HB 471 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb471-00
Page 1 of 27
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
A bill to be entitled 1
An act relating to end -of-life options; creating ch. 2
764, F.S., relating to personal autonomy; creating s. 3
764.101, F.S.; providing a short title; creating s. 4
764.102, F.S.; defining terms; creating s. 764.103, 5
F.S.; providing legislative findings and inte nt; 6
creating s. 764.104, F.S.; providing criteria for 7
qualified patients; providing factors to demonstrate 8
residency; requiring qualified patients to make oral 9
and written requests to obtain medication to end their 10
lives in a peaceful manner; requiring wai ting periods 11
before such requests may be made and such medication 12
may be prescribed; providing exceptions; providing a 13
form for written requests; specifying requirements for 14
the valid execution of such form; authorizing a 15
qualified patient to rescind a req uest at any time and 16
in any manner; creating s. 764.105, F.S.; specifying 17
responsibilities for attending physicians and 18
consulting physicians; providing that a qualified 19
patient's health care providers under the act may not 20
be related to the qualified pati ent or entitled to any 21
portion of the qualified patient's estate; specifying 22
recordkeeping requirements; requiring certain health 23
care providers to report specified information to the 24
Department of Health; requiring the department to 25
HB 471 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb471-00
Page 2 of 27
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
adopt rules; requiring the department annually publish 26
a specified report on its website; providing 27
requirements for the report; creating s. 764.106, 28
F.S.; requiring persons who have custody or control of 29
any unused medication prescribed under the act to 30
dispose of it in a spec ified manner; creating s. 31
764.107, F.S.; specifying requirements for the death 32
certificate of qualified patients who die by self -33
administration of medication prescribed in accordance 34
with the act; creating s. 764.108, F.S.; making 35
certain provisions of leg al instruments void and 36
unenforceable under certain circumstances; prohibiting 37
health insurers from denying or discriminating in 38
their provision of health benefits based on the 39
availability of medication prescribed under the act or 40
from attempting to influ ence a policyholder's decision 41
to make or rescind a request for such medication; 42
prohibiting an individual's participation under the 43
act from affecting the sale, procurement, or issuance 44
of certain insurance policies or the rates charged for 45
such policies; creating s. 764.109, F.S.; providing 46
criminal penalties and immunities; defining the terms 47
"notify" and "participation in this chapter"; 48
authorizing health care providers and health care 49
facilities to prohibit health care providers from 50
HB 471 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb471-00
Page 3 of 27
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
participating under the act while on the premises of 51
facilities that they own or operate if they provided 52
prior notice of their policy; requiring such health 53
care providers and health care facilities to clearly 54
articulate this policy on websites they maintain and 55
in materials they provide to patients; requiring such 56
health care providers and health care facilities to 57
provide the policy in an easily accessible location on 58
their websites and in certain materials provided to 59
patients; authorizing health care providers and healt h 60
care facilities to impose sanctions against health 61
care providers who violate such policies; providing 62
that health care providers and health care facilities 63
may not prohibit their employees from participating 64
under the act off the premises or outside the course 65
and scope of their employment or impose sanctions 66
against them for doing so; requiring sanctioning 67
health care providers and health care facilities to 68
not be arbitrary or capricious in their sanctions and 69
to follow due process procedures when impos ing such 70
sanctions; providing that such sanctions may not be 71
considered a violation of the standard of care or as 72
unprofessional conduct for purposes of disciplinary 73
action against a health care provider's license; 74
creating s. 764.11, F.S.; authorizing cla ims for costs 75
HB 471 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb471-00
Page 4 of 27
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
and attorney fees for governmental entities under 76
certain circumstances; creating s. 764.111, F.S.; 77
providing construction and severability; amending s. 78
782.08, F.S.; exempting persons acting in accordance 79
with the act from certain criminal p enalties; 80
providing an effective date. 81
82
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 83
84
Section 1. Chapter 764, Florida Statutes, consisting of 85
