, including locs, braids, twists, and afros. This bill directly confronts anti‑Black racism embedded in workplace and school “grooming” standards and affirms bodily autonomy and cultural expression.
SB 626 Formalizing School Immunizations Clarifies and formalizes school immunization requirements to protect public health.
HB 515 / SB 514 Doula Support for Healthy Birth Pilot Program Establishes a pilot program to provide doula care for pregnant and birthing people. This bill is a meaningful step toward addressing Florida’s maternal mortality crisis, particularly for Black mothers and low‑income families, by expanding access to culturally competent, non‑medical birth support.
HB 681 / SB 782 Healthcare Freedom Act Protects patients and health care workers from coercive or discriminatory medical policies and reinforces patient autonomy in health care decision‑making. When implemented with strong equity safeguards, this bill can help prevent exclusionary practices and uphold informed consent.
HB 677 / SB 790 Freedom to Learn Act Protects students’ right to inclusive, accurate education and limits political interference in curriculum. This bill supports honest teaching about history, gender, race, and inequality, and resists censorship that harms marginalized students.
Bad Bills
HB 173 / SB 166 Parental Rights This bill restricts minors’ access to health care, sexual health information, and support services by requiring parental consent for STD testing, pregnancy tests, counseling, and related care. It removes autonomy from young people, particularly LGBTQIA+ youth, abuse survivors, and unhoused or undocumented minors, increasing the risk of harm, coercion, and denied medical care.
SB 164 Civil Liability for the Wrongful Death of an Unborn Child This bill seeks to establish legal personhood for fetuses by allowing civil lawsuits for the wrongful death of an “unborn child at any stage of pregnancy”. It lays the groundwork for criminalizing all abortion, pregnancy loss, miscarriage, and reproductive healthcare while exposing pregnant people and providers to surveillance and litigation. The bill also threatens access to IVF and other fertility care.
HB 347 / SB 426 Adoption and Display of Flags by Government Entities (Anti Pride Flag Bill)
HB 663 / SB 1374 Civil Remedies Pertaining to Abortions: (Bounty Hunter Bill, can sue minimum $100k anyone for helping with medication abortion)
HB 1071 / SB 1090 Education This bill embeds state-mandated fetal propaganda into school curricula while restricting student participation in political or social justice organizations unless parents explicitly opt in. It censors student activism weakens sex education and replaces medically accurate information with ideologically driven content enforcing state control over young peoples political development.
HB 993 / SB 1044 Informed Consent for Assisted Reproductive Technology This bill threatens access to in vitro fertilization by expanding embryo personhood and increasing legal and regulatory risks for fertility providers and patients. It prioritizes religious ideology over medical science and endangers queer families, disabled people, and others who rely on assisted reproductive care.
HB 743 / SB 1010 Prohibited Sex-reassignment Prescriptions and Procedures This bill criminalizes gender-affirming healthcare for minors by banning hormone therapy and surgical care, even when supported by medical professionals and families. It escalates state surveillance of trans youth and their caregivers, threatening providers with severe penalties and chilling access to care statewide. The bill ignores medical consensus and disproportionately harms trans and gender-nonconforming youth, particularly those who are low-income, disabled, or already marginalized by systemic barriers to healthcare.
HB 429 / SB 536 Revise the definition of “gang member” This bill dangerously expands the legal definition of gang membership, allowing law enforcement to label individuals, particularly Black and Brown youth, as gang members based on vague criteria such as social media activity, associations, or third-party accusations. It increases racial profiling, criminalization of youth, and police surveillance, reinforcing mass incarceration pipelines under the pretext of public safety.
HB 133 Minimum Age for Firearms (Reducing age to 18) Passed the FL House. Now going to Senate where there is no companion bill.
Where to Track Bills Directly
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