HB0551 • 2026

Medical Conscience

Healthcare

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Black
Last action: 2026-03-13
Official status: House - Died in Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee
Effective date: 2026-07-01

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide details on how health care providers and payors can use violations as defenses in legal disputes.

Medical Conscience Act

This bill allows health care providers and payors to file complaints with the Attorney General for violations of their medical conscience rights and sue directly if the Attorney General does not act within 180 days.

What This Bill Does

Allows health care providers and payors to file complaints with the Attorney General about violations of their medical conscience rights.
Gives the Attorney General power to investigate these complaints, including taking depositions and issuing subpoenas.
Enables the Attorney General to sue for damages or other relief if a violation is found within 180 days of receiving a complaint.
Permits health care providers and payors to sue directly if the Attorney General does not act within 180 days.

Who It Names or Affects

Health care providers
Health care payors

Terms To Know

Medical conscience: The right of health care professionals and organizations to refuse to provide certain medical services based on moral or religious beliefs.
Civil action: A lawsuit filed in a court to resolve disputes between individuals or entities.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify what constitutes a violation of medical conscience rights.
It is unclear how the Department of Legal Affairs will implement rules for this act.
This bill has passed the legislature but died in committee, so it may not become law.

Bill History

2026-03-13 House
• Died in Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee
2026-01-13 House
• 1st Reading (Original Filed Version)
2025-12-12 House
• Referred to Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee • Referred to Health Professions & Programs Subcommittee • Referred to Judiciary Committee • Now in Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee
2025-11-25 House
• Filed

Official Summary Text

Medical Conscience ; Authorizes health care providers & health care payors to commence civil action for certain damages & relief.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB 551 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb551-00
Page 1 of 2
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 medical conscience; amending s. 2
381.00321, F.S.; authorizing health care providers and 3
health care payors to commence a civil action for 4
certain damages and relief under certain 5
circumstances; providing an effective date. 6
7
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 8
9
Section 1. Subsection (4) of section 381.00321, Florida 10
Statutes, is amended to read: 11
381.00321 The right of medical conscience of health care 12
providers and health care payors.— 13
(4) ENFORCEMENT.—A health care provider or health care 14
payor may file a complaint with the Attorney General alleging 15
any violation of this section. 16
(a) If the Attorney General determines there has been a 17
violation of this section, the Attorney General may commence a 18
civil action for damages, injunctive relief, or any other 19
appropriate relief, including attorney fees. For the purpose of 20
conducting an investigation, the Attorney General may administer 21
oaths; take depositions; make inspections when authorized by 22
law; issue subpoenas supported by affidavit; serve subpoenas and 23
other process; and compel the attendance of witnesses and the 24
production of books, papers, documents, and other evidence. The 25

HB 551 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb551-00
Page 2 of 2
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

Department of Legal Affairs may adopt rules to implement this 26
subsection. 27
(b) If the Attorney General does not commence a civil 28
action within 180 days of the filing of the complaint, a health 29
care provider or health care payor may commence a civil action 30
for damages, injunctive relief, or any other appropriate relief, 31
including attorney fees, or assert a violation of this section 32
as a defense in a judicial or administrative proceeding. 33
Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026. 34