sections 764.101-764.111, Florida Statutes, is created and 86
entitled "Personal Autonomy." 87
Section 2. Section 764.101, Florida Statutes, is created 88
to read: 89
764.101 Short title. —Sections 764.101-764.111 may be cited 90
as the "Florida End-of-Life Options Act." 91
Section 3. Section 764.102, Florida Statutes, is created 92
to read: 93
764.102 Definitions.—As used in this chapter, the term: 94
(1) "Adult" means a resident of this state who is 18 years 95
of age or older. 96
(2) "Attending physician" means the physician who has 97
primary responsibility for the care of the patient and treatment 98
of the patient's terminal condition. 99
(3) "Consulting physician" means a physician who is 100
HB 471 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb471-00
Page 5 of 27
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
qualified by specialty or experience to make a professional 101
diagnosis and prognosis regarding the patient's medical 102
condition. 103
(4) "Counseling" means one or more consultations as 104
necessary between a mental health professional and a patient for 105
the purpose of determining whether the patient has mental 106
capacity and whether the patient is suffering from a mental 107
health disorder or intellectual disability causing impaired 108
judgment that impacts his or her ability to make informed end -109
of-life decisions. 110
(5) "Department" means the Department of Health. 111
(6) "Health care facility" means a health care facility as 112
defined in s. 408.07 or another entity, other than a health care 113
provider, licensed or certified to provide health care services 114
in this state. 115
(7) "Health care provider" means a health care 116
practitioner as defined in s. 456.001 or another individual 117
licensed or certified to provide health services in this state. 118
(8) "Informed decision" means a decision voluntarily made 119
by a qualified patient to request and obtain a prescription to 120
end his or her life after a sufficient explanation and 121
disclosure of the subject matter is given to enable the 122
qualified patient to un derstand and consider the relevant facts, 123
including the qualified patient's medical diagnosis and 124
prognosis, the potential risks associated with taking the 125
HB 471 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb471-00
Page 6 of 27
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
medication to be prescribed, the probable results of taking the 126
medication, and the feasible alterna tives to taking the 127
medication, and to make an informed health care decision without 128
coercion or undue influence. 129
(9) "Medically confirmed" means the medical opinion of the 130
attending physician has been confirmed by a consulting physician 131
who has examined the patient and the patient's relevant medical 132
records. 133
(10) "Medication" means a drug as defined in s. 499.003 134
which an attending physician prescribes to a qualified patient 135
under this chapter to end his or her life in a peaceful manner. 136
(11) "Mental capacity" means that a patient's attending 137
physician, consulting physician, or treating mental health 138
professional has determined that, in accordance with the 139
relevant professional standards of care, the patient has the 140
ability to understand and appreciat e health care options 141
available to him or her, including the significant benefits and 142
risks of such options, and to make and communicate health care 143
decisions to health care providers, including communication 144
through individuals familiar with the patient's manner of 145
communicating if those individuals are available. 146
(12) "Mental health professional" means a psychiatrist 147
licensed under chapter 458 or 459, a psychiatric nurse licensed 148
under part I of chapter 464, a psychologist licensed under 149
chapter 490, or a mental health counselor or clinical social 150
HB 471 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb471-00
Page 7 of 27
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
worker licensed under chapter 491. 151
(13) "Physician" means a person licensed to practice 152
medicine under chapter 458 or osteopathic medicine under chapter 153
459. 154
(14) "Public place" means any street, alley, par k, or 155
public building; any place of business or assembly open to or 156
frequented by the public; and any other place open to the public 157
view or to which the public has access. The term does not 158
include a health care facility. 159
(15) "Qualified patient" means an individual who has 160
satisfied the requirements of this chapter to obtain a 161
prescription for medication to end his or her life in a peaceful 162
manner. 163
(16) "Self-administer" means to take an affirmative, 164
conscious, and voluntary action to ingest medicatio n. 165
(17) "Telehealth" has the same meaning as provided in s. 166
456.47(1). 167
(18) "Terminal condition" means a medically confirmed 168
condition caused by an injury, an illness, or a disease which is 169
incurable and irreversible and which will, within reasonable 170
