SESSION WATCH
Superseded — its companion passed HOUSE · SESSION 2026

No. CS/HB 733

Department of Health
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SPONSOR
Health & Human Services Committee; Gerwig
FILED BY
Anne Gerwig — District 93, Republican [search donations]
EFFECTIVE
7/1/2026
COMPANION
CS/CS/HB 1279 — CS/HB 733 was set aside and its companion carried the policy

Filed under Healthcare.

PROVIDED SUMMARY

Department of Health; Revising definitions; revising eligibility requirements for dentists and dental hygienists participating in the Dental Student Loan Repayment Program; revising requirements for department approval of qualified physicians and medical directors of medical marijuana treatment centers; creating the Neurofibromatosis Disease Grant Program within the Department of Health; prohibiting marriage between certain related individuals; revising requirements for the micro-credential component of specialized training provided by the University of Florida Center for Autism and Neurodevelopment, etc.

Full bill text →

Plain English Summary

AI-GENERATED
Bars marriage between first cousins, starting July 2026.

A new provision bars marriage between a man and a woman who both descend from the same grandparent, covering first cousins, with marriages performed after July 1, 2026 not legally recognized in Florida.

The definition of "low-THC cannabis" is rewritten to require more than 2% cannabidiol instead of more than 10%, while excluding edibles, changing which marijuana products can be sold and marketed under that label.

A new Neurofibromatosis Disease Grant Program will fund peer-reviewed research if the Legislature appropriates money, and the Department of Health must screen newborns for infantile Krabbe disease and publish a nutrition pamphlet for premature infants.

Detailed statutory notice and transition-conference rules for toddlers leaving the Early Steps disability program are replaced with department-written protocols, and nurses may now delegate emergency seizure medication to home health aides for medically fragile children.

KEY PROVISIONS
§ 1 Bars marriage between descendants of the same grandparent majors. 741.21

AIAdds a new prohibition barring a man from marrying any woman who descends from his grandparent, and a woman from marrying any man who descends from her grandparent, reaching first cousins, who were not covered by the state's existing incest-marriage statute.

“A man may not marry any woman who is a lineal descendent of his grandparent.” bill text, line 618 →
§ 2 Voids qualifying marriages entered into after July 2026 majors. 741.21

AIMarriages that fall under the new grandparent-descendant prohibition and take place after July 1, 2026 will not be recognized for any purpose in Florida, though the ban does not apply retroactively to earlier marriages.

“Marriages prohibited in this subsection entered into after July 1, 2026, are not recognized for any purpose in this state.” bill text, line 620 →
§ 3 Lowers the CBD threshold defining low-THC cannabis majors. 381.986

AIThe definition of "low-THC cannabis" drops the required cannabidiol content from more than 10 percent to more than 2 percent weight for weight, while excluding edibles from the category altogether, changing which products qualify for that label.

“which contains 0.8 percent or less of tetrahydrocannabinol and more than 2 percent cannabidiol, weight for weight” bill text, line 135 →
§ 4 Creates the Neurofibromatosis Disease Grant Program majors. 381.994

AIEstablishes a competitive, peer-reviewed grant program within the Department of Health to fund neurofibromatosis research, subject to legislative appropriation, with awards decided after consultation with the Rare Disease Advisory Council.

“There is created within the Department of Health the Neurofibromatosis Disease Grant Program.” bill text, line 246 →
§ 5 Replaces statutory Early Steps transition protections with agency protocols moderates. 391.308

AIThe specific 90-day advance notice, parental opt-out, and transition-conference requirements for toddlers leaving the Early Steps early-intervention program are deleted from statute and replaced with a general directive for the department to establish its own transition protocols.

“The department shall establish statewide uniform protocols and procedures for transition to a school district program” bill text, line 387 →
§ 6 Lets nurses delegate emergency seizure medication to home health aides moderates. 464.0156

AIRegistered nurses may now delegate administration of a Schedule IV controlled substance for emergency treatment of an active seizure to a home health aide caring for a medically fragile child, a new exception to the general ban on delegating controlled-substance administration.

“the administration of a Schedule IV controlled substance prescribed for the emergency treatment of an active seizure” bill text, line 488 →
§ 7 Lets specialty children's hospitals bypass trauma center capacity limits moderates. 395.4025

AISpecialty licensed children's hospitals with a valid American College of Surgeons trauma verification must be designated a Level I or Level II pediatric trauma center regardless of the statutory capacity limits that otherwise govern trauma center selection.

“shall be designated by the department as a Level I or Level II pediatric trauma center” bill text, line 459 →
§ 8 Allows dental hygienists to use diode lasers under supervision moderates. 466.023

AIDental hygienists working under a dentist's direct supervision may use a dental diode laser for bacterial reduction or gum-line disinfection, but only after completing a 12-hour certification course and only at settings that preclude tissue removal.

“A dental hygienist, under the direct supervision of a licensed dentist, may use a dental diode laser” bill text, line 494 →
TIMELINE
3/13/2026
Died in returning Messages; Companion bill(s) passed, see CS/CS/HB...
3/12/2026
In Messages
3/12/2026
CS passed as amended; YEAS 37 NAYS 0 -SJ 848
3/12/2026
Read 3rd time -SJ 848
3/12/2026
Amendment(s) adopted (296444) -SJ 848
3/12/2026
Read 2nd time -SJ 844
3/12/2026
Substituted for CS/CS/CS/SB 902 -SJ 844
3/12/2026
Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading
3/12/2026
Withdrawn from Rules -SJ 844
3/4/2026
Received
3/4/2026
Referred to Rules
3/4/2026
In Messages
3/4/2026
CS passed as amended; YEAS 84, NAYS 24
3/4/2026
Read 3rd time
3/4/2026
Added to Third Reading Calendar
3/4/2026
Amendment 872191 adopted
3/4/2026
Amendment 606985 adopted
3/4/2026
Amendment 268207 adopted
3/4/2026
Read 2nd time
2/26/2026
1st Reading (Committee Substitute 1)
2/26/2026
Bill added to Special Order Calendar (3/4/2026)
2/26/2026
Bill referred to House Calendar
2/26/2026
CS Filed
2/26/2026
Laid on Table under Rule 7.18(a)
2/26/2026
Reported out of Health & Human Services Committee
2/24/2026
Favorable with CS by Health & Human Services Committee
2/20/2026
Added to Health & Human Services Committee agenda
2/5/2026
Now in Health & Human Services Committee
2/5/2026
Reported out of Health Care Budget Subcommittee
2/5/2026
Favorable by Health Care Budget Subcommittee
2/3/2026
Added to Health Care Budget Subcommittee agenda
1/29/2026
Now in Health Care Budget Subcommittee
1/29/2026
Reported out of Health Professions & Programs Subcommittee
1/29/2026
Favorable by Health Professions & Programs Subcommittee
1/27/2026
Added to Health Professions & Programs Subcommittee agenda
1/13/2026
1st Reading (Original Filed Version)
12/16/2025
Now in Health Professions & Programs Subcommittee
12/16/2025
Referred to Health & Human Services Committee
12/16/2025
Referred to Health Care Budget Subcommittee
12/16/2025
Referred to Health Professions & Programs Subcommittee
12/10/2025
Filed
35 EARLIER →
STATUTES IT CHANGES
s. 381.4019
+32 / −74
s. 381.986
+42 / −103
s. 381.994
+445 / −0
s. 383.14
+225 / −1
s. 391.308
+69 / −197
s. 391.3081
+43 / −282
STAFF ANALYSES