Greetings, the Florida Legislative session is underway, and will run from 1/13/26-3/13/26.
(Join us this Thursday 1/22 for a 30 min live discussion on Tips and Tricks of the month, reach out to EG@eraclides.com to register)
So far there have been only few proposed bills involving workers’ compensation. No drastic changes to benefits, other than possibly the Unauthorized Alien bill which appears on its face to make Employers solely responsible for claims. For the 9th consecutive year, the state has approved a reduction in WC rates, a 6.9% rate cut for 2026.
Here are some of the ones that I have been able to identify so far. And all of those are just proposed bills, subject to approval by both FL House and Senate, and then signed by the Governor. Final language and impact may be very different than the actual bill if and when it passes.
- CS/HB 527 (Mandatory Human Reviews): Requires human oversight for AI/machine learning in claim denials, ensuring a qualified person makes final decisions.
- SB 774 (911 Dispatcher Benefits): Extends enhanced workers’ comp for 911 telecommunicators, including coverage for PTSD without physical injury, effective July 1, 2026.
- HB 1243 / SB 618 (Excess Rates & Guaranty Assoc): Modifies rules for insurers using excess rates and revises the board of the Florida Workers’ Compensation Insurance Guaranty Association
- H.B. 1307 (Unauthorized Alien injuries): Would create a statutory definition of “unauthorized alien” and add new compliance requirements for employers and insurers under the state’s workers compensation system. The measure, part of a broader package addressing employment eligibility and verification, would require employers to verify an employee’s work authorization through an “E-Verify” system before submitting a workers comp claim, a mandate that embeds immigration status checks into the insurance claims process. Under the bill, an employer who hires or employs an unauthorized worker would be personally liable for any medical and treatment costs resulting from an injury to that worker, with no ability to shift those costs to an insurer or another insurer.
I will keep an eye on these and any others proposed.
Hope to see you Thursday on our live Tips zoom.
Be sure to check our website for upcoming FL, GA and TN CEU’s https://eraclides.com/events/
If you’d like to receive our GA Tips of the Week, please reach out to my colleague John Fennelly jfennelly@eraclides.com
Sincerely,
Morgan Indek | Managing Partner