medical judgment, cause the patient's death within 6 months. 171
Section 4. Section 764.103, Florida Statutes, is created 172
to read: 173
764.103 Legislative findings and intent. —The Legislature 174
finds that every adult with mental capacity has the fundamental 175
HB 471 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb471-00
Page 8 of 27
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
right of self-determination regarding decisions pertaining to 176
his or her own health, and recognizes that for some faced with a 177
terminal condition, prolonging life may result in intolerable 178
pain and suffering. It is the intent of the Legislature to 179
establish a procedure to allow an individual with mental 180
capacity who has a terminal condition, and who makes a fully 181
informed decision that he or she no longer wants to live, to 182
obtain medication to end his or her life in a peaceful manner. 183
Section 5. Section 76 4.104, Florida Statutes, is created 184
to read: 185
764.104 Qualified patients; residency requirements; 186
written and oral requests for medication; waiting periods; form 187
requirements; right to rescind requests. — 188
(1)(a) An individual may request medication autho rized 189
under this chapter for the purpose of ending his or her life if 190
the individual: 191
1. Is 18 years of age or older; 192
2. Is a resident of Florida; 193
3. Has been clinically diagnosed with a terminal condition 194
by his or her attending physician which has been medically 195
confirmed by a consulting physician; 196
4. Has mental capacity; 197
5. Is making an informed decision; 198
6. Has voluntarily expressed his or her wish to die; and 199
7. Is able to self-administer the medication. 200
HB 471 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb471-00
Page 9 of 27
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
(b) An individual may not qualify for medication under 201
this chapter solely because of age or disability. 202
(2) Factors demonstrating Florida residency include, but 203
are not limited to: 204
(a) Possession of a Florida driver license; 205
(b) Registration to vote in Florida; 206
(c) Evidence that the individual owns or leases property 207
in Florida; or 208
(d) Filing of a federal tax return from the most recent 209
tax year which asserts that the individual's permanent residence 210
is in Florida. 211
(3) To obtain medication under this chapter to end his or 212
her life, a qualified patient must first make two oral requests, 213
and then one written request, for the medication to his or her 214
attending physician. 215
(a) A qualified patient may not make the second oral 216
request to his or her attending physician until a t least 15 days 217
after making the first oral request. However, if the qualified 218
patient's attending physician has medically confirmed that the 219
qualified patient will, within reasonable medical judgment, die 220
within 15 days after making the first oral request , the 221
qualified patient may make the second oral request to his or her 222
attending physician at any time after making the first oral 223
request. 224
(b) After a qualified patient makes a second oral request, 225
HB 471 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb471-00
Page 10 of 27
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
the attending physician must give the qualified patient an 226
opportunity to rescind the request. 227
(c) A qualified patient may make a written request for 228
medication under this chapter after he or she has made a second 229
oral request for the medication and has been offered the 230
opportunity to rescind the request. Th e written request must be 231
made by the qualified patient and may not be made by the 232
qualified patient's health care surrogate or proxy, attorney, or 233
representative or by an advance directive. 234
(d) An attending physician may not prescribe medication to 235
a qualified patient under this chapter until at least 48 hours 236
after the qualified patient makes a written request for the 237
medication. However, if the qualified patient's attending 238
physician has medically confirmed that the qualified patient 239
will, within reasonable medical judgment, die within the 48 -hour 240
waiting period, the attending physician may prescribe the 241
medication immediately after the qualified patient makes the 242
written request. 243
(e) A qualified patient may make the oral requests for 244
medication under this chapter through telehealth if the 245
attending physician deems it clinically appropriate under the 246
applicable standard of care for his or her profession. 247
(4)(a) A written request for medication under this chapter 248
must be in a form substantially simila r to the following: 249
REQUEST FOR MEDICATION 250
HB 471 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb471-00
Page 11 of 27
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
TO END MY LIFE IN A PEACEFUL MANNER 251
252
I, ...(name of qualified patient)..., am an adult of sound 253
