Changes to Government Liability and Tort Claim Rules
January 7, 2026
Track this bill to get notified when it advances a stage. One tap to stop, anytime.
Where This Stands
Currently Laid on Table, refer to HB 145. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Introduced.
Procedural history
10 actions- Feb 26, 2026SenateOn Committee agenda-- Rules, 03/03/26, 9:00 am, 412 Knott Building
- Feb 13, 2026SenateNow in Rules
- Feb 12, 2026SenateCommitteeFavorable by Appropriations; YEAS 16 NAYS 2
- Feb 9, 2026SenateOn Committee agenda-- Appropriations, 02/12/26, 9:00 am, 412 Knott Building
- Feb 3, 2026SenateNow in Appropriations
- Feb 3, 2026SenateCommitteeFavorable by Judiciary; YEAS 11 NAYS 0
Show 4 earlier actions
- Jan 29, 2026SenateOn Committee agenda-- Judiciary, 02/03/26, 1:00 pm, 110 Senate Building
- Jan 22, 2026SenateIntroducedIntroduced
- Jan 16, 2026SenateCommitteeReferred to Judiciary; Appropriations; Rules
- Jan 7, 2026SenateIntroducedFiled
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
Residents who suffer injury or property loss due to government negligence will see higher potential compensation caps, but must navigate updated filing deadlines and stricter disclosure requirements for existing debts owed to the state.
Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.
Tort Claimants
Individuals seeking damages from the state face new filing deadlines, disclosure requirements, and higher recovery caps.
Government Employees
Employees are protected from personal liability for actions within the scope of their duties, provided they do not act with malice or bad faith.
Attorneys
Legal counsel representing claimants in these cases are restricted to a maximum fee of 25% of the recovered funds.
Last recorded activity January 7, 2026.
Introduced.
Summary
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
How much can I recover if I sue the state for negligence?
What happens if I owe money to the state?
Can I still sue if I was involved in a protest?
Why It Matters
Residents who suffer injury or property loss due to government negligence will see higher potential compensation caps, but must navigate updated filing deadlines and stricter disclosure requirements for existing debts owed to the state.
News Coverage
Lobbying Activity
AARP
2026
“P.L. 119-21, One Big Beautiful Bill Act H.R. 8867, Planning for Long-term Aging Needs (PLAN) Act H.R. 5861, Legacy Act of 2025 H.R. 9393, the Lower Costs, More Transparency Act. H.R. 9396, the Prior Authorization Accountability Act. S. 4916, the Aging with Artificial Intelligence Act. H.R. 8100, Safe Staffing Saves Lives Act. S. 3886, Nurses Belong in Nursing Homes Act. H.R. 6766/S. 3492, the Essential Caregivers Act of 2025. H.R. 7966/S. 4118, Hospice Care Accountability, Reform, and Enforcement (Hospice CARE) Act. S. 2120, the Older Americans Act Reauthorization Act of 2025 H.R. 5575, the Firefighters Assisting Seniors to Emergency Response (FASTER) Act of 2025. H.R. 3954/S. 4641, Improving Access to Medicare Coverage Act. H.R.5554/S.2831, Stand Strong for Medicare Act. S. 3439/H.R. 6735, Connecting Caregivers to Medicare Act and efforts related to the bill S. 1227/H.R. 2491, Alleviating Barriers for Caregivers Act S. 668/H.R. 3183, Supporting Access to Falls Education and Prevention and Strengthening Training Efforts and Promoting Safety Initiatives (SAFE STEPS) for Veterans Act of 2025 CMS-1851-P, Hospice Proposed rule. CMS-1843-P, Skilled Nursing Facility Proposed rule. CMS-1844-P, Home Health Proposed rule. No bill number. Health care transparency. No bill number. Discussed use of artificial intelligence and health data technology. No bill number. Discussed health-related policies and activities around the fall respiratory virus season. No bill number. Discussed health insurance affordability proposals. No bill number. Discussed Nursing Home staffing standards, safety, and quality. No bill number. Discussed Nursing home transparency and ownership requirements. No bill number. Discussed home health, hospice, and long-term care. No bill number. Discussed falls prevention. No bill number. Discussed social isolation. No bill number. Discussed HUD Assisted Living Requirements No bill number. Discussed family caregiving. No bill number. Discussed AARP paper on Medicare Caregiver Training Services. No bill number. Discussed Medicaid community engagement interim final rule, including the family caregiver exemption. No bill number. Discussed the paid direct care workforce in long-term care. No bill number. Discussed the unaffordability of long-term care. No bill number. Discussed Money Follows the Person Rebalancing Demonstration Program and Medicaid HCBS spousal impoverishment protections. No bill number. Discussed Medicaid fraud and family caregivers, Medicaid self-direction programs. No bill number. Discussed sandwich generation family caregiver hearing and submitted a statement for the record discussing family caregivers and sandwich generation caregivers, programs that support them, AARP caregiving resources, and federal policies to support sandwich generation caregivers and caregivers more broadly. No bill number. Discussed long-term care. No bill number. CMS-2453-NC; Medicaid Program; 2028 Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services Quality Measure Set Submitted comments No bill number. Discussed expanding access to home care. No bill number. Discussed the increasing cost of home care No bill number. Discussed HSA use for telehealth chronic care management services/subscriptions. No bill number. Discussed artificial intelligence and technology”
162 STRATEGIES
on behalf of American Association of Disability Justice
2026
“Issues related to patient access to their healthcare data and the effect on federal benefit claims (generally, no specific legislation)”
162 STRATEGIES
on behalf of National Organization of Social Security Claimants' Representatives
2026
