Panel advances bill to license naturopathic doctors in Florida amid safety concerns

The Health Care Budget Subcommittee voted to report HB 223 favorably after testimony and debate that highlighted sharply different views on professional scope and patient safety.

Representative Smith told the committee the bill defines the scope of naturopathic medicine, establishes licensure requirements (graduation from an accredited naturopathic medical college, passing a two-part national exam, and background checks including fingerprinting) and creates a Naturopathic Board of Medicine within the Department of Health with two medical doctors appointed to the board. "Naturopaths never cut on you. They don't deliver babies. They don't prescribe narcotics or any medication," Smith said while describing the profession's focus on lifestyle and preventive care and the claim that malpractice rates are lower than for medical doctors.

Two proponent witnesses spoke. Todd Robinson, identified as president of the Florida Naturopathic Physicians Association, said licensing would increase access to credentialed naturopathic doctors and help integrate preventive and lifestyle medicine with conventional care. Roberta Reynold, a registered nurse, described a multi-year health improvement after coordinated care that included naturopathic treatment: "As of 2026, I no longer require medications for my diabetes, my hypertension, my gastrointestinal conditions," she said, and described fewer hospital admissions and a sustained decline in health-care utilization.

Vice Chair Gonzales Pittman opposed the bill in committee debate, warning that creating a separate regulatory board is a "structural foothold" that could lead to scope expansion over time, calling it "the camel's nose under the tent" and saying a parallel regulatory structure "lowers the guardrails." Representative Smith responded the bill builds oversight and includes medical doctors on the supervising board to avoid scope creep.

The clerk conducted a roll-call vote; the recorded roll call contained multiple "Yes" and "No" responses and the chair announced the bill "passes favorably." The roll-call pattern in the transcript shows seven recorded yes responses and four recorded no responses. The measure now moves forward for further consideration and drafting steps.

Committee debate and public testimony centered on professional scope, patient safety, access to preventive care and how insurance coverage and regulation would change if the bill becomes law.