SESSION WATCH
Died HOUSE · SESSION 2026

No. CS/HB 689

Employer Immunity from Civil Liability
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SPONSOR
Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee; Oliver
FILED BY
Vanessa Oliver — District 76, Republican [search donations]
EFFECTIVE
7/1/2026
DIED IN
Judiciary Committee

Filed under Healthcare.

PROVIDED SUMMARY

Employer Immunity from Civil Liability; Provides employers with immunity from civil liability for adverse personnel actions taken against employee or job applicant.

Full bill text →

Plain English Summary

AI-GENERATED
Shields employers from lawsuits over marijuana-related firings and discipline.

Employers who fire, discipline, or refuse to hire someone over marijuana use or possession are now immune from civil lawsuits over that decision, as long as specific conditions are met.

Immunity applies if the marijuana use or possession happened at the workplace, if it impaired the person's ability to do the job, or if they refused or failed a compliant drug test.

The definition of a covered adverse action is broad, covering not hiring, firing, demotion, suspension, transfer, and cuts to pay or benefits, so the immunity reaches nearly any negative employment decision.

Nothing in this new immunity distinguishes a recreational user from a registered medical marijuana patient, so it applies the same way to both when the listed conditions are met.

KEY PROVISIONS
§ 1 Grants employers civil immunity for marijuana-related personnel actions majors. 381.986

AIAn employer who takes an adverse personnel action against an employee or job applicant because of that person's possession or use of marijuana is immune from civil liability for the action when specified conditions are met.

“is immune from civil liability for such action if” bill text, line 29 →
§ 2 Covers on-site use, job impairment, and drug-test results majors. 381.986

AIImmunity attaches if the marijuana possession or use occurred at a workplace site, if the use impaired the person's ability to perform job duties, or if the person refused or tested positive on a job-applicant, reasonable-suspicion, or followup drug test.

“The use of marijuana impairs an employee's ability to perform his or her employment duties or responsibilities” bill text, line 33 →
§ 3 Defines 'adverse personnel action' broadly moderates. 381.986

AIThe immunity covers refusing to hire a job applicant, discharge, suspension, transfer, or demotion of an employee, and withholding bonuses or reducing salary or benefits, along with any other adverse action within employment terms and conditions.

“the withholding of bonuses, the reduction in salary or benefits, or any other adverse action taken against an employee or job applicant” bill text, line 20 →
§ 4 Ties drug-test-based immunity to existing testing statutes moderates. 381.986

AIImmunity for a refused or positive drug test only applies as long as the testing met the requirements of the Drug-Free Workplace Act or the workers' compensation drug-testing statute, as applicable.

“as long as the requirements of s. 112.0455 or s. 440.102, as applicable, are met” bill text, line 37 →
TIMELINE
3/13/2026
Died in Judiciary Committee
2/12/2026
Now in Judiciary Committee
2/12/2026
Referred to Judiciary Committee
2/11/2026
1st Reading (Committee Substitute 1)
2/11/2026
CS Filed
2/11/2026
Laid on Table under Rule 7.18(a)
2/11/2026
Reported out of Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee
2/11/2026
Favorable with CS by Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee
2/9/2026
PCS added to Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee agenda
1/13/2026
1st Reading (Original Filed Version)
12/16/2025
Now in Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee
12/16/2025
Referred to Judiciary Committee
12/16/2025
Referred to Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee
12/8/2025
Filed
8 EARLIER →
STATUTES IT CHANGES
s. 381.986
+301 / −0
s. 381.986
+0 / −0
STAFF ANALYSES