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SB 2518FLORIDA · STATEWIDESession 2026Died in Messages
High Impact

Health and Foster Care Support Bill

Original title: Health

February 13, 2026

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Where This Stands

Currently Died in Messages. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Introduced.

Procedural history

13 actions
  1. Feb 20, 2026House
    In Messages
  2. Feb 20, 2026Senate
    Immediately certified
  3. Feb 20, 2026Senate
    The Senate requests that the House pass the bill as passed by the Senate or agree to include the bill in the Budget Conference
  4. Feb 20, 2026SenateFloor
    Passed; YEAS 36 NAYS 0
  5. Feb 20, 2026SenateFloor
    Read 3rd time
  6. Feb 20, 2026SenateFloor
    Read 2nd time
Show 7 earlier actions
  1. Feb 19, 2026SenateIntroduced
    Introduced
  2. Feb 18, 2026Senate
    Placed on Special Order Calendar, 02/20/26
  3. Feb 18, 2026Senate
    Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading
  4. Feb 18, 2026SenateIntroduced
    Filed
  5. Feb 18, 2026Senate
    Submitted as Committee Bill and Reported Favorably by Appropriations; YEAS 18 NAYS 0
  6. Feb 13, 2026Senate
    On Committee agenda-- Appropriations, 02/18/26, 1:30 pm, 412 Knott Building
  7. Feb 13, 2026Senate
    Submitted for consideration by Appropriations

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

The bill impacts the financial support levels for foster parents and former foster youth, creates new grant opportunities for faith-based organizations, and changes how nursing homes are reimbursed for Medicaid services.

Who is mentioned in the record

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

Foster parents and caregivers

The bill revises monthly room and board rates and establishes annual cost-of-living adjustments.

Former foster youth

The bill increases internship stipends and expands access to workforce training and mentorship programs.

Nursing home facilities

The bill changes the methodology for Medicaid reimbursement and quality incentive payments.

Faith-based organizations

The bill creates a new grant program for which these organizations may apply to support foster and adoptive families.

What changed

Last recorded activity February 13, 2026.

What's next

Introduced.

Summary

This bill establishes new support programs for foster youth, including grief counseling and workforce internships, while adjusting foster care room and board rates and nursing home reimbursement methodologies.

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 eligible for the new grief support services?
Children and youth ages 4 to 19 who have experienced the death of a parent or sibling.
How much financial assistance do former foster youth receive in the internship program?
The bill increases the monthly stipend to $1,717, subject to the availability of funds.
Can faith-based organizations receive state grants under this bill?
Yes, the bill creates the Foster and Family Support Grant Program to award grants to not-for-profit, faith-based organizations for foster and adoptive family support.

Why It Matters

The bill impacts the financial support levels for foster parents and former foster youth, creates new grant opportunities for faith-based organizations, and changes how nursing homes are reimbursed for Medicaid services.

News Coverage

Lobbying Activity

A16Z Capital Management LLC (f/k/a AH Capital Management L.L.C., d/b/a Andreessen Horowitz)

on behalf of A16Z Capital Management LLC (f/k/a AH Capital Management L.L.C.)

$880,000

2026

BANKINGCOMMODITIES (BIG TICKET)HEALTH ISSUESFINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS/INVESTMENTS/SEC

Digital assets and anti-money laundering proposals

The Cleveland Clinic Foundation

on behalf of Cleveland Clinic Foundation

$130,000

2026

HEALTH ISSUESMEDICARE/MEDICAID

Quantum computing Immigration Issues National Institute of Health CHILDReN Act EARLY Minds Act Interoperability Issues Brain Health 340B Graduate Medical Education Workforce Issues Payer Accountability Organ Transplant Legislation Healthy Competition Act Price Transparency

ACG Advocacy

on behalf of Artera

2026

HEALTH ISSUESTELECOMMUNICATIONS

Government procurement health care.

ACG Advocacy

on behalf of 11:11 Media Impact

2026

HEALTH ISSUESCIVIL RIGHTS/CIVIL LIBERTIES

Youth treatment facility oversight. Foster care issues.

ACG Advocacy

on behalf of FoodHealth Company

2026

HEALTH ISSUES

Advocating on federal nutrition policy.

ACG Advocacy

on behalf of Paynela, LLC

2026

HEALTH ISSUES

1-800 Contacts, Inc.

$250,000

2026

CONSUMER ISSUES/SAFETY/PRODUCTSHEALTH ISSUES

Issues and legislative proposals related to contact lenses Issues related to the Federal Trade Commission Contact Lens Rule H.R.8773: Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, 2025 H.R. 9027: Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2025 HR 4282 S. 3354, Curtis QUIET Act.

A STREET STRATEGIES

on behalf of National Association of Convenience Stores

2026

FUEL/GAS/OILBANKINGTOBACCOTAXATION/INTERNAL REVENUE CODE

Issues relating to renewable fuels and energy policy Issues relating to UST regulations Issues relating to renewable fuels standard implementation Issues relating to retailer liability associated with selling alternative and renewable fuels Issues relating to the gasoline and diesel fuel excise tax Issues relating to Biodiesel Blenders' Tax Credit Issues relating to the Alternative Fuel Vehicle Refueling Property tax credit Issues relating to Gas prices and fuel markets, price gouging E15 RVP waiver

ADOBE INC

$450,000

2026

COMPUTER INDUSTRYDEFENSEGOVERNMENT ISSUESCOPYRIGHT/PATENT/TRADEMARK

IT Modernization and Digital Service delivery issues; Digital Service Delivery IT Acquisition, and Content Authenticity and digital provenance issues; Content Authenticity Initiative (CAI); artificial intelligence; content provenance; privacy; technology in and competition issues; AI innovation and the economy; Content provenance and AI Labelling; IT modernization; Support for H.R. 9112 - CREATOR Act

ACADIA PHARMACEUTICALS

$700,000

2026

HEALTH ISSUESMEDICARE/MEDICAIDTAXATION/INTERNAL REVENUE CODETRADE (DOMESTIC/FOREIGN)

Implementation of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, ORPHAN Cures Act (HR 946, S 1862), Mikaela Naylon Give Kids A Chance Act (HR 1262), Give Kids A Chance Act (S 932), Cameron's Law (HR 1414), Kids Access to Care Act (Accelerating HR 1509, S 752), Small Biotech Innovations Act (HR 3731, S 1930), EPIC Act (HR 1492, S 832), One Big Beautiful Bill Act (HR 1), BINSA Act, H.R. 9102, Issues related to protecting patient access to medicines in Medicare and Medicaid, Issues related to access to medicines for Parkinson's disease patients, Issues related to Antipsychotic use in Medicare, Issues related to most-favored-nation policies.

Voting Record

Sponsors

Discoveries

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

policy shift90% confidence

Expansion of Foster Support

The bill shifts from a pilot-only focus for foster youth workforce programs to a more permanent structure and increases financial support levels.

Connected Entities

organizationBudget ConferencePotential inclusion in the budgetMap →
organizationSenateSponsor of the billMap →
date2026-02-18Date of committee actionMap →
location412 Knott BuildingLocation of the Appropriations CommitteeMap →
locationKnott BuildingLocation of the Appropriations CommitteeMap →
date2026-02-13Date of submissionMap →
date2026-02-20Date of final passageMap →
organizationAppropriations CommitteeCommittee reviewing the billMap →
organizationHouseRequests action from the HouseMap →

Sources

Open source document

openstates.org

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance85
    How much this matters to a regular citizen
  • Controversy20
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment10
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz25
    Current news / social attention level

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