SESSION WATCH
Died HOUSE · SESSION 2026

No. HB 563

Repetitive Head Impact Prevention
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SPONSOR
Daniels; Owen
FILED BY
Kimberly Daniels — District 14, Democrat [search donations]
Michael Owen — District 70, Republican [search donations]
EFFECTIVE
7/1/2026
DIED IN
Student Academic Success Subcommittee

Filed under Healthcare.

PROVIDED SUMMARY

Repetitive Head Impact Prevention; Requires parents and legal guardians registering child in high-risk sport to receive specified educational materials; provides requirements for such materials; requires certain athletic directors, coaches, referees, & trainers of high-risk sports to complete specified training; requires State Surgeon General, in collaboration with others, to develop specified continuing education courses for certain persons; establishes Florida Brain Health in Sports Panel within DOH; provides requirements for panel; authorizes department to use certain funds for certain purposes; provides rulemaking authority to department; designates Parkman-Lewis Day.

Full bill text →

Plain English Summary

AI-GENERATED
Requires signed acknowledgment before a child may play high-risk youth sports.

Parents registering a child in a high-risk sport like football, wrestling, or cheerleading must receive standardized brain-injury educational materials and sign an acknowledgment form before the child can participate, starting with the 2026-2027 school year.

Athletic directors, coaches, referees, and trainers of those sports at the youth and high school levels must complete annual training on repetitive head impacts and chronic traumatic encephalopathy, approved by the Department of Health.

The bill creates a Florida Brain Health in Sports Panel inside the Department of Health to study the issue and report policy recommendations to the Legislature every year starting in 2027, and directs new continuing-education courses for doctors, nurses, and other professionals.

KEY PROVISIONS
§ 1 Parents must sign a head-injury acknowledgment before a child can play majors. 381.996

AIBeginning with the 2026-2027 school year, a parent or legal guardian registering a child in a high-risk sport must receive standardized educational materials on repetitive head impacts and chronic traumatic encephalopathy, then sign and return an acknowledgment form before the child may participate.

“The parent or legal guardian must sign and return an acknowledgment form before the child participates in a high-risk sport.” bill text, line 59 →
§ 2 Coaches, referees, and trainers must complete annual CTE training majors. 381.996

AIAthletic directors, coaches, referees, and trainers of high-risk sports at the youth and high school levels must annually complete mandatory training on repetitive head impacts and chronic traumatic encephalopathy, approved by the Department of Health.

“must annually complete mandatory repetitive head impacts and chronic traumatic encephalopathy awareness training approved by the department.” bill text, line 71 →
§ 3 State must build continuing education courses for a wide range of professionals moderates. 381.996

AIThe State Surgeon General must work with nonprofits, universities, and medical experts to build continuing education courses on repetitive head impacts, reaching physicians, nurses, psychiatrists, psychologists, coroners, suicide-prevention specialists, athletic trainers, coaches, and sports officials.

“The State Surgeon General shall collaborate with nonprofit organizations, state universities, and medical experts to develop continuing education courses” bill text, line 75 →
§ 4 New Florida Brain Health in Sports Panel must report to Legislature yearly moderates. 381.996

AIThe bill establishes a Florida Brain Health in Sports Panel inside the Department of Health, made up of scientists, medical professionals, educators, and stakeholders, which must give the Legislature an annual report on findings and policy recommendations starting January 1, 2027.

“the panel shall provide a report to the Legislature on panel progress, findings, and policy recommendations.” bill text, line 91 →
§ 5 Department gets rulemaking authority to implement the new requirements technicals. 381.996

AIThe Department of Health may adopt rules necessary to carry out the new education, training, panel, and reporting requirements this section creates.

“The department may adopt rules necessary to implement this section.” bill text, line 104 →
TIMELINE
3/13/2026
Died in Student Academic Success Subcommittee
1/13/2026
1st Reading (Original Filed Version)
12/12/2025
Now in Student Academic Success Subcommittee
12/12/2025
Referred to Education & Employment Committee
12/12/2025
Referred to Health Care Budget Subcommittee
12/12/2025
Referred to Health Professions & Programs Subcommittee
12/12/2025
Referred to Student Academic Success Subcommittee
12/1/2025
Filed
2 EARLIER →
STATUTES IT CHANGES
s. 381.996
+14 / −0
s. 381.996
+557 / −0
s. 683.339
+21 / −0