mind. 254
255
I am suffering from ...(medical condition)..., which my 256
attending physician has determined is a terminal con dition and 257
which has been medically confirmed by a consulting physician. 258
Both physicians agree that, within reasonable medical judgment, 259
my condition is incurable and irreversible and is likely to 260
cause my death within 6 months. ...(qualified patient's 261
initials)... 262
263
I have been fully informed of my diagnosis, prognosis, the 264
nature of the medication to be prescribed and potential 265
associated risks, the expected result of taking the medication, 266
and the feasible alternative, concurrent, or additional 267
treatment opportunities available to me, including hospice care 268
and palliative care focused on relieving symptoms and reducing 269
suffering. ...(qualified patient's initials)... 270
271
Pursuant to chapter 764, Florida Statutes, I request that 272
my attending physician prescri be medication that will end my 273
life in a peaceful manner if I choose to self -administer it, and 274
I authorize my attending physician to contact a willing 275
HB 471 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb471-00
Page 12 of 27
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
pharmacist to dispense such medication to me. ...(qualified 276
patient's initials)... 277
278
PURSUANT TO SECTION 764.104, FLORIDA STATUTES, I UNDERSTAND 279
THAT I HAVE THE RIGHT TO RESCIND THIS REQUEST AT ANY TIME AND IN 280
ANY MANNER, REGARDLESS OF MY MENTAL STATE. ...(qualified 281
patient's initials)... 282
283
I understand the full import of this request, and I expect 284
to die if I self-administer the medication to be prescribed. I 285
further understand that although most deaths occur within 3 286
hours, my death may take longer, and my attending physician has 287
counseled me about this possibility. ...(qualified patient's 288
initials)... 289
290
I make this request voluntarily and without reservation. 291
...(qualified patient's initials)... 292
293
Signed: ...(signature of qualified patient)... 294
Dated: ...(date)... Time: ...(time)... 295
296
DECLARATION OF WITNESSES 297
We declare that the person signing this request: 298
1. Is personally known to us or has provided proof of his 299
or her identity; 300
HB 471 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb471-00
Page 13 of 27
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
2. Signed this request in our presence; 301
3. Appears to be of sound mind and not under duress, 302
fraud, or undue influence; and 303
4. Is not a patient for whom either of u s is the attending 304
physician or other health care provider. 305
306
First witness Second witness 307
...(print name)... ...(print name)... 308
...(relation to patient)... ...(relation to 309
patient)... 310
...(signature)... ...(signature)... 311
...(date)... ...(date)... 312
313
NOTE: At least one witness must not be a relative (by 314
blood, marriage, registered domestic partnership, or adoption) 315
of the qualified person signing this request, must not be 316
entitled to any portion of the person's estate upon death, and 317
must not be an owner, operator, or employee of a health care 318
facility where the qualified patient is a patient or resident. 319
(b) To be valid, the written request must be signed by the 320
qualified patient and witnessed by at least two individuals who, 321
in the presence of the qualified patient, attest that, to the 322
best of their knowledge and belief, the qualified patient has 323
mental capacity, is acting voluntarily, and is not being coerced 324
to sign the request. At least one of the witnesses must be a 325
HB 471 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb471-00
Page 14 of 27
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
person who is not: 326
1. A relative of the qualified patient by blood, marriage, 327
registered domestic partnership, or adoption; 328
2. A person who at the time the request is signed would be 329
entitled to any portion of the estate of the qualified patient 330
upon death under any wil l or by operation of law; or 331
3. An owner, operator, or employee of a health care 332
facility where the qualified patient is receiving medical 333
treatment or is a resident. 334
(c) The qualified patient's attending physician or other 335
health care provider at the time the request is signed may not 336
serve as a witness. 337
(5) A qualified patient may rescind his or her request at 338
any time and in any manner without regard to his or her mental 339
state. 340
Section 6. Section 764.105, Florida Statutes, is created 341
to read: 342
764.105 Attending physician responsibilities; consulting 343
physician responsibilities; recordkeeping and reporting 344
requirements; annual report. — 345
(1) ATTENDING PHYSICIAN RESPONSIBILITIES. —The attending 346
physician shall do all of the following before prescri bing 347
medication to a qualified patient under this chapter: 348
(a) Make the initial determination of whether a patient 349
