The Senate Committee on Health Policy on May 20 voted to report favorably six bills and a proposed committee bill covering blood‑clot screening and treatment, medical sharps and prescription disposal, preparedness for avian influenza, a tax credit for lodging for families of critically ill children, restrictions on physician noncompete clauses, and preservation of a public‑records exemption for judicial bypass records in parental‑consent law.

The measures drew testimony from patient advocates, industry representatives and medical groups and prompted questions from multiple senators about definitions, training, fiscal impact and enforcement. Committee members generally signaled support while asking sponsors to refine statutory language and implementation details before subsequent committee stops or floor consideration.

Senate Bill 890 — blood‑clot screening and registry

Sen. Yarborough (sponsor) described SB 890 as a ‘‘work in progress’’ drafted from a recent blood‑clot working group. The bill would (1) identify chronic critical illness and certain genetic predispositions as chronic diseases for purposes of the bill, (2) direct the Department of Health (DOH) to create a blood‑clot and pulmonary embolism registry, (3) require screening protocols at hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers for risk of deep‑vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism, (4) require certified nursing assistants (CNAs) in nursing homes to receive training to recognize signs and symptoms and respond in emergencies, and (5) require Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) rules for assisted‑living facilities to require risk identification and response protocols and include the subject in ALF administrator core training.

Patient advocates including Leslie Lake, volunteer president of the National Blood Clot Alliance and a survivor, and Janet Atkins, who asked senators to cosponsor the bill after the loss of her daughter, urged passage and noted the preventable nature of many clots. Doug Adkins, who identified steps his assisted‑living facilities have taken (for example, electronic record flags and an educational poster project), told the committee those operational changes are feasible in long‑term‑care settings.

Committee members pressed the sponsor on several open items the sponsor said would be addressed by amendment: an explicit legal definition of ‘‘blood clot’’ (Sponsor: will work on a precise statutory definition), whether the registry would be hosted by a university (Sponsor: under consideration but not yet identified), the scope and frequency of CNA and ALF training, and the statutory implementation date to allow further drafting. Senator Harrell and others emphasized concerns about overly prescriptive continuing‑education requirements and practical responsibility limits for facilities. The committee reported SB 890 favorably.

Senate Bill 668 — sharps and prescription drug disposal study

Sen. Burgess explained SB 668 would require a study of medical sharps collection and examine conflicts between state and federal requirements for disposal of certain prescriptions (the sponsor cited a state requirement to hand‑count some returned drugs that can conflict with federal rules). The study would examine individual and commercial disposal methods and involve DOH and the Department of Environmental Protection.

Sen. Berman and others asked whether recent increases in home injectable therapies (for example, GLP‑1 agents) have driven a proliferation of sharps; Burgess acknowledged that possibility and said the study would consider both individual and commercial disposal. Industry witnesses (National Waste & Recycling Association and Stericycle) waived in support. The committee reported SB 668 favorably; one voting senator recorded a ‘‘no’’ during the roll call and sponsors said they expect further clarifying amendments.

Senate Bill 762 — avian influenza readiness task force

Sen. Berman described SB 762, which creates a Be Ready task force within DOH to develop a statewide strategy to prevent the spread of avian influenza (H5N1) and prepare for possible human‑to‑human transmission. The task force’s membership would include infectious‑disease experts, county health departments, emergency management and agricultural agencies. Duties include monitoring livestock outbreaks, studying wastewater monitoring, and recommending cost‑effective testing and response strategies. An amendment adopted in committee extended the task‑force completion date from Oct. 1, 2025, to Dec. 1, 2025.

Berman said Florida had not yet experienced commercial flock outbreaks but had recorded a small number of backyard losses; she noted the national scale of bird losses since 2022 and stressed preparedness. Committee members asked about likely costs; the sponsor said the task force would be largely unpaid with modest per diem and that recommendations are required to address cost effectiveness. SB 762 was reported favorably as a committee substitute.

Senate Bill 182 — Home Away from Home tax credit for lodging donors

Sen. Colladiyud (sponsor) presented SB 182, which would create the Home Away from Home Tax Credit to provide tax credits to businesses that donate to eligible charities that offer low‑cost or no‑cost lodging to families of critically ill children. The credit is capped at $2.5 million per fiscal year; the bill includes a $10,000 nonrecurring appropriation for 2025–26 for implementation. The sponsor said the design mirrors an existing Florida Strong Families tax‑credit model and named several beneficiary organizations (for example, Ronald McDonald House‑type entities).

