Florida HB 1203: Education on Congenital Cytomegalovirus

Bill Text

HB 1203 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1203-00
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S

A bill to be entitled 1
An act relating to education on congenital 2
cytomegalovirus; creating s. 383.142, F.S.; requiring 3
the Department of Health, in consultation with medical 4
experts identified by the department, to develop 5
educational materials on congenital cytomegalovirus 6
for distribution to expectant and new parents or 7
caregivers; providing requirements for such 8
educational materials; requiring certain hospitals, 9
birth centers, and obstetrics and gynecology physician 10
practices to provide the educational materials to such 11
parents and caregivers; requiring the department to 12
provide the educational materials to child care 13
facilities; creating s. 456.0302, F.S.; requiring the 14
licensing boards of certain health care practitioners, 15
beginning on a specified date, to require such 16
practitioners to complete a board-approved course on 17
congenital cytomegalovirus as a part of initial 18
licensure and every other licensure renewal; 19
specifying requirements for the course; requiring such 20
health care practitioners to submit confirmation of 21
having completed the course in a specified manner; 22
requiring the boards to include the hour required for 23
completion of the course in the total hours of 24
continuing education required for such profession, 25

HB 1203 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1203-00
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S

with an exception; authorizing a person holding two or 26
more licenses subject to the continuing education 27
requirement to show proof of completion of the course 28
for purposes of relicensure for additional licenses; 29
providing for disciplinary action; authorizing the 30
applicable boards to adopt rules; providing an 31
effective date. 32
33
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 34
35
Section 1. Section 383.142, Florida Statutes, is created 36
to read: 37
383.142 Education on congenital cytomegalovirus.—The 38
Department of Health, in consultation with medical experts 39
identified by the department, shall develop educational 40
materials on congenital cytomegalovirus to be distributed to 41
expectant and new parents or caregivers as part of any 42
maternity, prenatal, or newborn services or education provided 43
by hospitals, birth centers, or obstetrics and gynecology 44
physician practices in this state. 45
(1) The educational materials must include, but need not 46
be limited to, an explanation of all of the following: 47
(a) The causes, symptoms, and effects of cytomegalovirus 48
infection and the ways it can be prevented. The materials must 49
emphasize the fact that the virus can spread from person to 50

HB 1203 2026

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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S

person without detection and can be particularly dangerous if 51
transmitted from a pregnant woman to her child as congenital 52
cytomegalovirus. 53
(b) The manner in which congenital cytomegalovirus, if 54
contracted, can lead to neurological issues, such as seizures, 55
cerebral palsy, and developmental delays; sensory loss, such as 56
hearing and vision loss; physical problems, such as low birth 57
weight, jaundice, and enlarged liver and spleen; and, in severe 58
cases, pregnancy loss. The materials must emphasize the 59
importance of early testing for congenital cytomegalovirus in 60
newborns and infants to preserve their health and prevent 61
lifelong health complications. 62
(c) The screening requirements of s. 383.145. 63
(2) Each hospital, birth center, and obstetrics and 64
gynecology physician practice in this state providing maternity, 65
prenatal, or newborn services or education shall provide the 66
educational materials developed by the department under this 67
section to expectant or new parents or caregivers receiving such 68
services or education. The department shall provide the 69
educational materials to child care facilities and any other 70
entity deemed relevant by the department. 71
Section 2. Section 456.0302, Florida Statutes, is created 72
to read: 73
456.0302 Requirement for instruction on congenital 74
cytomegalovirus.— 75

HB 1203 2026

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hb1203-00
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S

(1) Beginning July 1, 2026, the applicable board shall 76
require each person licensed under chapter 458, chapter 459, 77
part I of chapter 464, or chapter 467 to complete a 1-hour 78
continuing education course, approved by the board, on 79
congenital cytomegalovirus as part of initial licensure and 80
every other biennial licensure renewal. The approved course must 81
include instruction on a