has a terminal condition, has mental capacity, has voluntarily 350
HB 471 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb471-00
Page 15 of 27
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
made the request for medication to end his or her life without 351
coercion or undue influence by another person, and is able to 352
self-administer the medication to be prescribed. 353
(b) Refer the patient to a consulting physician for 354
medical confirmation of the diagnosis, and for a determination 355
that the patient has mental capacity and is acting voluntarily. 356
(c) Ensure that the patient is making an informed decision 357
by fully informing the patient of the facts relevant to all of 358
the following: 359
1. The patient's medical diagnosis and prognosis. 360
2. The potential risks associated with s elf-administering 361
the medication to be prescribed. 362
3. The probable result of self -administering the 363
medication to be prescribed. 364
4. The feasible alternative, concurrent, and additional 365
treatment options available to the patient, including, but not 366
limited to, palliative care, hospice care, and pain control. 367
5. The option to obtain the medication to end his or her 368
life but subsequently decide not to take it. 369
(d) Verify the patient's Florida residency. 370
(e) Refer the patient to a mental health professional with 371
the appropriate training and expertise for counseling if the 372
patient has a history of, or if the physician believes the 373
patient may be suffering from, a mental health disorder or 374
intellectual disability that may cause impaired judgment. The 375
HB 471 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb471-00
Page 16 of 27
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
attending physician may not prescribe medication under this 376
chapter until the mental health professional counseling the 377
patient determines that the patient is not suffering from a 378
mental health disorder or intel lectual disability causing 379
impaired judgment that impacts his or her ability to make 380
informed end-of-life decisions. 381
(f) Inform the qualified patient that he or she has an 382
opportunity to rescind the request at any time and in any 383
manner, and offer the qu alified patient an opportunity to 384
rescind the request after the qualified patient's second oral 385
request in accordance with s. 764.104. 386
(g) Inform the qualified patient that there is no 387
obligation to fill the prescription or to self -administer the 388
medication prescribed under this chapter, even if obtained. 389
(h) Immediately before writing a prescription for 390
medication under this chapter, verify again that the qualified 391
patient is making an informed decision. 392
(i) Counsel the patient about the importance o f having 393
another person present when the patient self -administers the 394
medication prescribed under this chapter and of not self -395
administering the medication in a public place. 396
(j) Comply with the medical record documentation 397
requirements of this section. 398
(k) Ensure that all required steps are carried out in 399
accordance with this chapter before writing a prescription for 400
HB 471 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb471-00
Page 17 of 27
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
medication to enable a qualified patient to end his or her life 401
in a peaceful manner. 402
(l)1. Dispense medications directly, including an cillary 403
medications intended to minimize the patient's discomfort, 404
provided the attending physician is registered as a dispensing 405
practitioner under s. 465.0276, has a current Drug Enforcement 406
Administration number, and complies with applicable laws and 407
rules; or 408
2. With the patient's written consent: 409
a. Contact a pharmacist and inform the pharmacist of the 410
prescription; and 411
b. Deliver the written prescription personally, 412
electronically, or by mail to the pharmacist, who will dispense 413
the medications to either the patient, the attending physician, 414
the patient's legal representative, or an individual whom the 415
patient designates in writing. 416
(2) CONSULTING PHYSICIAN RESPONSIBILITIES. —A consulting 417
physician shall examine the patient and his or her releva nt 418
medical records to confirm, in writing, whether the consulting 419
physician agrees with the attending physician's diagnosis that 420
the patient is suffering from a terminal condition, and verify 421
whether the patient has mental capacity, is acting voluntarily, 422
and has made an informed decision. A consulting physician must 423
refer the patient to a mental health professional for counseling 424
if the physician believes the patient may be suffering from a 425
HB 471 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb471-00
Page 18 of 27
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
mental health disorder or intellectual disability that may cause 426
impaired judgment and the attending physician has not already 427
referred the patient for such counseling. 428
