Senator Rodriguez, sponsor of SB 894, told the Senate Children, Families and Elder Affairs Committee that the bill would allow faith‑based content to be included in certified batterers intervention programs as an optional pathway for participants.

The measure as introduced also directed the Department of Children and Families (DCF) to repeal an administrative rule that the sponsor said prohibited faith‑based ideology tied to a particular religion. An amendment later removed the repeal requirement and clarified that any faith‑based activities must be supplemental and may not be required.

Supporters at the committee hearing urged the panel to preserve choice for program participants. Beth Gerhardt, a Christian counselor in Central Florida, said, “This isn't about pushing faith. It's about meeting people where they are.” John Labriola of the Christian Family Coalition of Florida and Anthony Verdugo, who identified himself as executive director and founder of the Christian Family Coalition, also testified in favor of the bill. Aaron DiPietro of Florida Family Voice told the committee DCF’s 2022 directive excluding faith‑based providers “abruptly overturned decades of proven success” and asked senators to restore the option.

Committee members asked how the bill would define “faith” and how participation would be structured. Senator Rodriguez said faith content would be an optional pathway and that programs could decide whether to offer a faith‑based track; participants would select the program they prefer. When pressed about verification and doctrinal accuracy, the sponsor said she expected DCF to have “some kind of a verification process” but did not provide a curriculum or detailed oversight plan at the hearing.

Opposition or reservations came mainly from concerns about content and oversight. One senator recounted visits to faith‑based programs inside prisons as a reason to support options but said he had concerns about content and said he would vote no in committee, treating the measure as a bookmark.

The committee adopted the sponsor’s amendment clarifying voluntariness and adopted CS for SB 894; the committee reported the bill favorably to the next stage of consideration.

Votes at the committee included adoption of an amendment offered by Senator Rodriguez and a final committee report favorable on CS for SB 894. The transcript records the amendment was adopted and that CS for SB 894 was reported favorably; the roll call tally was not specified in the transcript.