Just in time for the legislative session to really take off, Governor DeSantis has moved around state agency leaders. Shevaun Harris, the former secretary of the Department of Children and Families (DCF), is now the new secretary of the Agency for Health Care Administration. Taylor Hatch, the former secretary of the Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD), is now the new secretary of the DCF. It is still unknown who will serve as the secretary for APD. Joseph “Brock” Juarez was also promoted to deputy chief of staff within the governor’s executive office. 

Shevaun Harris, secretary for AHCA.

Taylor Hatch, secretary for DCF.

Brock Juarez, chief of staff for Governor DeSantis.

The Rural Renaissance... Continued

Senate President Ben Albritton's priority bill (Senate Bill 110) providing economic development support in rural communities passed its second and last committee stop and is now headed to the Senate Floor. The Senate Fiscal Policy Committee advanced the bill intended to spur a rural renaissance in Florida’s small counties with an appropriation of over $100 million.

Bill sponsor, Senator Corey Simon, said the bill will provide needed economic support to modernize Florida’s agrarian communities without sacrificing the character and commercial foundations of those areas. 

“I don’t want North Florida to look like anywhere else but North Florida,” Simon said. “That’s why this bill is so special and so well-crafted to suit the needs of those communities.” 

At the committee hearing, Simon presented a significant amendment updating the legislative package, including requirements for VISIT FLORIDA to provide marketing assistance to agritourism businesses and to expand eligibility for rural infrastructure grants in unincorporated areas impacted by disasters.

The bill provides opportunities for infrastructure improvements, education, and health care enhancements for rural communities across the state. At the beginning of his presidency, Senate President Albritton made support for rural Florida the top priority for the Florida Senate.

“Our small, tight-knit, legacy communities are filled with some of the nicest, hardworking people you will ever find,” Albritton said when he was sworn in as Senate President. “Rural communities look after one another. They’d give their last dollar and even the shirt off their own back to help a neighbor in need. Our rural communities are full of opportunity. When I travel across the Panhandle, the Big Bend, and the Heartland, I see so much of that unrealized opportunity.”

An amendment to the bill added financial support for hospitals and health care agencies, regional consortiums, school districts, school construction, and state revenue distribution to fiscally constrained counties. 

The House has yet to hear the counterpart bill, House Bill 1427; however, FBHA expects this legislation to pass.

This is the third session that an autonomous psychiatric advanced practice registered nurses (APRN) bill has been filed. SB 758/ HB 883 allows for advanced practice registered nurses to autonomously provide mental health services. It also:

• Authorizes APRNs to autonomously practice in primary care areas such as family medicine, general pediatrics, and general internal medicine.
• Extends autonomous practice permissions to psychiatric mental health advanced practice registered nurses (PMH-APRNs) for providing mental health services, subject to board regulations.
• Enables certified nurse midwives to autonomously perform specific medical acts.
• Allows APRNs to admit, manage, and discharge patients in health care facilities unless federal laws or rules prohibit.
• Permits APRNs to provide legally required signatures, certifications, stamps, verifications, affidavits, or endorsements, with the exception of issuing physician certifications under specific statutes.

HB 883 was heard this week in its first committee stop. During the House Health Professions and Programs Subcommittee meeting, legislative members discussed whether psychiatric APRNs should practice autonomously to address the mental health access need, posing questions about scope expansion, patient safety, and oversight. The debate included personal stories and concerns about physician supervision, with the bill ultimately passing with a 10-3 vote. The bill has yet to be heard in the Senate.

On The Line

This week the House Health Care Budget Subcommittee called back two state agencies - AHCA and APD- and ask detailed questions on their budget practices. Leadership from both agencies spent nearly four hours answering questions on unspent appropriations, reversions back to the General Appropriations Act, accountability of payments, APD budget waitlists and waivers, AHCA trust fund payments, federal disallowances and cash management. 

Honoring and Celebrating

Senator Geraldine Thompson

The Senate ended its official work early on Thursday to spend the afternoon honoring and celebrating the life of Senator Geraldine Thompson with a memorial celebration in the Senate Chamber.

“Sen. Thompson’s passing is a profound loss for the Senate,” Senate President Ben Albritton wrote in a memo to lawmakers to share the news of her death. “Her watchful eye, cheerful smile, and thoughtful, well-researched, and spirited debate will be greatly missed.” 

Thomson served in the House from 2006-2012 and then again from 2018-2022. She was a Senator from 2012-2016 and then again in 2022, and she had been named the Vice Chair of the Appropriations Committee on Pre-K-12 Education.



Governor DeSantis also ordered all flags to be flown at half-staff Thursday, honoring the senator and her legacy. 

These are the Days

Although it was not a huge week to move health care-related policy, it was a big week in Tallahassee if you work in this space. This week, the Legislature hosted Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists Day, Florida Hospital Association Day, and Moffit Day, along with Space Florida Day, Polk County Day, Firefighter Day, and Puerto Rico Day.

Track it

FBHA creates and maintains a legislative bill tracking document each session. The 2025 FBHA Bill Track will be reported out and included in each weekly update. You can also receive the bill tracking document by emailing Shane@floridabha.org.