“Florida Says No to Vaccine Discrimination — HB 1299 Is Now Law”

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has signed into law HB 1299, a comprehensive health and regulatory bill that includes protections against discrimination based on COVID-19 vaccination status and expands oversight of medical marijuana operations and healthcare personnel.

The legislation maintains the legal definition of mRNA — the key technology used in many COVID-19 vaccines — and prohibits government agencies, certain private businesses, and educational institutions from treating individuals differently based on their decision to receive or decline a vaccine classified as mRNA-based or authorized under emergency use provisions.

The definition of a qualifying vaccine under HB 1299 includes those using “laboratory-produced messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA)” to stimulate the body’s immune response, with explicit reference to COVID-19 and emergency-use authorizations. This language reflects ongoing efforts by Florida leaders to reinforce vaccine choice as a matter of personal freedom.

“This legislation upholds personal freedom and reinforces Florida’s commitment to protecting individual rights,” stated the Florida Department of Health in a public announcement on X.

HB 1299 builds upon a series of measures enacted from 2021 to 2023 through executive orders and legislation aimed at curbing mandates during the COVID-19 pandemic. Under Governor DeSantis, Florida positioned itself as a national leader in rejecting vaccine passports and workplace mandates.

Beyond vaccine-related provisions, the new law introduces several regulatory changes to the state’s healthcare and cannabis sectors:

• Medical Marijuana Oversight: Medical marijuana treatment centers (MMTCs) are now required to report incidents of theft, attempted theft, or loss of cannabis to both the Florida Department of Health and local law enforcement.

• Background Checks: Employees, executives, and board members of MMTCs and certified medical marijuana testing labs must undergo fingerprint-based state and federal criminal background checks.

• Temporary Licensing for Physician Assistants: The law clarifies that only physician assistants licensed in a U.S. state or Washington, D.C., — not U.S. territories — are eligible for temporary certificates to practice in Florida’s critical-need areas.

• Licensing of Out-of-State Healthcare Workers: HB 1299 updates provisions under the MOBILE Act, outlining circumstances under which healthcare professionals with malpractice reports may still obtain licensure in Florida, provided the issues do not violate Florida statutes.

The bill passed both the Florida House and Senate unanimously, signaling bipartisan agreement on the legislation’s focus on individual rights and regulatory accountability.

HB 1299 will take effect on July 1, 2025.

For more information and to track Florida health policy developments, visit DailyClout.io.

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