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Florida’s New Year Laws Expand Health, Pet Insurance and Animal-Welfare Protections

State regulators now face new enforcement duties, with penalties set to compel timely refunds, insurer transparency plus a public animal-cruelty registry.

Overview

  • SB 158 now bars copays, deductibles and other cost sharing for diagnostic and supplemental breast exams, but only for Florida’s state employee health insurance plan.
  • SB 1808 requires providers and facilities to refund patient overpayments within 30 days, with $500 penalties for facilities and potential disciplinary action for practitioners who fail to comply.
  • HB 655 classifies pet insurance as property insurance and mandates clear disclosures on coverage rules, waiting periods and exclusions, a 30‑day free‑look cancellation window, and a ban on marketing wellness programs as insurance or tying them to coverage.
  • HB 255 (“Dexter’s Law”) directs the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to maintain a public online database of animal‑cruelty offenders, with the database required to be posted starting Jan. 1, 2026.
  • State officials project the breast exam change could add about $3.6 million annually to state plan claims costs, as agencies including FDLE, AHCA, DOH, the Office of Insurance Regulation and the Division of State Group Insurance carry out implementation.