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HB1335 • 2026

Newborn Screenings

Newborn Screenings

Healthcare
Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor
Plakon
Last action
2026-03-13
Official status
House - Died in Health Professions & Programs Subcommittee
Effective date
2026-07-01

Plain English Breakdown

The bill text does not specify a date for when newborns must be screened for Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Newborn Screenings for Biliary Atresia

This law requires newborns to be screened for biliary atresia starting in January 2027 and mandates the Department of Health to consult with experts before making rules about screenings.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires newborns to be tested for biliary atresia starting on January 1, 2027.
  • Requires the Department of Health to work with a council of experts when creating rules about newborn screening methods and follow-up procedures.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Newborns in Florida
  • Parents of newborns
  • Healthcare providers who care for infants

Terms To Know

Biliary Atresia
A rare but serious liver disease that affects babies and needs early detection.
Genetics and Newborn Screening Advisory Council
A group of experts who advise the Department of Health on newborn screening rules.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify what happens if a test for biliary atresia is not available by January 1, 2027.
  • It's unclear how much funding will be provided to implement the education campaign and new screenings.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-13 House

    • Died in Health Professions & Programs Subcommittee

  2. 2026-01-15 House

    • Referred to Health Professions & Programs Subcommittee • Referred to Health Care Budget Subcommittee • Referred to Health & Human Services Committee • Now in Health Professions & Programs Subcommittee

  3. 2026-01-13 House

    • 1st Reading (Original Filed Version)

  4. 2026-01-09 House

    • Filed

Official Summary Text

Newborn Screenings; Requires, beginning on specified date, that newborns to be screened for biliary atresia; requires DOH to consult with Genetics & Newborn Screening Advisory Council before adopting certain rules; requires department, by specified date, to implement certain education campaign relating to biliary atresia.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HB 1335 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1335-00
Page 1 of 3
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 newborn screenings; providing a 2
short title; amending s. 383.14, F.S.; revising 3
rulemaking procedures; requiring, beginning on a 4
specified date, that newborns to be screened for 5
biliary atresia; requiring the Department of Health to 6
consult with the Genetics and Newborn Screening 7
Advisory Council before adopting certain rules; 8
requiring the department, by a specified date, to 9
implement a certain education campaign relating to 10
biliary atresia; providing an effective date. 11
12
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 13
14
Section 1. This act may be cited as "Mattie's Law." 15
Section 2. Paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of section 16
383.14, Florida Statutes, is amended and paragraph (c) is added 17
to that subsection and paragraph (i) is added to subsection (3) 18
of that section, to read: 19
383.14 Screening for metabolic disorders, other hereditary 20
and congenital disorders, and environmental risk factors.— 21
(2) RULES.— 22
(a) After consultation with the Genetics and Newborn 23
Screening Advisory Council, The department shall adopt and 24
enforce rules requiring that every newborn in this state shall: 25

HB 1335 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1335-00
Page 2 of 3
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. Before becoming 1 week of age, have a blood specimen 26
collected for newborn screenings; 27
2. Be tested for any condition included on the federal 28
Recommended Uniform Screening Panel which the council advises 29
the department should be included under the state's screening 30
program. After the council recommends that a condition be 31
included, the department shall submit a legislative budget 32
request to seek an appropriation to add testing of the condition 33
to the newborn screening program. The department shall expand 34
statewide screening of newborns to include screening for such 35
conditions within 18 months after the council renders such 36
advice, if a test approved by the United States Food and Drug 37
Administration or a test offered by an alternative vendor is 38
available. If such a test is not available within 18 months 39
after the council makes its recommendation, the department shall 40
implement such screening as soon as a test offered by the United 41
States Food and Drug Administration or by an alternative vendor 42
is available; 43
3. At the appropriate age, be tested for such other 44
metabolic diseases and hereditary or congenital disorders as the 45
department may deem necessary; and 46
4. Beginning January 1, 2027, be screened for biliary 47
atresia; and 48
5.4. Subject to legislative appropriation, beginning 49
January 1, 2027, be screened for Duchenne muscular dystrophy. 50

HB 1335 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1335-00
Page 3 of 3
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

(c) The department shall consult with the Genetics and 51
Newborn Screening Advisory Council before adopting rules 52
regarding screening methods, follow-up procedures, and the 53
inclusion of additional conditions in the screening program. 54
(3) DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH; POWERS AND DUTIES.—The 55
department shall administer and provide certain services to 56
implement the provisions of this section and shall: 57
(i) By October 1, 2026, implement a statewide public 58
health education campaign to increase public awareness and 59
understanding of biliary atresia and its associated risks. The 60
campaign shall, at a minimum: 61
1. Educate new and expecting parents on the symptoms of 62
biliary atresia and the importance of early diagnosis. 63
2. Provide guidance to health care providers licensed 64
under chapters 458, 459, and 464 on strategies for identifying 65
biliary atresia in infants and the risks of delayed treatment. 66
67
All provisions of this subsection must be coordinated with the 68
provisions and plans established under this chapter, chapter 69
411, and Pub. L. No. 99-457. 70
Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026. 71