Here Are 10 New FL Laws Going Into Effect On New Year's Day

From animal cruelty to breast examinations to child welfare, multiple bills and statutes will officially become law in Florida on Jan. 1, 2026.

The Florida Legislature is preparing to begin its new session on Jan. 13, but these bills that will become law on New Year's Day were passed last session.

Here are some of the changes coming to Florida law and how they will affect residents. While some officially go into effect on Jan. 1, others include provisions or deadlines that begin on the first day of the new year.

Animal Cruelty Database

Earlier in 2025, this bill required the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to post on its website the names of people who have been convicted of or pleaded guilty to animal cruelty charges. As of Jan. 1, the information is required to be available to search on the FDLE’s website.

Pet Insurance And Wellness Programs

HB 655 will create a regulatory framework for the oversight of pet insurance and wellness programs in Florida. The bill provides consumer protections, including policy disclosures regarding benefits and exclusions, and gives pet owners the right to rescind a policy within 30 days of issuance.

Breast Examinations

SB 158 prohibits Florida's medical insurance program from imposing any cost-sharing liability for diagnostic breast examinations and supplemental breast examinations on any state employee. The prohibition is effective Jan. 1, consistent with the start of the new plan year.

Patient Refunds

The bill requires facilities, providers and anyone who accepts payment from insurance for services rendered by health care practitioners to refund any overpayment made by the patient no later than 30 days after determining the overpayment was made.

Insurance Claims

The bill shortens the timeframe for a health insurer or health maintenance organization to submit claims for overpayment to a licensed psychologist. Insurers generally have up to 30 months to ask a provider to return money; however, this bill reduces the time to 12 months for claims filed on or after Jan. 1.

Public Education Of Background Screening Requirements

HB 531 requires the Agency for Health Care Administration to create a public website that provides the public with a way to search for care provider background screening education, regulations and awareness.

Condominium Association Records

While this bill went into effect in July to ease the financial burden placed on owners by the previous condo inspection law, deadlines for public posting of material, including minutes of administrative meetings, videos, affidavits and other material, go into effect Jan. 1.

Fertility Preservation

HB 677 requires state employee health insurance policies issued on or after Jan. 1 to cover standard fertility services for enrollees diagnosed with cancer and whose treatment may cause infertility.

Alternative Education Programs

Under a massive bill that also banned elementary and middle school students from using wireless devices while in school, the Florida Department of Education was given a Jan. 1 deadline to create and outline alternative education programs for students who fail to earn diplomas.

Child Welfare

Under SB 7012, the state is required to launch a pilot program for treatment foster care, as well as enhance the data and information the state must collect and report related to commercial sexual exploitation of children.