Sen. Harrell expressed caution about setting new tax‑credit precedents but said he would support the bill while urging care on fiscal impacts and eligibility. Doug Bell (representing McDonald’s) waived in support. SB 182 was reported favorably.

Senate Bill 942 — restrictive covenants in health care employment

Chair Burton introduced SB 942 to prohibit restrictive covenants that bar MDs or DOs earning less than $250,000 annually from practicing medicine in any geographic area after contract termination. The bill exempts (1) research obligations in contracts and (2) transactions involving sale of ownership interests in medical practices when a physician retains ownership, and it allows reasonable geographic restrictions tied to ownership sales.

Physician‑group and specialty societies, residency program representatives and the American College of Physicians testified in support, arguing restrictive covenants can reduce access to care and inhibit retention of early‑career doctors. Witnesses said standard case law often measures reasonableness by distance (a frequently‑cited standard is roughly 20 miles, adjusted for urban density) and described common buyout provisions that can be unaffordable for young physicians.

Opponents in committee concerns included small practice owners who invest in training and patient relationships with recruits; Senator Berman said she would vote against the bill citing those concerns. Senators raised potential edge cases (for example, disciplinary disqualifications or hospital privileges changes) that the sponsor said she would consider amending to address. SB 942 was reported favorably by the committee with recorded dissenting votes.

SPB 7018 — preservation of public‑records exemption for judicial bypass

Chair Burton explained proposed committee bill SPB 7018 would preserve the public‑records exemption for identifying information of minors who petition a court for a judicial bypass to obtain an abortion without parental consent. The exemption would remain under the Open Government Sunset Review Act. Supporters waived testimony; the committee adopted the proposal as a committee bill and reported it favorably.

Votes at a glance

- SB 890 (Yarborough) — Improving screening and treatment for blood clots: reported favorably (committee vote recorded as favorable). The sponsor said definition, training delivery, and registry hosting remain to be finalized by amendment.
- SB 668 (Burgess) — Study on medical sharps and prescription‑drug disposal: reported favorably (one ‘‘no’’ recorded during roll call); sponsor expects clarifying amendments.
- SB 762 (Berman) — Be Ready task force for avian influenza: reported favorably as committee substitute (unanimous in committee roll call).
- SB 182 (Colladiyud) — Home Away from Home charitable tax credit (cap $2.5M/year; $10,000 implementation appropriation for FY25‑26): reported favorably (unanimous in committee roll call).
- SB 942 (Burton) — Restrictive covenants in health‑care employment for physicians earning <$250,000: reported favorably (some dissent recorded); sponsors signaled willingness to consider narrow technical exemptions.
- SPB 7018 (Burton) — Preserve public‑records exemption for judicial bypass: reported favorably (one ‘‘no’’ recorded in roll call); adopted as a proposed committee bill.

What’s next and takeaways

Committee sponsors told members they will work through definitions, training delivery, hosting and implementation dates in follow‑up drafting. Multiple senators emphasized the committee’s dual goals: protecting patients and ensuring practical, enforceable rules that facilities and clinicians can implement. Advocates urged prompt action on blood‑clot prevention and on measures to retain and recruit physicians; industry witnesses asked for statutory clarity on disposal and logistics. The bills will proceed to further committee stops or the Senate floor per the legislative calendar.

Quotes from the hearing

Leslie Lake, volunteer president, National Blood Clot Alliance: "This is a very serious, serious thing that we're dealing with; it's a public health crisis in this state and in this country but it is highly, highly preventable."

Janet Atkins, parent and advocate: "I ask not only for your vote, but I ask you to cosponsor this bill. Because by doing so, you send a very important message to all of Floridians that their life matters."

Doug Adkins, assisted‑living operator: "We simply adjust the profile so when the patient goes to the hospital the doctor reads the profile on the front page, boom, right there in front of them a history of known blood clots."

Sen. Burton (sponsor, SB 942): "This bill will also keep physicians in Florida and benefit patients' access to quality care in our communities."

Ending

Committee sponsors said they will circulate draft amendments to address several implementation questions raised in the hearing — including statutory definitions, training logistics, registry hosting and narrow exceptions to the noncompete prohibition — before the measures move to their next consideration. The full Senate calendar will determine timing for subsequent floor action.