SESSION WATCH
Died SENATE · SESSION 2026

No. SB 170

Emergency Relief
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SPONSOR
Jones
FILED BY
Shevrin D. Jones — District 34, Democrat [search donations]
EFFECTIVE
7/1/2026
DIED IN
Children

Filed under Healthcare.

PROVIDED SUMMARY

Emergency Relief; Creating the People’s Relief Program within the Department of Children and Families; providing a purpose for the program; requiring the program to provide assistance in the form of grants to certain residents under specified conditions; providing program eligibility requirements for individuals, etc.

Full bill text →

Plain English Summary

AI-GENERATED
Creates a state grant program for residents facing economic hardship.

A new 'People's Relief Program' inside the Department of Children and Families would give grants to Florida residents facing economic hardship, covering everyday costs like housing, childcare, and health care -- but only if the Legislature funds it.

Grants become available when statewide conditions worsen -- rising utility costs, high insurance premiums, high unemployment, a broad economic downturn, or a declared state of emergency. The department, not this law, will set the exact numeric triggers.

To qualify individually, a resident must have lived in Florida at least a year, show a change in circumstances that now makes it hard to pay utility, insurance, childcare, or health care bills, and document those costs.

The department must write rules covering the application, the numeric thresholds, how grants get awarded and paid out, and what recipients may spend the money on -- none of which this law specifies itself.

KEY PROVISIONS
§ 1 Creates a mandatory, appropriation-dependent grant duty majors. 409.14512

AISubject to a legislative appropriation, the new People's Relief Program inside the Department of Children and Families must give grants to residents experiencing economic hardship for everyday expenses such as housing, childcare, and health care.

“the program shall provide assistance in the form of grants to residents experiencing economic hardship” bill text, line 27 →
§ 2 Sets five statewide conditions that trigger grant availability majors. 409.14512

AIGrants must be available whenever any one of five conditions occurs statewide: high utility costs relative to income, high property insurance premiums, high unemployment, a broad economic decline, or a state of emergency from a natural disaster.

“Such grants must be available to residents if any of the following occurs” bill text, line 29 →
§ 3 Sets a personal eligibility test on top of the statewide trigger majors. 409.14512

AIAn applicant must have lived in Florida for at least a year, show evidence that changed circumstances now hinder or prevent paying utility, insurance, childcare, or health care bills, and document those specific expenses.

“Have been a resident of this state for at least 1 year before applying” bill text, line 42 →
§ 4 Leaves nearly every operating detail to department rulemaking majors. 409.14512

AIThe Department of Children and Families, not the Legislature, must set the actual dollar and percentage thresholds for the five trigger conditions, the application process, how grants are awarded and disbursed, and what restrictions apply to their use.

“The department shall adopt rules to implement this section.” bill text, line 50 →
TIMELINE
3/13/2026
Died in Children, Families, and Elder Affairs
1/13/2026
Introduced
11/3/2025
Referred to Children, Families, and Elder Affairs; Appropriations...
10/14/2025
Filed
STATUTES IT CHANGES
s. 409.14512
+297 / −0