FloridaMartin County must distribute health fund money to licensed hospitals
Martin County must create a process to share its health care fund among licensed hospitals and set eligibility rules for county-paid hospital care.
What it does
The act repeals Martin County's authority under a 1967 law to recover certain welfare funds and obtain liens on real or personal property.
Martin County must set up a process to share its health care fund among all licensed hospitals. The fund can cover eligible residents' hospital care and certain other health programs.
People seeking county-paid hospital care must meet residency, income, insurance, and asset limits, including six months of county residence and no more than $8,000 in liquid assets.
Argument forSharing the fund among all licensed hospitals could give eligible county residents access to care through more hospitals.
Argument againstStrict income, insurance, residency, and asset limits could leave some residents without county-paid hospital care.
More detail
The act repeals a Martin County law that allowed the county to seek repayment of certain welfare funds and place liens on property. The repeal applies to chapter 67-1702, Laws of Florida, concerning Martin County. The repeal takes effect when the act becomes law.
The Martin County Board of County Commissioners must create an ordinance-based process to distribute County Health Care Fund money among all licensed hospitals in the county. The process covers all licensed hospitals in Martin County and county payments for hospital care. The fund may pay hospital care and related doctor and administrative costs for eligible indigent Martin County residents. The fund may also pay health programs required by state law and other health programs approved at a service level set by the county commission. The process applies after the act takes effect, which is when the act becomes law.
County-paid hospital care is limited to applicants who meet the listed indigency requirements. Applicants must be Martin County residents who seek hospitalization in the county and meet income, insurance, and asset limits. The applicant must have lived in Martin County for at least six months before hospitalization. The household's gross income must be no more than 150 percent of the federal poverty guidelines. The applicant must not qualify for Medicaid or another third-party payer. The applicant must have no more than $8,000 in liquid assets. These requirements apply when an applicant seeks county payment for hospitalization.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Jul 1Chapter No. 2026-190Latest
- Jun 10Approved by Governor Ron DeSantisBecame Law
- Jun 9Signed by Officers and presented to GovernorTo Governor
- Mar 11Ordered enrolledMinor
- Vote recorded Local Bills, Third Reading. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 11In Messages
- Mar 11Passed; YEAS 36 NAYS 0Passed Senate
- Mar 11Read 3rd timeMinor
- Mar 11Read 2nd timeMinor
- Mar 11Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading
- Mar 11Withdrawn from RulesMajor
- Mar 9Placed on Local Calendar, 03/11/26
- Feb 18ReceivedMinor
- Feb 12Referred to RulesMinor
- Feb 12In Messages
- Feb 11Passed; YEAS 114, NAYS 0Passed House
- Vote recorded Passage, Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 11Read 3rd timeMinor
- Feb 11Added to Third Reading Calendar
- Feb 11Read 2nd timeMinor
- Feb 5Bill added to Special Order Calendar (2/11/2026)
- Jan 22Added to Second Reading Calendar
- Vote recorded Favorable (State Affairs Committee). Result: pass.Lower
- Jan 22Bill released to House Calendar
- Jan 22Reported out of State Affairs Committee
- Jan 22Favorable by State Affairs CommitteeMinor
- Jan 20Added to State Affairs Committee agenda
- Jan 131st Reading (Original Filed Version)Minor
- 2025
- Dec 3Now in State Affairs Committee
- Dec 3Reported out of Health Care Facilities & Systems Subcommittee
- Dec 2Favorable by Health Care Facilities & Systems SubcommitteeMinor
- Vote recorded Favorable (Health Care Facilities & Systems Subcommittee). Result: pass.Lower
- Nov 21Added to Health Care Facilities & Systems Subcommittee agenda
- Nov 18Now in Health Care Facilities & Systems Subcommittee
- Vote recorded Favorable (Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee). Result: pass.Lower
- Nov 18Reported out of Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee
- Nov 18Favorable by Intergovernmental Affairs SubcommitteeMinor
- Nov 10Added to Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee agenda
- Nov 4Now in Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee
- Nov 4Referred to State Affairs CommitteeMinor
- Nov 4Referred to Health Care Facilities & Systems SubcommitteeMinor
- Nov 4Referred to Intergovernmental Affairs SubcommitteeMinor
- Oct 28FiledIntroduced
HealthcareGovernment & EthicsMental Health