Florida HB 1519: Homestead Exemptions

Bill Text

HB 1519 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1519-00
Page 1 of 10
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 the use of substances affecting 2
cognitive function; creating s. 406.139, F.S.; 3
defining terms; requiring medical examiners to take 4
specified actions when performing an autopsy on a 5
decedent who is a violent offender; requiring that 6
autopsy reports for such individuals include certain 7
findings and information; requiring notification of 8
certain findings and information to the Department of 9
Law Enforcement, the Department of Health, and the 10
Agency for Health Care Administration; amending s. 11
456.057, F.S.; authorizing the release of certain 12
patient records to law enforcement agencies without 13
patient authorization under certain circumstances; 14
amending s. 1006.07, F.S.; requiring school safety 15
specialists to provide school district staff with 16
certain training on the adverse effects of specified 17
substances; specifying requirements for training; 18
amending s. 1006.12, F.S.; requiring safe-school 19
officers to complete certain training on the adverse 20
effects of specified substances; specifying 21
requirements for training; amending s. 381.028, F.S.; 22
conforming a cross-reference; providing an effective 23
date. 24
25

HB 1519 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1519-00
Page 2 of 10
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

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 26
27
Section 1. Section 406.139, Florida Statutes, is created 28
to read: 29
406.139 Autopsy of a suspected violent offender.— 30
(1) DEFINITIONS.—As used in this section, the term: 31
(a) "Intoxicating substance" means any alcoholic beverage, 32
controlled substance controlled under chapter 893, or chemical 33
substance set forth in s. 877.111. 34
(b) "Psychotropic drug" means any drug prescribed to 35
affect an individual's mental state, including, but not limited 36
to, antidepressants, antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, and 37
antianxiety medications. 38
(c) "Violent offender" means any person who is suspected 39
by law enforcement of engaging in unprovoked violence that 40
results in, or is likely to result in, the death or serious 41
bodily injury of another. 42
(2) CONSULTATION; TOXICOLOGY SCREENING.—If a medical 43
examiner's office performs an autopsy on a decedent who is a 44
violent offender, the medical examiner must do all of the 45
following: 46
(a)1. Make reasonable efforts to determine the identity of 47
any treating mental health professional or primary care 48
physician of the decedent; and 49
2. Consult such individuals, if known and available, to 50

HB 1519 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1519-00
Page 3 of 10
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

obtain information and records regarding the decedent's history 51
of psychotropic drug use, including any prescribed or 52
discontinued medications. 53
(b) Order and perform a toxicology screening on the 54
decedent to determine whether psychotropic drugs or intoxicating 55
substances are present in the decedent's body. 56
(3) AUTOPSY REPORT; NOTIFICATION.— 57
(a) All findings under subsection (2) must be documented 58
and included in the final autopsy report, along with any 59
available corroborating information. 60
(b)1. Any findings relating to the use of intoxicating 61
substances or psychotropic drugs must be reported to the 62
Department of Law Enforcement. 63
2. Any findings relating to the use of psychotropic drugs 64
and, if known, the prescribing facility, must be reported to the 65
Department of Health and the Agency for Health Care 66
Administration. 67
Section 2. Present subsections (8) through (20) of section 68
456.057, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as subsections (9) 69
through (21), respectively, and a new subsection (8) is added to 70
that section, to read: 71
456.057 Ownership and control of patient records; report 72
or copies of records to be furnished; disclosure of 73
information.— 74
(8) Notwithstanding any other law, records must be 75

HB 1519 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1519-00
Page 4 of 10
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

furnished to a law enforcement agency as defined in s. 914.28 76
for the purpose of investigating a violent offender as defined 77
in s. 406.139, provided: 78
(a) Such release is limited to only those records that 79
confirm whether the suspected person was ever treated with 80
psychotropic drugs as defined in s. 406.139; 81
(b) The records reasonably relate to such treatment; and 82
(c) The law enforcement agency requests such records. 83
Section 3. Paragraph (a) of subsection (6) of section 84
1006.07, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 85
1006.07 District school board dut