(3) CONFLICT OF INTEREST. —The attending physician, 429
consulting physician, and mental health professional and 430
interpreter, if any, may not be related to the qualified patient 431
by blood, marriage, registered domestic partnership, or adoption 432
or be entitled to any portion of the qualified patient's estate. 433
(4) RECORDKEEPING.—An attending physician is responsible 434
for ensuring that all of the following is doc umented or filed in 435
the patient's medical record: 436
(a) All oral requests by a patient for medication under 437
this chapter. 438
(b) All written requests by a patient for medication under 439
this chapter. 440
(c) The attending physician's diagnosis, prognosis, and 441
determination that the patient has mental capacity, is acting 442
voluntarily, has made an informed decision, and is able to self -443
administer the medication to be prescribed. 444
(d) The consulting physician's diagnosis, prognosis, and 445
verification that the patien t has mental capacity, is acting 446
voluntarily, has made an informed decision, and is able to self -447
administer the medication to be prescribed. 448
(e) A report of the outcome and determinations made during 449
counseling, if performed. 450
HB 471 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb471-00
Page 19 of 27
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
(f) The attending physicia n's offer to the patient to 451
rescind his or her request at the time of the patient's second 452
oral request. 453
(g) A note by the attending physician indicating that all 454
requirements under this chapter have been met and indicating the 455
steps taken to carry out t he request, including a notation of 456
the medication prescribed. 457
(5) REPORTING.—A health care provider who prescribes or 458
dispenses medication under this chapter must submit a report to 459
the department for each qualified patient for or to whom he or 460
she prescribes or dispenses such medication, as applicable. The 461
department shall adopt rules to establish timeframes and forms 462
for submitting such reports. The reports must be limited to all 463
of the following information: 464
(a) The qualified patient's age at death, if applicable. 465
(b) The qualified patient's gender, race, and ethnicity. 466
(c) Whether the qualified patient was enrolled in hospice 467
care at the time of death. 468
(d) The qualified patient's underlying terminal condition. 469
(e) Whether the qualified patie nt self-administered the 470
medication prescribed to end his or her life and, if so, the 471
date on which the death occurred. 472
(6) ANNUAL REPORT.—By January 15 of each year, the 473
department shall publish on its website an aggregated report of 474
all of the information submitted to the department under 475
HB 471 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb471-00
Page 20 of 27
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
subsection (5) for the preceding year, including, but not 476
limited to, the total num ber of qualified patients who received 477
a prescription for medication under this chapter and the total 478
number of health care providers who prescribed such medication. 479
The report may not include any personal identifying information 480
for the qualified patients . 481
Section 7. Section 764.106, Florida Statutes, is created 482
to read: 483
764.106 Disposal of medication. —A person who has custody 484
or control of any unused medication prescribed under this 485
chapter after the death of the qualified patient must personally 486
deliver the unused medication to the nearest facility qualified 487
to dispose of controlled substances or must dispose of the 488
unused medications by any lawful means in accordance with the 489
rules of the Board of Pharmacy or a United States Drug 490
Enforcement Administration approved drug take back program. 491
Section 8. Section 764.107, Florida Statutes, is created 492
to read: 493
764.107 Death certificates. —If a qualified patient dies by 494
self-administration of medication as authorized under this 495
chapter, the qualified patient's death certificate must list the 496
underlying terminal condition as the cause of death and not the 497
prescribed medication. 498
Section 9. Section 764.108, Florida Statutes, is created 499
to read: 500
HB 471 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb471-00
Page 21 of 27
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
764.108 Effect on construction of wills, contracts, and 501
statutes; insurance or annuity policies. — 502
(1) A provision in a contract, will, or other agreement, 503
whether written or oral, to the extent the provision would 504
affect whether a person may make or rescind a request for 505
medication under this chapter, is voi d and unenforceable. 506
(2) An obligation owed under any existing contract may not 507
be conditioned or affected by a person making or rescinding a 508
request for medication under this chapter. 509
(3) A health insurer may not deny or discriminate in its 510