“Issues related to Social Security Administration disability claims due process (generally, no specific legislation); Issues related to Social Security Administration customer service (generally, no specific legislation); Issues related to Social Security Administration engagement with appointed representatives on disability claims (generally, no specific legislation); Issues related to Health and Human Services interpretation of standards for digital health information exchange (generally, no specific legislation); SSI Savings Penalty Elimination Act (S 1234 and HR 2540); SSI Restoration Act (S 4001 and HR 7828); Ticket to Work Advertisement Act (HR 7253); Phased-in SSDI during waiting period for terminally ill claimants (S 4255); Stop the Wait Act (HR 930); We Can't Wait Act (S 3924); Immediate Access for the Terminally Ill Act (S 3648 and HR 7104); Social Security Enhancement and Protection Act (HR 3517); Social Security Overpayment Relief Act (HR 2142); Social Security Expansion Act (S 770 and HR 1700)”
162 STRATEGIES
on behalf of AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF DISABILITY JUSTICE
162 STRATEGIES
on behalf of American Association of Disability Justice
2026
“Issues related to patient access to their healthcare data and the effect on federal benefit claims (generally, no specific legislation)”
162 STRATEGIES
on behalf of National Organization of Social Security Claimants' Representatives
2026
“Issues related to Social Security Administration disability claims due process (generally, no specific legislation); Issues related to Social Security Administration customer service (generally, no specific legislation); Issues related to Social Security Administration engagement with appointed representatives on disability claims (generally, no specific legislation); Issues related to Health and Human Services interpretation of standards for digital health information exchange (generally, no specific legislation); SSI Savings Penalty Elimination Act (S 1234 and HR 2540); SSI Restoration Act (S 4001 and HR 7828); Ticket to Work Advertisement Act (HR 7253); Phased-in SSDI during waiting period for terminally ill claimants (S 4255); Stop the Wait Act (HR 930); We Can't Wait Act (S 3924); Immediate Access for the Terminally Ill Act (S 3648 and HR 7104); Social Security Enhancement and Protection Act (HR 3517); Social Security Overpayment Relief Act (HR 2142); Social Security Expansion Act (S 770 and HR 1700)”
POBLETE TAMARGO, LLP
on behalf of SUSAN FALGOUT
162 STRATEGIES
on behalf of National Organization of Social Security Claimants' Representatives
2025
“Issues related to Social Security Administration disability claims due process (generally, no specific legislation); Issues related to Social Security Administration customer service (generally, no specific legislation); Issues related to Social Security Administration engagement with appointed representatives on disability claims (no specific legislation); Issues related to Health and Human Services interpretation of standards for digital health information exchange (no specific legislation)”
162 STRATEGIES
on behalf of National Organization of Social Security Claimants' Representatives
2025
“Issues related to Social Security Administration disability claims due process (generally, no specific legislation); Issues related to Social Security Administration customer service (generally, no specific legislation); Issues related to Social Security Administration engagement with appointed representatives on disability claims (no specific legislation); Issues related to Health and Human Services interpretation of standards for digital health information exchange (no specific legislation)”
Voting Record
Favorable with Committee Substitute
Total
22
Yes
21
No
1
Present
0
Not Voting
0
Abstain
0
How they voted (22)
Lori Berman
Democratic · yes
Tommy Wright
Republican · yes
Gayle Harrell
Republican · yes
Ana Maria Rodriguez
Republican · yes
Jay Trumbull
Republican · yes
Jennifer Bradley
Republican · yes
Kathleen Passidomo
Republican · yes
Erin Grall
Republican · yes
Rosalind Osgood
Democratic · no
Nick DiCeglie
Republican · yes
Tracie Davis
Democratic · yes
Ed Hooper
Republican · yes
Danny Burgess
Republican · yes
Don Gaetz
Republican · yes
Jim Boyd
Republican · yes
Shev Jones
Democratic · yes
Jonathan Martin
Republican · yes
Jason Pizzo
Independent · yes
Colleen Burton
Republican · yes
Darryl Rouson
Democratic · yes
Ileana Garcia
Republican · yes
Jason Brodeur
Republican · yes
Favorable
Total
22
Yes
20
No
2
Present
0
Not Voting
0
Abstain
0
How they voted (22)
Tommy Wright
Republican · yes
Ralph Massullo
Republican · yes
Dave Smith
Republican · yes
Danny Burgess
Republican · yes
Jason Pizzo
Independent · yes
Barbara Sharief
Democratic · no
Ileana Garcia
Republican · yes
Erin Grall
Republican · no
Gayle Harrell
Republican · yes
Jay Trumbull
Republican · yes
Jason Brodeur
Republican · yes
Darryl Rouson
Democratic · yes
Tina Polsky
Democratic · yes
Stan McClain
Republican · yes
Ed Hooper
Republican · yes
Jonathan Martin
Republican · yes
Nick DiCeglie
Republican · yes
Ralph Massullo
Republican · yes
Danny Burgess
Republican · yes
Tommy Wright
Republican · yes
Dave Smith
Republican · yes
Lori Berman
Democratic · yes
Favorable
Total
11
Yes
11
No
0
Present
0
Not Voting
0
Abstain
0
How they voted (11)
Tom Leek
Republican · yes
Don Gaetz
Republican · yes
Ed Hooper
Republican · yes
Rosalind Osgood
Democratic · yes
Tina Polsky
Democratic · yes
Colleen Burton
Republican · yes
Clay Yarborough
Republican · yes
Nick DiCeglie
Republican · yes
Jay Trumbull
Republican · yes
Lori Berman
Democratic · yes
Kathleen Passidomo
Republican · yes
Sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Tightening of Claim Filing Windows
The bill significantly shortens the window for filing claims against the state from 3 years to 18 months, representing a major procedural hurdle for potential plaintiffs.
Connected Entities
Sources
openstates.org
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance85How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy60Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz20Current news / social attention level
Publisher tools