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FloridaHB 40872026House

Highlands County Hospital District

Sponsored By: Kaylee Tuck (Republican)

Signed by Governor

AppropriationIntergovernmental Affairs SubcommitteeHealth Care Facilities & Systems SubcommitteeState Affairs CommitteeHouse CalendarRules

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Highlands hospital deals must protect residents’ care

Hospital leases, management deals, and sales must include enforceable promises to continue programs, services, and quality care for district residents. These promises especially protect low-income residents and people with no insurance or too little coverage. Sale promises last as long as the successor operates, or until agreed obligations are met if the agreement allows that alternative. Deals must provide an orderly transition and include terms governing the new operator’s corporate charter. The board must approve that charter, and nonprofit operators must qualify under federal section 501(c)(3).

Public review required for Highlands hospital deals

Before approving a hospital sale, lease, or management deal, the board must obtain an independent public-benefit review. The evaluator needs at least 5 years of similar experience and must use current financial data. A qualifying study completed less than 2 years before public notice can be used. The review covers fair market value, hospital performance, nonprofit versus for-profit community benefits, and planned use of proceeds. It uses state hospital data and federal quality measures; the evaluator must attest to it, and the board chair must certify its accuracy. The district must post review materials, agreements, conflict disclosures, and supporting documents online for 30 calendar days before the vote. Residents can submit written comments and give testimony at public meetings. The board must publicly seek qualified parties, consider their proposals, disclose conflicts, and approve deals by majority vote with written findings. It must explain why the deal serves the public and detail any accepted offer below fair market value. Specified requirements do not apply to changes, extensions, or renewals of leases made before the law took effect. They also do not apply to leases or management deals lasting no more than 10 years that let the board complete this process. Qualifying interested parties can challenge lease decisions in the local circuit court, but review covers only required procedures; courts must divide costs fairly.

Highlands hospital sale can end public district

A majority of board members present and voting can start reviewing a sale of all district assets. Buyers can be for-profit or nonprofit, but must continue community health care; the board must explain its public-interest finding. Money left from a sale is surplus and must be used as section 36 of the district charter directs. The board must file the sale agreement with the Florida Department of Commerce within 10 calendar days after the applicable ownership-change approval or closing. After all assets and liabilities are sold, the board must notify the department within 30 calendar days. The district ends 30 calendar days after the department receives that notice. Without an approved sale agreement that continues county health care, the district remains in place.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Kaylee Tuck

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

  • State Affairs Committee

    Affiliation unavailable

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 152 • No: 0

Senate vote • 3/11/2026

Senate Floor Vote

Yes: 36 • No: 0

House vote • 2/25/2026

House Floor Vote

Yes: 116 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Chapter No. 2026-220

    7/1/2026

  2. Approved by Governor

    6/10/2026

  3. Signed by Officers and presented to Governor

    6/9/2026

  4. Ordered enrolled

    3/11/2026House

  5. In Messages

    3/11/2026House

  6. CS passed; YEAS 36 NAYS 0 -SJ 793

    3/11/2026Senate

  7. Read 3rd time -SJ 793

    3/11/2026Senate

  8. Read 2nd time -SJ 793

    3/11/2026Senate

  9. Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading

    3/11/2026Senate

  10. Withdrawn from Rules -SJ 785

    3/11/2026Senate

  11. Placed on Local Calendar, 03/11/26

    3/9/2026Senate

  12. Received

    2/26/2026Senate

  13. Referred to Rules

    2/25/2026Senate

  14. In Messages

    2/25/2026Senate

  15. CS passed; YEAS 116, NAYS 0

    2/25/2026House

  16. Read 3rd time

    2/25/2026House

  17. Added to Third Reading Calendar

    2/25/2026House

  18. Read 2nd time

    2/25/2026House

  19. Bill added to Special Order Calendar (2/25/2026)

    2/19/2026House

  20. Added to Second Reading Calendar

    2/18/2026House

  21. Bill referred to House Calendar

    2/18/2026House

  22. 1st Reading (Committee Substitute 1)

    2/18/2026House

  23. CS Filed

    2/17/2026House

  24. Laid on Table under Rule 7.18(a)

    2/17/2026House

  25. Reported out of State Affairs Committee

    2/17/2026House

Bill Text

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