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HB 491FLORIDA · STATEWIDESession 2026Ordered enrolled

New Rules for Faith-Based Content in Batterers' Intervention Programs

Original title: Faith-based Content in Batterers' Intervention Programs

November 19, 2025

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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

20 actions
  1. Feb 26, 2026House
    Bill added to Special Order Calendar (3/3/2026)
  2. Feb 3, 2026House
    Added to Second Reading Calendar
  3. Feb 3, 2026House
    Bill released to House Calendar
  4. Feb 3, 2026House
    Reported out of Health & Human Services Committee
  5. Feb 3, 2026HouseCommittee
    Favorable by Health & Human Services Committee
  6. Jan 30, 2026House
    Added to Health & Human Services Committee agenda
Show 14 earlier actions
  1. Jan 22, 2026House
    Now in Health & Human Services Committee
  2. Jan 22, 2026House
    Reported out of Judiciary Committee
  3. Jan 22, 2026HouseCommittee
    Favorable by Judiciary Committee
  4. Jan 20, 2026House
    Added to Judiciary Committee agenda
  5. Jan 14, 2026House
    Now in Judiciary Committee
  6. Jan 14, 2026House
    Reported out of Human Services Subcommittee
  7. Jan 13, 2026HouseIntroduced
    1st Reading (Original Filed Version)
  8. Jan 13, 2026HouseCommittee
    Favorable by Human Services Subcommittee
  9. Jan 9, 2026House
    Added to Human Services Subcommittee agenda
  10. Nov 24, 2025House
    Now in Human Services Subcommittee
  11. Nov 24, 2025HouseCommittee
    Referred to Health & Human Services Committee
  12. Nov 24, 2025HouseCommittee
    Referred to Judiciary Committee
  13. Nov 24, 2025HouseCommittee
    Referred to Human Services Subcommittee
  14. Nov 19, 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

The bill ensures that individuals court-ordered into domestic violence intervention programs cannot be compelled to participate in religious activities as a condition of their program completion.

Who is mentioned in the record

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

Participants in batterers' intervention programs

These individuals are subject to the rules governing program requirements and the availability of optional activities.

Batterers' intervention program providers

These organizations must comply with the new statutory language regarding the voluntary nature of faith-based offerings.

What changed

Current stage: Ordered enrolled.

What's next

Signed.

Background

  • Batterers' intervention programs are state-certified programs that individuals are typically required to complete as part of a court order following domestic violence charges. context

Summary

This bill allows state-certified to offer optional faith-based activities to participants. It explicitly prohibits these programs from requiring any participant to take part in such religious or faith-based activities.

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

Can a program force me to attend religious services?
No. The bill explicitly states that participation in faith-based activities cannot be required.
Does this bill ban faith-based content in these programs?
No. It allows programs to offer such activities as a supplement, provided they remain optional.

Why It Matters

The bill ensures that individuals court-ordered into domestic violence intervention programs cannot be compelled to participate in religious activities as a condition of their program completion.

News Coverage

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

Voting Record

Sponsors

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Discoveries

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

policy shift90% confidence

Clarification of Voluntary Participation

The bill codifies the voluntary nature of faith-based content in state-mandated programs, likely to avoid constitutional challenges regarding compelled religious participation.

Connected Entities

otherHouse CalendarThe bill's current status.Map →
organizationHuman Services SubcommitteeThe subcommittee is reviewing the bill.Map →
date3/3/2026Date of Special Order Calendar entry.Map →
organizationHealth & Human Services CommitteeThe committee is reviewing the bill.Map →
organizationJudiciary CommitteeThe committee is reviewing the bill.Map →

Sources

Open source document

openstates.org

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance40
    How much this matters to a regular citizen
  • Controversy35
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment5
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz20
    Current news / social attention level

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