HB 237 — Use of Professional Nursing Titles
Last action — Died in Rules
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✓Introduced
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✓In Committee
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3Passed House
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4Passed Senate
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5To Executive
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6Enacted
This bill has passed the House. Introduced October 21, 2025. It now moves to the second chamber.
Next likely step: consideration and a floor vote in the Senate.
Odds of enactment
Moderate chanceBased on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a moderate chance of becoming law.
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A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.
Prognosis
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Passed House
Current position in the legislative process.
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2 sponsors
1 primary, 1 co-sponsors signed on.
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Single-party support
Sponsorship is currently within one party (1 R).
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Cleared a recorded vote
Passed 3 recorded votes so far.
Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.
Summary
Use of Professional Nursing Titles; Authorizes persons who hold specified degrees to use certain titles & abbreviations; requires certain doctoral degree holders to specify their profession when using specified title.
Bill Text
What changed in the latest version
21 added · 24 removed21 line(s) added, 24 removed.
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 HBCS/HB 237 2026 A bill to be entitled An act relating to the use of professional nursing titles;
authorizing persons who hold specified licensesdegrees to practice professional nursing or to perform nursing services to use certain titles and abbreviations;
requiring certain doctoral degree holders to specify their profession when using a specified title;
9 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
PresentSubsection subsection (10) of section 464.015, Florida Statutes, is redesignatedrenumbered as subsection (11), and a new subsection (10) is added to that section, to read:
penalty.— (10) OnlyA a person who is licensed pursuant to this chapter and holds a licensedoctoral indegree thismay stateuse the title "Doctor of Nursing Practice" and the abbreviation "D.N.P." or the title "Doctor of Philosophy" and the abbreviation "Ph.D." in a multistatemanner licenseconsistent pursuantwith tothe s.doctoral degree such person has obtained.
464.0095A tonurse practicewho professionalholds nursinga ordoctoral todegree performmay nursingnot services is authorized to use the title Doctor"doctor" ofin Nursinga Practiceclinical andsetting thewithout abbreviationclearly "D.N.P.,"specifying thetheir titleprofession. Doctor of Philosophy and the abbreviation "Ph.D.," or other titles or abbreviations authorized under his or her practice act.
Doctoral degree holders must specify their profession when using the term "doctor." Section 2.
hb237-00hb237-01-c1
View plain text versions (2)
- H 237 c1 View text Current pdf
- Introduced H 237 Filed pdf
Action History
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Died in Rules
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Received
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Referred to Rules
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In Messages
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CS passed; YEAS 111, NAYS 0
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Read 3rd time
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Added to Third Reading Calendar
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Read 2nd time
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Bill added to Special Order Calendar (2/4/2026)
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Added to Second Reading Calendar
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Bill released to House Calendar
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Reported out of Health & Human Services Committee
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Favorable by Health & Human Services Committee
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Added to Health & Human Services Committee agenda
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Now in Health & Human Services Committee
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Referred to Health & Human Services Committee
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1st Reading (Committee Substitute 1)
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CS Filed
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Laid on Table under Rule 7.18(a)
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Reported out of Health Professions & Programs Subcommittee
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Favorable with CS by Health Professions & Programs Subcommittee
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1st Reading (Original Filed Version)
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Added to Health Professions & Programs Subcommittee agenda
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Now in Health Professions & Programs Subcommittee
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Referred to Health & Human Services Committee
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Referred to Health Professions & Programs Subcommittee
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Filed
Sponsors
- Health Professions & Programs Subcommittee · Primary
- Michelle Salzman · Cosponsor
Sponsorship breakdown
Export CSV (upgrade) →1 sponsors · 1 co-sponsors · 162 not signed on
Sponsors (1)
- Health Professions & Programs Subcommittee
Co-sponsors (1)
- Salzman, Michelle Republican
Not signed on (162)
162 members have not signed on to this bill.
Show all 162 →"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.
Votes
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democrat | 33 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Republican | 74 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Unaffiliated | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 111 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| % of votes cast | 95% | 0% | 0% | 5% |
How each member voted (117)
Roll call published as PDF — view source.
Roll call published as PDF — view source.
Subjects
Frequently asked questions
- What does HB 237 do?
- Use of Professional Nursing Titles; Authorizes persons who hold specified degrees to use certain titles & abbreviations; requires certain doctoral degree holders to specify their profession when using specified title.
- Who sponsors HB 237?
- HB 237 is sponsored by Health Professions & Programs Subcommittee and Salzman, Michelle (Republican).
- What is the current status of HB 237?
- This bill has passed the House. Introduced October 21, 2025. It now moves to the second chamber.
- Where can I track HB 237?
- Track HB 237 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.
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Last checked for changes 2 months ago · updated continuously
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