Florida House Panel Advances Fetal Wrongful-Death Bill After Liability Amendment

Overview

• The House Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee voted 13-3 to advance HB 289, allowing parents to seek wrongful-death damages for an unborn child, including mental pain and potential loss of support.
• Members adopted an amendment narrowing protections for mothers and health providers by requiring that any care be lawful and delivered in compliance with the applicable standard of care.
• The change aligns the House bill more closely with SB 164, the Senate companion from Sen. Erin Grall, which passed the Senate Judiciary Committee 5-4 and now moves to appropriations and rules panels.
• Democrats and groups including Planned Parenthood and the ACLU argue the bill could empower abusive partners and jeopardize access to IVF and abortion-related care, claims the sponsor rejects.
• Hospitals and physician insurers registered opposition without testimony, and the House bill now proceeds to the Judiciary Committee after a similar effort failed last session.