provision of health benefits to a policyholder based on the 511
availability of the medication authorized under this chapter to 512
end his or her life, nor may a health insurer attempt to 513
influence a policyholder's decision to make or rescind a request 514
for such medication. 515
(4) The sale, procurement, or issuance of any life, 516
health, or accident insurance or annuity policy, or the rate 517
charged for any policy, may not be conditioned upon or affected 518
by a person making or rescinding a request for medication under 519
this chapter. A qualified patient's act of self -administering 520
medication prescribed under this chapter may not affect a life, 521
health, or accident insurance or annuity policy. 522
Section 10. Section 764.109, Florida Statutes, is created 523
to read: 524
764.109 Penalties; l iabilities; immunities; grounds for 525
HB 471 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb471-00
Page 22 of 27
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
prohibiting health care provider participation; notification; 526
permissible sanctions. — 527
(1) A person who: 528
(a) Without authorization of the patient, willfully alters 529
or forges a request for medication under this chapter or 530
conceals or destroys a rescission of that request with the 531
intent or effect of causing the patient's death commits a felony 532
of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 533
775.083, or s. 775.084. 534
(b) Coerces or exerts undue influence on a patient to 535
request medication under this chapter for the purpose of ending 536
the patient's life or to destroy a rescission of a medication 537
request commits a felony of the first degree, punishable as 538
provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084. 539
(2) This chapter does not limit further liability for 540
civil damages resulting from other negligent conduct or 541
intentional misconduct by any person. 542
(3) The penalties in this chapter do not preclude criminal 543
penalties applicable under other law for conduct t hat is 544
inconsistent with this chapter. 545
(4) Except as provided in subsections (1) and (5): 546
(a) A person is not subject to civil or criminal liability 547
or professional disciplinary action for complying in good faith 548
with this chapter. This includes being present when a qualified 549
patient self-administers the medication prescribed under this 550
HB 471 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb471-00
Page 23 of 27
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
chapter. 551
(b) A health care facility, a professional organization or 552
association, or a health insurer may not subject a person to 553
censure, discipline, suspension; loss or denial of license, 554
credentials, privileges, or membership; or any other penalty 555
solely for refusing to participate in this chapter or for 556
complying in good faith with this chapter. 557
(c) A request by a patient for, or provision by an 558
attending physician of, medication in good faith compliance with 559
this chapter does not constitute evidence of neglect for any 560
purpose of law or provide the sole basis for the appointment of 561
a guardian or conservator. 562
(d) A health care provider is not under any duty, whethe r 563
by contract, by statute, or by any other legal requirement, to 564
participate in the provision of medication prescribed under this 565
chapter to a qualified patient. If a health care provider is 566
unable or unwilling to carry out a patient's request under this 567
chapter, the health care provider must inform the patient and 568
refer him or her to a health care provider willing to assist the 569
patient in the request for medication to end his or her life as 570
authorized under this chapter. If the patient transfers his or 571
her care to a new health care provider, the prior health care 572
provider must transfer, upon request, a copy of the patient's 573
relevant medical records to the new health care provider within 574
48 hours. 575
HB 471 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb471-00
Page 24 of 27
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
(5)(a) As used in this subsection, the term: 576
1. "Notify" means to make a separate written statement 577
specifically informing employees, before their participation in 578
this chapter, of the employing health care provider's or health 579
care facility's policy sanctioning participation in activities 580
covered by this chapte r. 581
2. "Participation in this chapter" means performing the 582
duties of an attending physician, the function of a consulting 583
physician, or the function of counseling pursuant to s. 764.105. 584
The term does not include: 585
a. Making an initial determination tha t a patient has a 586
terminal disease and informing the patient of the medical 587
prognosis; 588
b. Providing information about the Florida End -of-Life 589
Options Act to a patient upon the request of the patient; 590
c. Providing a patient, upon the request of the pati ent, 591
