THE BILL ITSELF
CS/CS/SB 834
Nonprofit Religious Organizations
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for CS for SB 834 By the Committees on Rules; and Banking and Insurance; and Senator Yarborough 595-02675-26 2026834c2
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A bill to be entitled
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An act relating to nonprofit religious organizations;
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amending s. 624.1265, F.S.; revising the conditions
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under which a nonprofit religious organization is not
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subject to the requirements of the Florida Insurance
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Code; requiring certain agents to provide a specified
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written disclaimer on certain applications and
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guideline materials; providing an effective date.
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Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
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Section 1. Subsections (1) and (3) of section 624.1265,
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Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
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624.1265 Nonprofit religious organization exemption;
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authority; notice.—
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(1) A nonprofit religious organization is not subject to
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the requirements of the Florida Insurance Code if the nonprofit
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religious organization:
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(a) Qualifies under Title 26, s. 501 of the Internal
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Revenue Code of 1986, as amended;
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(b) Limits its participants to those members who share a
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common set of ethical or religious beliefs;
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(c) Acts as a facilitator among participants who have
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financial, physical, or medical needs to assist those with
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financial, physical, or medical needs in accordance with
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criteria established by the nonprofit religious organization;
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(d) Provides for the financial or medical needs of a
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participant through contributions from other participants, or
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through payments directly from one participant to another
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participant;
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(e) Provides amounts that participants may contribute, with
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no assumption of risk and no promise to pay:
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1. Among the participants; or
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2. By the nonprofit religious organization to the
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participants;
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(f) Provides a monthly accounting to the participants of
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the total dollar amount of qualified needs actually shared in
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the previous month in accordance with criteria established by
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the nonprofit religious organization; and
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(g) Conducts an annual audit that is performed by an
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independent certified public accounting firm in accordance with
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generally accepted accounting principles and that is made
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available to the public by providing a copy upon request or by
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posting on the nonprofit religious organization’s website ; and
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(h) Does not market or sell health plans through agents
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licensed by the department under chapter 626 .
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(3) The nonprofit religious organization , or any agent
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licensed by the department under chapter 626 which markets or
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facilitates a health care sharing arrangement on behalf of the
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nonprofit religious organization, shall provide a written
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disclaimer on or accompanying all applications and guideline
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materials distributed by or on behalf of the nonprofit religious
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organization. The disclaimer must read in substance: “Notice:
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The organization facilitating the sharing of medical expenses is
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not an insurance company, and neither its guidelines nor its
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plan of operation is an insurance policy. Membership is not
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offered through an insurance company, and the organization is
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not subject to the regulatory requirements or consumer
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protections of the Florida Insurance Code. Whether anyone
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chooses to assist you with your medical bills will be totally
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voluntary because no other participant is compelled by law to
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contribute toward your medical bills. As such, participation in
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the organization or a subscription to any of its documents
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should never be considered to be insurance. Regardless of
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whether you receive any payments for medical expenses or whether
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this organization continues to operate, you are always
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personally responsible for the payment of your own medical
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bills.”
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Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.