Proposed Health Insurance Access for Small Fire Districts

The Frame

What this does

The bill would have provided a pathway for small fire districts to potentially lower insurance costs by pooling with state coverage, though it required those districts to bear all administrative and actuarial costs to ensure no financial burden on the state.

Who is mentioned in the record

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

Small independent special fire control districts

These districts would have been granted the option to apply for state health insurance coverage subject to new financial and administrative requirements.

Employees of small independent special fire control districts

These employees would have been subject to the state's eligibility rules and premium structures if their district chose to participate.

What changed

Last recorded activity March 13, 2026.

What's next

Introduced.

Background

The bill was introduced in the 2026 Florida legislative session but failed to advance out of the Governmental Oversight and Accountability Committee. context

Summary

This bill would have allowed small independent fire control districts to join the state's group health insurance and prescription drug programs. It established specific eligibility criteria, required districts to pay for actuarial analyses, and set strict financial and administrative conditions for participation.

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

What is a 'small independent special fire control district' under this bill?

It is a district with fewer than 100 employees located in a county that has a countywide emergency medical services authority created by special act.

Would the state have paid for the insurance costs of these districts?

No. The bill required districts to reimburse the state for 100 percent of all costs, including administrative and actuarial expenses.

What happens if a district fails to pay its required costs?

The Department of Revenue or Department of Financial Services would be authorized to deduct the owed amount from other state funds distributed to that district.

Why It Matters

The bill would have provided a pathway for small fire districts to potentially lower insurance costs by pooling with state coverage, though it required those districts to bear all administrative and actuarial costs to ensure no financial burden on the state.