with a referral to another physician; or 592
d. A patient contracting with his or her attending 593
physician or consulting physician to act outside of the course 594
and scope of the provider's capacity as an employee or 595
independent contractor of the sanctioning health care provider. 596
(b) Notwithstanding any other law, an employing health 597
care provider or health care facility may prohibit participation 598
in this chapter on the premises of facilities that it owns or 599
operates if it first notifies the heal th care providers 600
HB 471 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb471-00
Page 25 of 27
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
practicing in its facilities of its policy. This paragraph does 601
not prevent a health care provider or health care facility from 602
otherwise providing health care services to a patient which do 603
not constitute participation in this chapter. 604
(c) A health care provider or health care facility that 605
prohibits participation in this chapter on the premises of its 606
facilities shall clearly articulate this policy in an easily 607
accessible and appropriate location on any website maintained by 608
the provider or facility and in any applicable materials given 609
to patients. 610
(d) An employing health care provider or health care 611
facility may not prohibit a health care provider from, or 612
sanction a health care provider for, participation in this 613
chapter if done off premises of facilities that the employing 614
health care provider or health care facility owns or operates or 615
when the health care provider is acting outside the normal 616
course and scope of his or her employment with the health care 617
provider or health care f acility. 618
(e) Notwithstanding subsection (4), if an employing health 619
care provider or health care facility has a policy prohibiting 620
health care providers from participation in this chapter on the 621
premises of facilities that it owns or operates and has not ified 622
them of the policy, the prohibiting health care provider or 623
health care facility may subject such health care providers to 624
sanctions for participating in this chapter in violation of that 625
HB 471 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb471-00
Page 26 of 27
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
policy. 626
(f) An employing health care provider or health care 627
facility that imposes sanctions under paragraph (e) may not be 628
arbitrary or capricious in its sanctions and must follow all due 629
process and other procedures the sanctioning health care 630
provider may have which are related to the imposition of 631
sanctions on another health care provider. 632
(6) Sanctions imposed under subsection (5) may not be 633
considered the imposition of a sanction based on a violation of 634
standard of care, and participation in this chapter may not be 635
deemed unprofessional conduct for the purpo se of disciplinary 636
action against a health care provider's license. 637
Section 11. Section 764.11, Florida Statutes, is created 638
to read: 639
764.11 Claims by governmental entity for costs incurred. —640
Any governmental entity that incurs costs resulting from a 641
person terminating his or her life pursuant to this chapter in a 642
public place shall have a claim against the estate of the person 643
to recover the costs and reasonable attorney fees related to 644
enforcing the claim. 645
Section 12. Section 764.111, Florida Sta tutes, is created 646
to read: 647
764.111 Construction; severability. — 648
(1) This chapter may not be construed to authorize a 649
physician or any other person to end a patient's life by lethal 650
HB 471 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb471-00
Page 27 of 27
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
injection, mercy killing, or active euthanasia. Actions taken in 651
accordance with this chapter do not constitute suicide, assisted 652
suicide, mercy killing, euthanasia, adult abuse, or homicide for 653
any purpose under the law. 654
(2) Any section of this chapter being held invalid as to 655
any person or circumstance does not affect the application of 656
any other section of this chapter which can be given full effect 657
without the invalid section or application, and, to this end, 658
the provisions of this chapter are severable. 659
Section 13. Section 782.08, Florida Statutes, is amended 660
to read: 661
782.08 Assisting self -murder.—Every person deliberately 662
assisting another in the commission of self -murder shall be 663
guilty of manslaughter, a felony of the second degree, 664
punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084. 665
Actions authorized under the Florida End -of-Life Options Act, 666
chapter 764, do not constitute assisting another in the 667
commission of self-murder, and a person acting within the scope 668
of and in accordance with chapter 764 may not be prosecuted 669
under this section for such a cts. 670
Section 14. This act shall take effect July 1, 2025. 671