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HB0491 • 2026

Faith-based Content in Batterers' Intervention Programs

Faith-based Content in Batterers' Intervention Programs

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Blanco ; Johnson ; (CO-INTRODUCERS) Bankson ; Barnaby ; Chamberlin ; Cobb ; Daniels ; López, J. ; Maggard ; Michael ; Mooney ; Partington ; Steele ; Trabulsy ; Yarkosky
Last action
2026-05-12
Official status
Chapter No. 2026-71
Effective date
2026-07-01

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide details on specific changes to existing rules beyond allowing optional faith-based activities.

Faith-based Content in Batterers' Intervention Programs

This law allows batterers' intervention programs to include optional faith-based activities.

What This Bill Does

  • Adds a new rule that says batterers' intervention programs can offer extra faith-based activities.
  • Says these extra activities are optional and do not have to be done by program members.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Batterers who take part in intervention programs
  • People who run batterers' intervention programs

Terms To Know

batterers' intervention program
A special class or group that helps people who have hurt others with violence to learn better ways of dealing with their feelings and actions.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The law does not specify what kinds of faith-based activities can be offered.
  • It is unclear how this change will affect the programs in practice.

Bill History

  1. 2026-05-12 The Florida Senate and Florida House of Representatives

    • Chapter No. 2026-71

  2. 2026-05-11 The Florida Senate and Florida House of Representatives

    • Approved by Governor

  3. 2026-04-30 The Florida Senate and Florida House of Representatives

    • Signed by Officers and presented to Governor

  4. 2026-03-06 Senate

    • Withdrawn from Rules -SJ 673 • Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading • Substituted for SB 624 -SJ 673 • Read 2nd time -SJ 673 • Read 3rd time -SJ 673 • Passed; YEAS 33 NAYS 1 -SJ 673

  5. 2026-03-06 House

    • In Messages • Ordered enrolled

  6. 2026-03-03 House

    • Read 2nd time • Added to Third Reading Calendar • Read 3rd time • Passed; YEAS 107, NAYS 2

  7. 2026-03-03 Senate

    • In Messages • Referred to Rules • Received

  8. 2026-02-26 House

    • Bill added to Special Order Calendar (3/3/2026)

  9. 2026-02-03 House

    • Favorable by Health & Human Services Committee • Reported out of Health & Human Services Committee • Bill released to House Calendar • Added to Second Reading Calendar

  10. 2026-01-30 House

    • Added to Health & Human Services Committee agenda

  11. 2026-01-22 House

    • Favorable by Judiciary Committee • Reported out of Judiciary Committee • Now in Health & Human Services Committee

  12. 2026-01-20 House

    • Added to Judiciary Committee agenda

  13. 2026-01-14 House

    • Reported out of Human Services Subcommittee • Now in Judiciary Committee

  14. 2026-01-13 House

    • Favorable by Human Services Subcommittee • 1st Reading (Original Filed Version)

  15. 2026-01-09 House

    • Added to Human Services Subcommittee agenda

  16. 2025-11-24 House

    • Referred to Human Services Subcommittee • Referred to Judiciary Committee • Referred to Health & Human Services Committee • Now in Human Services Subcommittee

  17. 2025-11-19 House

    • Filed

Official Summary Text

Faith-based Content in Batterers' Intervention Programs; Specifies that batterers' intervention programs may include faith-based activities, but may not require participation in such activities.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
ENROLLED
HB 491 2026 Legislature

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb491 -00-er
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

1
An act relating to faith-based content in batterers' 2
intervention programs; amending s. 741.325, F.S.; 3
specifying that batterers' intervention programs may 4
include faith-based activities, but may not require 5
participation in such activities; providing an 6
effective date. 7
8
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 9
10
Section 1. Paragraph (f) is added to subsection (1) of 11
section 741.325, Florida Statutes, to read: 12
741.325 Requirements for batterers' intervention 13
programs.— 14
(1) A batterers' intervention program must meet the 15
following requirements: 16
(f) A program may offer supplemental faith-based 17
activities to participants; however, participation in such 18
activities may not be required as part of the program. 19
Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026. 20