CS/HB 497 2025
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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 nonprofit agricultural organization 2
medical benefit plans; creating s. 624.4032, F.S.; 3
providing purpose; defining the term "nonprofit 4
agricultural organization"; providing authority, 5
duties, and prohibited acts of nonprofit agricultural 6
organizations offering medical benefit plans to their 7
members; providing an effective date. 8
9
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida : 10
11
Section 1. Section 624.4032, Florida Statutes, is created 12
to read: 13
624.4032 Nonprofit agricultural organization medical 14
benefit plans.— 15
(1) The purpose of this section is to authorize nonprofit 16
agricultural organizations to offer medical benefit plans to 17
their members. 18
(2) As used in this section, the term "nonprofit 19
agricultural organization" means an organization that meets all 20
of the following criteria: 21
(a) Is domiciled in this state. 22
(b) Is exempt from federal income tax under s. 501(c) (3) 23
of the Internal Revenue Code. 24
(c) Was created primarily to promote programs for the 25
CS/HB 497 2025
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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
development of rural communities and the economic stability and 26
sustainability of farmers in this state. 27
(d) Exists to serve its members beyond only offering 28
medical benefit plans. 29
(e) Collects annual dues from its members. 30
(f) Was in existence before 1945. 31
(g) Is composed of members who, collectively, are 32
residents of the majority of counties in this state. 33
(3) A nonprofit agricultural organization: 34
(a) May offer medical benefit plans to members of the 35
nonprofit agricultural organization. Such plans are not 36
insurance for purposes of the Florida Insurance Code. 37
(b) Must provide a written disclaimer on or accompanying 38
all applications and marketing materi als for a medical benefit 39
plan, regardless of whether the applications and marketing 40
materials are distributed by or on behalf of the nonprofit 41
agricultural organization. The disclaimer must read in 42
substance: "Notice: This medical benefit plan is not a he alth 43
insurance policy or health maintenance contract and is not 44
subject to the regulatory requirements and consumer protections 45
that apply to health insurance policies or health maintenance 46
contracts under the Florida Insurance Code. The nonprofit 47
agricultural organization offering this medical benefit plan is 48
not an authorized insurer or authorized health maintenance 49
organization in Florida, and the nonprofit agricultural 50
CS/HB 497 2025
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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
organization is not subject to the regulatory requirements or 51
consumer protections of the Florida Insurance Code." The 52
disclaimer must be in contrasting color and at least 12 -point 53
type. 54
(c) May not market or sell medical benefit plans through 55
agents licensed by the department. 56
(d) Must conduct an annual financial audit that is 57
performed by an independent certified public accountant in 58
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and 59
that is made available to the public by providing a copy upon 60
request or by posting on the nonprofit agricultural 61
organization's website. 62
Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2025. 63