FloridaFlorida birth care providers must share drowning prevention guidance
Birth care providers and childbirth educators must give parents and caregivers Florida Department of Health guidance on preventing drowning and bathing children safely.
What it does
Birth care providers and childbirth educators must give parents and caregivers state-developed guidance on preventing drowning and bathing children safely during care after birth or childbirth education.
Florida families with incomes up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level can qualify for no-cost swimming lesson vouchers for children ages 1 through 7.
Argument forGiving families safety guidance around childbirth could help them recognize drowning risks and supervise children more carefully near water.
Argument againstDistributing required safety materials could add work for hospitals, birth centers, home birth providers, and childbirth educators during care and classes.
More detail
The Florida Department of Health must develop safety materials for birth care providers and childbirth educators to distribute. Florida hospitals, birth centers, and home birth providers serving newborns must give the materials to their parents or caregivers. Childbirth educators must give them to parents or caregivers taking childbirth education. Materials must explain drowning risks using available data and emphasize constant supervision near water and swimming lessons as added protection. They must also cover home hazards and safe bathing practices based on evidence. These requirements took effect July 1, 2026.
The Swimming Lesson Voucher Program offers vouchers for swimming lessons at no cost. The program covers Florida children ages 1 through 7. Family income must be no more than 200 percent of the federal poverty level. Families must meet the Department of Health’s eligibility rules, which include age, income, and Florida residency. The law’s voucher provisions took effect July 1, 2026.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Apr 22Chapter No. 2026-38Latest
- Apr 21Approved by Governor Ron DeSantisBecame Law
- Apr 21Signed by Officers and presented to GovernorTo Governor
- Mar 17Ordered enrolledMinor
- Mar 9Passed; YEAS 108, NAYS 0Passed House
- Vote recorded Passage, Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 9Read 3rd timeMinor
- Mar 9Added to Third Reading Calendar
- Mar 9Read 2nd timeMinor
- Mar 51st Reading (Engrossed 1)Minor
- Mar 5Bill added to Special Order Calendar (3/9/2026)
- Mar 5Bill referred to House Calendar
- Feb 25In Messages
- Vote recorded Third Reading. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 25Immediately certified
- Feb 25Passed as amended; YEAS 36 NAYS 0Passed Senate
- Feb 25Read 3rd timeMinor
- Feb 25Amendment(s) adopted (667490, 768758)
- Feb 25Read 2nd timeMinor
- Feb 23Placed on Special Order Calendar, 02/25/26
- Feb 12Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading
- Vote recorded Favorable. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 12Favorable by- Fiscal Policy; YEAS 19 NAYS 0Minor
- Feb 9On Committee agenda-- Fiscal Policy, 02/12/26, 9:00 am, 110 Senate Building
- Feb 4Now in Fiscal Policy
- Vote recorded Favorable. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 4Favorable by Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services; YEAS 7 NAYS 0Minor
- Jan 30On Committee agenda-- Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services, 02/04/26, 1:00 pm, 412 Knott Building
- Jan 21Now in Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services
- Jan 20Favorable by Health Policy; YEAS 11 NAYS 0Minor
- Vote recorded Favorable. Result: pass.Upper
- Jan 15On Committee agenda-- Health Policy, 01/20/26, 3:30 pm, 412 Knott Building
- Jan 13IntroducedMinor
- 2025
- Dec 1Referred to Health Policy; Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services; Fiscal PolicyMinor
- Nov 7FiledIntroduced
Public SafetyHealthcare