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FloridaHB 7912025HouseWALLET

Surrendered Infants

Sponsored By: Nan Cobb (Republican)

Signed by Governor

AppropriationHealth Care Facilities & Systems SubcommitteeHealth & Human Services CommitteeHouse CalendarRules

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

5 provisions identified: 5 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Medicaid coverage for safely surrendered infants

Beginning July 1, 2025, infants admitted to a hospital through Florida's safe-surrender process are presumed eligible for Medicaid. This includes infants surrendered through safety devices. Coverage remains subject to federal rules.

Parents can assert rights after surrender

Beginning July 1, 2025, parents can claim a surrendered infant through its custodian or circuit court before their rights are terminated. Courts cannot end parental rights solely because of lawful surrender. When a parent asserts rights before final judgment, courts can pause proceedings for up to 60 days and must appoint an independent representative for the infant. Knowingly false information that blocked a parent's timely claim can make termination and later adoption judgments subject to being set aside. Parents must file in the court that ended their rights within a reasonable time, no later than one year after that judgment. A preliminary hearing is due within 30 days; a final hearing follows within 45 days after the preliminary hearing. Paternity testing generally waits until the judgment is declared voidable, unless all parties agree testing serves the child's best interests. Test results can lead to visits only when visits serve the child's best interests.

Privacy and legal protections for parents

Beginning July 1, 2025, parents who lawfully surrender infants can remain anonymous, leave, and avoid being followed unless seeking to reclaim the infant. These protections do not apply when abuse or neglect is actual or suspected; officials cannot start criminal investigations solely because of surrender. Lawful surrender alone does not make an infant abandoned or trigger specified child-welfare reports and investigations, except with actual or suspected abuse or state physical custody. A mother surrendering a hospital-born infant can request that her name be left off the birth certificate. The surrendering parent's identity is protected from public-records disclosure, but must be shared with someone claiming to be the infant's parent.

Safe surrender and emergency infant care

Beginning July 1, 2025, Florida's safe-surrender process covers infants a licensed doctor reasonably believes are about 30 days old or younger. Covered emergency medical services and fire stations must accept infants, including those placed in safety devices, and arrange immediate hospital transport. Surrender counts as permission for necessary treatment and transport. Hospitals covered by the emergency-care requirement must admit these infants and provide all needed emergency care; other hospitals may provide care. Parents unable to reach a designated facility can call 911 but must stay with the infant until emergency medical staff arrive.

Safety devices offer newborn surrender options

Beginning July 1, 2025, hospitals, emergency medical services stations, and fire stations staffed 24 hours daily can use infant safety devices. Devices must be permanently installed in a supporting wall, with outside and inside access, temperature control, ventilation, and dual alarms. Staff must clearly see the inside access, monitor the interior through surveillance around the clock, check devices at least twice daily, and test alarms weekly. Covered fire stations must use the alarms to immediately send the nearest first responder to retrieve an infant. That dispatch rule does not apply while all firefighter first responders are away on an emergency.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Nan Cobb

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

  • Health & Human Services Committee

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Health Care Facilities & Systems Subcommittee

    Affiliation unavailable

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 139 • No: 4

Senate vote • 4/16/2025

Senate Floor Vote

Yes: 33 • No: 4

House vote • 4/3/2025

House Floor Vote

Yes: 106 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Chapter No. 2025-17

    5/1/2025

  2. Approved by Governor

    4/29/2025

  3. Signed by Officers and presented to Governor

    4/22/2025

  4. Ordered enrolled

    4/16/2025House

  5. In Messages

    4/16/2025House

  6. Immediately certified -SJ 444

    4/16/2025Senate

  7. CS passed; YEAS 33 NAYS 4 -SJ 436

    4/16/2025Senate

  8. Read 3rd time -SJ 436

    4/16/2025Senate

  9. Read 2nd time -SJ 436

    4/16/2025Senate

  10. Substituted for SB 1690 -SJ 436

    4/16/2025Senate

  11. Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading

    4/16/2025Senate

  12. Withdrawn from Rules -SJ 436

    4/16/2025Senate

  13. Received

    4/8/2025Senate

  14. Referred to Rules

    4/7/2025Senate

  15. In Messages

    4/3/2025Senate

  16. CS passed; YEAS 106, NAYS 0

    4/3/2025House

  17. Read 3rd time

    4/3/2025House

  18. Added to Third Reading Calendar

    4/3/2025House

  19. Placed on 3rd reading

    4/3/2025House

  20. Read 2nd time

    4/3/2025House

  21. Bill added to Special Order Calendar (4/3/2025)

    3/27/2025House

  22. Added to Second Reading Calendar

    3/26/2025House

  23. 1st Reading (Committee Substitute 2)

    3/26/2025House

  24. Bill referred to House Calendar

    3/26/2025House

  25. CS Filed

    3/25/2025House

Bill Text

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