This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.
Sponsor
Health Professions & Programs Subcommittee ; Salzman
Last action
2026-03-13
Official status
Senate - Died in Rules
Effective date
2026-07-01
Plain English Breakdown
The official text does not define "clinical setting" or provide examples of how to specify one's profession.
Rules for Using Nursing Titles
This law allows licensed nurses with doctoral degrees to use specific titles like D.N.P. or Ph.D., but requires them to clearly state they are a nurse when using the word 'doctor' in clinical settings.
What This Bill Does
Allows licensed persons who hold a doctoral degree to use the title "Doctor of Nursing Practice" and the abbreviation "D.N.P." if that is their degree.
Allows licensed persons who hold a doctoral degree to use the title "Doctor of Philosophy" and the abbreviation "Ph.D." if that is their degree.
Requires nurses with a doctoral degree to clearly specify their profession when using the title "doctor" in a clinical setting.
Who It Names or Affects
Licensed persons who hold a doctoral degree
Nurses working in clinical settings
Limits and Unknowns
The provided text does not define what specific actions count as specifying one's profession.
The provided text does not list penalties for breaking these rules.
Amendments
These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.
Plain English: This amendment updates Florida law to allow nurses with doctoral degrees to use specific titles like 'Doctor of Nursing Practice' while requiring them to clearly state their profession if they use the title 'doctor' in a clinical setting.
Nurses who hold a doctoral degree are allowed to use the full title "Doctor of Nursing Practice" or the abbreviation "D.N.P." based on their specific degree.
These nurses may also use the titles "Doctor of Philosophy" and "Ph.D." if they have earned that type of doctorate.
In clinical settings, a nurse with a doctoral degree cannot simply call themselves "doctor" without clearly explaining that they are a nurse.
The provided text does not explain the specific rules for how nurses must specify their profession in clinical settings beyond stating it is required.
The amendment only covers titles related to doctoral degrees and does not change existing restrictions on other nursing titles like "Registered Nurse" or "Nurse Practitioner."
Bill History
2026-03-13Senate
• Died in Rules
2026-02-10Senate
• Received
2026-02-09Senate
• Referred to Rules
2026-02-04House
• Read 2nd time • Added to Third Reading Calendar • Read 3rd time • CS passed; YEAS 111, NAYS 0
2026-02-04Senate
• In Messages
2026-01-29House
• Bill added to Special Order Calendar (2/4/2026)
2026-01-27House
• Favorable by Health & Human Services Committee • Reported out of Health & Human Services Committee • Bill released to House Calendar • Added to Second Reading Calendar
2026-01-23House
• Added to Health & Human Services Committee agenda
2026-01-19House
• Referred to Health & Human Services Committee • Now in Health & Human Services Committee
2026-01-15House
• Reported out of Health Professions & Programs Subcommittee • Laid on Table under Rule 7.18(a) • CS Filed • 1st Reading (Committee Substitute 1)
2026-01-14House
• Favorable with CS by Health Professions & Programs Subcommittee
2026-01-13House
• 1st Reading (Original Filed Version)
2026-01-12House
• Added to Health Professions & Programs Subcommittee agenda
2025-10-28House
• Referred to Health Professions & Programs Subcommittee • Referred to Health & Human Services Committee • Now in Health Professions & Programs Subcommittee
2025-10-21House
• Filed
Official Summary Text
Use of Professional Nursing Titles; Authorizes persons who hold specified degrees to use certain titles & abbreviations; requires certain doctoral degree holders to specify their profession when using specified title.
Current Bill Text
Read the full stored bill text
CS/HB 237 2026
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb237-01-c1
Page 1 of 1
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
A bill to be entitled 1
An act relating to the use of professional nursing 2
titles; amending s. 464.015, F.S.; authorizing persons 3
who hold specified degrees to use certain titles and 4
abbreviations; requiring certain doctoral degree 5
holders to specify their profession when using a 6
specified title; providing an effective date. 7
8
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 9
10
Section 1. Subsection (10) of section 464.015, Florida 11
Statutes, is renumbered as subsection (11), and a new subsection 12
(10) is added to that section, to read: 13
464.015 Titles and abbreviations; restrictions; penalty.— 14
(10) A person who is licensed pursuant to this chapter and 15
holds a doctoral degree may use the title "Doctor of Nursing 16
Practice" and the abbreviation "D.N.P." or the title "Doctor of 17
Philosophy" and the abbreviation "Ph.D." in a manner consistent 18
with the doctoral degree such person has obtained. A nurse who 19
holds a doctoral degree may not use the title "doctor" in a 20
clinical setting without clearly specifying their profession. 21
Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026. 22