Five New Florida Laws Take Effect January 1, Expands Health, Insurance and Animal Protections
By Space Coast Daily // December 31, 2025
New Laws Go into effect January 1, 2026
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Five new Florida laws passed during the 2025 legislative session are scheduled to take effect on Jan. 1, 2026, adding to a slate of measures that began rolling out earlier in the year.
Another group of bills took effect Oct. 1, but the New Year’s changes span a wide range of topics — from health care to insurance and animal welfare — and all were approved with unanimous, bipartisan support.
One measure, SB 158, ensures Florida state employee health insurance plans cover diagnostic and supplemental breast examinations without any out-of-pocket costs. Under the law, patients will no longer face copays, deductibles or coinsurance for those procedures.
Another law, SB 1808, requires health care facilities and practitioners to refund patient overpayments within 30 days. Facilities that fail to do so could be fined up to $500 per violation, while individual practitioners who miss the deadline could face disciplinary action.
SB 944 shortens the window insurance companies have to demand repayment from psychologists and other health care providers. Insurers currently may seek reimbursement for up to 30 months; beginning Jan. 1, they will have only 12 months, unless the provider is convicted of insurance fraud.
A key provision of “Dexter’s Law” — named after a dog found decapitated in Pinellas County — also takes effect Jan. 1. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement will be required to maintain a publicly searchable list of individuals convicted of, or who plead guilty or no contest to, animal cruelty charges. Earlier portions of the law, which went into effect in July, already allow tougher penalties in severe abuse cases.
Finally, HB 655 sets new standards for pet insurance policies. Companies must clearly explain how claims are paid, disclose any required pet medical exams, and give customers time to review and return policies if they choose. Insurers may exclude coverage for proven preexisting conditions, establish waiting periods for certain illnesses, and require medical exams after a policy is purchased — but not when it is renewed.
Together, the laws reflect lawmakers’ focus on consumer protections, health care clarity and accountability, and enhanced oversight in cases involving animals and insurance practices.
