6 January 22–28, 2026 miaminewtimes.com | browardpalmbeach.com NEW TIMES | MUSIC | CAFE | CULTURE | NIGHT+DAY | NEWS | LETTERS | CONTENTS | LETTER OF THE LAW Seven hot-button bills to watch in the 2026 Florida legislative session. BY NAOMI FEINSTEIN F lorida politicians were shaking hands, cutting deals, and donning their finest ’fits as the 2026 legislative session officially be- gan last week. With Gov. Ron DeSantis entering the final year of his term, there’s no shortage of bills to watch. But, rather than make you comb through 36 pages of proposals, New Times has rounded up seven to keep an eye on, cov- ering some of the session’s most consequen- tial issues, from property taxes and reproductive rights to childhood vaccina- tions and gun reform. Hold on to your iguanas, because the Leg- islature is about to do what it does best: go full Florida. HB 289: Civil Liability for the Wrongful Death of an Unborn Child Rep. Sam Greco’s bill would give parents to right to sue for damages for the wrongful death of an unborn child, which is defined under Florida statute as a “member of the species Homo sapiens, at any stage of devel- opment, who is carried in the womb.” How- ever, the mother of the unborn child or the health care provider cannot be sued for law- ful medical care provided in compliance with the applicable standard of care. Opponents of the bill argue that it could open the door for ex-partners to sue over abortions or miscarriages, particularly in in- stances of abuse or rape. HB 663: Civil Remedies Pertaining to Abortions Reps. Shane Abbot and Berny Jacques spon- sored this bill, which would permit family members to file lawsuits against healthcare providers suspected of involvement in an abortion for up to two years after the proce- dure. Its enforcement mechanism — relying on private citizens, rather than state officials, to sue for damages — mirrors that of Texas’ “Heartbeat Act,” or SB 8, which took effect in September 2021. HB 113: Redesignations of State University and Florida College System Institution Roads The measure, filed by Rep. Kevin Steele, would require all Florida public universities and colleges to rename a road on their cam- puses in honor of Charlie Kirk, the right-wing political activist who was assassinated while speaking on a college campus in Utah in Sep- tember 2025. The proposal seeks to withhold state funds from any university or college whose board of trustees fails to rename a road within 90 days of this bill taking effect. HB 133: Minimum Age for Firearm Purchase or Transfer The bill filed by Rep. Tyler Sirois lowers the age to purchase a firearm from 21 to 18 years old. “The sale or transfer of a firearm to a person younger than 18 may not be made or facilitated by a licensed importer, licensed manufacturer, or licensed dealer,” the bill reads. On average, gun violence in Florida kills 3,108 people and injures another 6,358, giving the state the nation’s 23rd-highest gun vio- lence rate, according to Every Stat. HB 917: Health Care The proposal, filed by Rep. Jeff Holcomb, prohibits discrimination against patients de- pending on their vaccination status, requires licensed health care practitioners to inform parents of minor children about the safety, risks, benefits, of efficacy of specific vaccines, and obtain a signature from the parent before a vaccine is administered, and authorizes pharmacists to provide ivermectin without a prescription. “The Department of Health shall make publicly available by posting on its internet website, an exemption form for parents and legal guardians,” the bill reads. The American Academy of Pediatrics says doctors’ offices are not equipped to safely accommodate unvaccinated patients who may arrive with measles or similar ill- nesses, posing particular risks for those with preexisting conditions. HB 229: Violation of State Immigration Law Rep. Jacques’ proposal, dubbed the “Shane Jones Act,” would allow the Florida Depart- ment of Law Enforcement to fine a law en- forcement agency $10,000 if it refuses to work with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). This money would then be provided to victims of crimes committed on or after July 1, 2026, by undocumented im- migrants. Additionally, the family of a person killed by an undocumented immigrant would be allowed to sue a local government entity or law enforcement agency that has a sanctuary policy or fails to cooperate with federal immi- gration authorities. HJR 201: Elimination of Non-School Property Tax for Homesteads The bill, sponsored by Rep. Steele, would ex- empt homestead properties (primary resi- dences) from all property taxes levied by counties, cities, or special districts. It would not affect property taxes levied by school dis- tricts, the bill analysis reads. If approved, the analysis found that there will be a negative cash impact of $14.1 billion and an annual im- pact of $18.3 billion on local non-school prop- erty tax revenue. DeSantis first suggested eliminating prop- erty taxes on primary residences earlier this year and has made property tax relief a cen- terpiece of this legislative session. [email protected] The 2026 Florida legislative session kicked off last week. Screenshot via X/@GovRonDeSantis | METRO | The Stories Your Friends Are Sharing FOLLOW US
