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HB 353FLORIDA · STATEWIDESession 2026Laid on Table, refer to CS/SB 844

New Continuing Education Requirements for Prescribers

Original title: Sickle Cell Disease Treatment of Pain Continuing Education

November 5, 2025

healthcare medical education sickle cell disease opioids professional licensing

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Where This Stands

Currently Laid on Table, refer to CS/SB 844. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Introduced.

Procedural history

18 actions

Feb 25, 2026House
Added to Second Reading Calendar
Feb 25, 2026House
Bill released to House Calendar
Feb 25, 2026House
Reported out of Health & Human Services Committee
Feb 24, 2026HouseCommittee
Favorable by Health & Human Services Committee
Feb 20, 2026House
Added to Health & Human Services Committee agenda
Feb 12, 2026House
Now in Health & Human Services Committee

Show 12 earlier actions

Feb 12, 2026HouseCommittee
Referred to Health & Human Services Committee
Feb 11, 2026HouseIntroduced
1st Reading (Committee Substitute 1)
Feb 11, 2026HouseIntroduced
CS Filed
Feb 11, 2026House
Laid on Table under Rule 7.18(a)
Feb 11, 2026House
Reported out of Health Professions & Programs Subcommittee
Feb 11, 2026HouseCommittee
Favorable with CS by Health Professions & Programs Subcommittee
Feb 9, 2026House
PCS added to Health Professions & Programs Subcommittee agenda
Jan 13, 2026HouseIntroduced
1st Reading (Original Filed Version)
Nov 12, 2025House
Now in Health Professions & Programs Subcommittee
Nov 12, 2025HouseCommittee
Referred to Health & Human Services Committee
Nov 12, 2025HouseCommittee
Referred to Health Professions & Programs Subcommittee
Nov 5, 2025HouseIntroduced
Filed

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

View official text →

The Frame

What this does

This change mandates that all Florida-licensed prescribers of update their clinical knowledge regarding sickle cell pain management as a condition for maintaining their legal authority to practice.

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

Medical prescribers

Must complete specific continuing education on sickle cell disease to maintain their license to prescribe controlled substances.

Patients with sickle cell disease

The bill mandates that their specific pain management needs be included in the required training for their healthcare providers.

What changed

Last recorded activity November 5, 2025.

What's next

Introduced.

Summary

This bill requires doctors and other medical professionals who prescribe to complete a specific continuing education course on treating pain in patients with sickle cell disease. Professionals who do not complete this training will be unable to renew their medical licenses.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is required to take this course?

Any person registered with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration who is authorized to prescribe in Florida.

What happens if I don't take the course?

The department will not renew your professional license.

Can I take this course online?

Yes, the bill explicitly allows the course to be offered in a distance learning format.

Why It Matters

This change mandates that all Florida-licensed prescribers of update their clinical knowledge regarding sickle cell pain management as a condition for maintaining their legal authority to practice.

News Coverage

No news coverage found yet. Articles are indexed twice daily.

Voting Record

Motion succeededhouse2/24/2026Official roll call ↗

Favorable (Health & Human Services Committee)

Total

Yes

Present

Not Voting

Abstain

How they voted (40)

+ 16 more

Motion succeededhouse2/11/2026Official roll call ↗

Favorable (Health Professions & Programs Subcommittee)

Total

Yes

Present

Not Voting

Abstain

How they voted (27)

+ 3 more

Full roll-call analysis →

Discoveries

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift90% confidence

Integration of Specialized Pain Management into General Education

The bill shifts from general controlled substance education to requiring specific clinical focus on sickle cell disease, indicating a policy effort to address health disparities in pain management.

sickle cell disease

Connected Entities

organizationHealth & Human Services Committee“Committee reviewing the bill”Map →

otherRule 7.18(a)“Procedural rule regarding bill disposition”Map →

organizationHealth Professions & Programs Subcommittee“Subcommittee reviewing the bill”Map →

locationHouse Calendar“Where the bill is scheduled for consideration”Map →

Sources

Open source document

openstates.org

Analysis Score

0–100

Significance60
How much this matters to a regular citizen
Controversy10
Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
Entertainment5
Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
Buzz20
Current news / social attention level

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