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HB 809FLORIDA · STATEWIDESession 2026Ordered enrolled

New Rules for Temporary Medical Licenses in Critical Need Areas

Original title: Temporary Certificates for Practice in Areas of Critical Need

December 17, 2025

healthcareprofessional licensingrural healthmedical practicenursing

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Where This Stands

Introduced
Committee
Floor Vote
Passed
Signed

Currently Ordered enrolled. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Signed.

Procedural history

19 actions
  1. Feb 26, 2026House
    Bill added to Special Order Calendar (3/3/2026)
  2. Feb 18, 2026House
    Added to Second Reading Calendar
  3. Feb 18, 2026House
    Bill released to House Calendar
  4. Feb 18, 2026House
    Reported out of Health & Human Services Committee
  5. Feb 18, 2026HouseCommittee
    Favorable by Health & Human Services Committee
  6. Feb 16, 2026House
    Added to Health & Human Services Committee agenda
Show 13 earlier actions
  1. Feb 6, 2026House
    Now in Health & Human Services Committee
  2. Feb 6, 2026HouseCommittee
    Referred to Health & Human Services Committee
  3. Feb 4, 2026HouseIntroduced
    1st Reading (Committee Substitute 1)
  4. Feb 4, 2026HouseIntroduced
    CS Filed
  5. Feb 4, 2026House
    Laid on Table under Rule 7.18(a)
  6. Feb 4, 2026House
    Reported out of Health Professions & Programs Subcommittee
  7. Feb 3, 2026HouseCommittee
    Favorable with CS by Health Professions & Programs Subcommittee
  8. Jan 30, 2026House
    PCS added to Health Professions & Programs Subcommittee agenda
  9. Jan 13, 2026HouseIntroduced
    1st Reading (Original Filed Version)
  10. Jan 5, 2026House
    Now in Health Professions & Programs Subcommittee
  11. Jan 5, 2026HouseCommittee
    Referred to Health & Human Services Committee
  12. Jan 5, 2026HouseCommittee
    Referred to Health Professions & Programs Subcommittee
  13. Dec 17, 2025HouseIntroduced
    Filed

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

View official text →

The Frame

What this does

This change ensures that patients in medically underserved areas do not lose access to their current primary care providers if the state reclassifies their community as no longer having a 'critical need.'

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

Temporary certificate holders (doctors, osteopaths, nurses)

They are subject to new annual review requirements and gain the ability to continue practicing in areas that lose their critical need designation.

Patients in areas of critical need

They may retain access to their current primary care providers even if their area's official designation changes.

What changed

Current stage: Ordered enrolled.

What's next

Signed.

Summary

This bill allows doctors, osteopaths, and nurses working in areas of 'critical need' to keep their temporary licenses even if the area loses that official designation, provided they are still actively treating patients there. It also mandates annual reviews of these professionals to ensure they continue to meet state practice standards.

Why It Matters

This change ensures that patients in medically underserved areas do not lose access to their current primary care providers if the state reclassifies their community as no longer having a 'critical need.'

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will I lose my doctor if my town is no longer considered an area of 'critical need'?
No, under this bill, your doctor can continue to provide primary care services to you if they already have an active treatment relationship with you in that area.
How often are these temporary medical professionals reviewed?
The relevant licensing boards are required to review each holder at least once every year.

News Coverage

No news coverage found yet. Articles are indexed twice daily.

Voting Record

Outcome not reportedhouse2/18/2026Official roll call ↗

Favorable (Health & Human Services Committee)

Total

36

Yes

33

No

0

Present

0

Not Voting

3

Abstain

0

Outcome not reportedhouse2/3/2026Official roll call ↗

Favorable (Health Professions & Programs Subcommittee)

Total

30

Yes

26

No

0

Present

0

Not Voting

4

Abstain

0

Full roll-call analysis →

Sponsors

Discoveries

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift100% confidence

Shift from Designation-Dependent Practice

The bill moves from a model where practice rights are strictly tied to a state-level designation to one that prioritizes existing patient-provider relationships.

Board of MedicineBoard of Osteopathic MedicineBoard of Nursing

Connected Entities

date2025-12-17“bill was filed on this date”Map →
organizationHouse Calendar“bill released to this calendar”Map →
organizationHealth & Human Services Committee“referred to and reported out of this committee”Map →
date2026-01-05“bill was referred to committees on this date”Map →
dollar_amount7.18“bill was laid on table under this rule”Map →
organizationHealth Professions & Programs Subcommittee“referred to and reported out of this committee”Map →

Sources

Open source document

openstates.org

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance65
    How much this matters to a regular citizen
  • Controversy10
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment5
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz20
    Current news / social attention level

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