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Bill Summary · SB 166

Summary of SB 166 - Parental Rights

Bill Information:
- Bill Number: SB 166
- Title: Parental Rights
- Status: Referred to Education Pre-K - 12; Health Policy; Rules
- Introduced: October 10, 2025
- Sponsor: Senator Grall

Purpose and Intent

SB 166 aims to strengthen parental rights regarding the healthcare and educational services provided to minors in Florida. The bill revises existing statutes to ensure that parents or guardians have a more significant role in consenting to various health-related services for their children, particularly in areas concerning maternal health, mental health, and substance abuse treatment.

Key Provisions

The bill includes several amendments and repeals to existing Florida Statutes:

  1. Maternal Health and Contraceptive Services (Amendment to s. 381.0051):

    • Minors can receive maternal health and contraceptive services only with parental consent unless they are married, parents themselves, pregnant, or at risk of health hazards.

  2. Consent for Treatment of Sexually Transmissible Diseases (Amendment to s. 384.30):

    • Parental consent is now required for minors to receive treatment for sexually transmissible diseases, although examination can occur without consent.

  3. Mental Health Treatment (Amendment to s. 394.459):

    • Requires parental consent for minors seeking admission or treatment for mental health issues, aligning with the new requirements for informed consent.

  4. Repeal of Outpatient Crisis Intervention Services (Repeal of s. 394.4784):

    • The bill repeals the provision that allowed minors to access outpatient crisis intervention services without parental consent.

  5. Mobile Response Team Services (Amendment to s. 394.495):

    • Parental consent is mandated for certain services provided by mobile response teams addressing mental health crises.

  6. Substance Abuse Services (Amendments to s. 397.431 and s. 397.501):

    • Changes the responsibility for costs associated with substance abuse services and revises consent requirements for the disclosure of individual records.

  7. School District Requirements (Amendment to s. 1001.42):

    • School districts must provide parents with information before administering specific questionnaires to students and allow parents to opt-out their children from such surveys.

  8. Biofeedback Device Consent (New Provisions):

    • Parents must consent in writing for the use of biofeedback devices on their minor children, with results treated as confidential medical records.

Impact

  • Who is Affected:

    • The bill primarily affects minors seeking health services, their parents or guardians, and educational institutions. It places greater responsibility on parents to be involved in their children's healthcare decisions.

  • Healthcare Providers:

    • Medical professionals and facilities will need to ensure compliance with the new consent requirements, potentially affecting how services are delivered to minors.

  • Educational Institutions:

    • Schools will have to adjust their policies regarding student surveys and parental notifications, ensuring that parents are informed and have the opportunity to opt-out.

Procedural Aspects

  • The bill was filed on October 10, 2025, and has been referred to the Education Pre-K - 12, Health Policy, and Rules committees for further consideration as of November 3, 2025.

Conclusion

SB 166 seeks to enhance parental involvement in the healthcare decisions of minors, ensuring that parents have the authority to consent to various health services. The proposed changes could significantly impact how healthcare and educational services are provided to minors in Florida.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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