Senate committee advances bill directing review of liability insurance for child‑welfare providers
February 10, 2026 | 2026 Legislature FL, Florida
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Senators on the Senate Committee on Children, Families and Elder Affairs on the bill calendar on Wednesday advanced CS for SB 1,600, a strike‑all amendment that directs regulators and the Department of Children and Families (DCF) to gather state‑level data on liability insurance availability for community‑based care lead agencies (CBCs) and other child‑welfare providers.
Senator Yarbrough, who presented the amendment, said the change removes an accreditation regime in the original bill and instead requires the Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR) to collaborate with DCF and CBC lead agencies to review liability‑insurance coverage and availability over the previous five fiscal years and deliver a report to the Legislature by Jan. 1, 2027. The amendment authorizes OIR to levy fines or penalties on insurers and authorizes DCF to levy fines on CBC lead agencies or subcontractors that fail to respond to requests for information within 30 calendar days. The newly created subsection would be repealed on July 1, 2027, the amendment says.
Supporters who waived into the record included representatives from Partners for Florida’s Children and Family Voice. Senator Harrell praised the proposal as a needed first step to address growing costs and shrinking availability of liability insurance for CBCs and other providers, saying the data should help the Legislature craft further policy.
The committee adopted a technical amendment to the amendment to correct an effective date and then adopted the strike‑all amendment by voice vote. By roll call, the committee voted to report CS for SB 1,600 favorably to the next stage of consideration.
The committee did not adopt any substantive changes to the funding or penalty language beyond the report requirement and the temporary fines authority; Sen. Yarbrough said the measure is intended to provide the Legislature with the evidence needed to craft longer‑term solutions.
Next steps: CS for SB 1,600 was reported favorably by the committee and will move forward for further consideration by the Senate.
Senator Yarbrough, who presented the amendment, said the change removes an accreditation regime in the original bill and instead requires the Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR) to collaborate with DCF and CBC lead agencies to review liability‑insurance coverage and availability over the previous five fiscal years and deliver a report to the Legislature by Jan. 1, 2027. The amendment authorizes OIR to levy fines or penalties on insurers and authorizes DCF to levy fines on CBC lead agencies or subcontractors that fail to respond to requests for information within 30 calendar days. The newly created subsection would be repealed on July 1, 2027, the amendment says.
Supporters who waived into the record included representatives from Partners for Florida’s Children and Family Voice. Senator Harrell praised the proposal as a needed first step to address growing costs and shrinking availability of liability insurance for CBCs and other providers, saying the data should help the Legislature craft further policy.
The committee adopted a technical amendment to the amendment to correct an effective date and then adopted the strike‑all amendment by voice vote. By roll call, the committee voted to report CS for SB 1,600 favorably to the next stage of consideration.
The committee did not adopt any substantive changes to the funding or penalty language beyond the report requirement and the temporary fines authority; Sen. Yarbrough said the measure is intended to provide the Legislature with the evidence needed to craft longer‑term solutions.
Next steps: CS for SB 1,600 was reported favorably by the committee and will move forward for further consideration by the Senate.
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