Florida legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Florida H153: Reports of Child Abuse, Abandonment, or Neglect
Status: Failed, January 5, 2026
Requires central abuse hotline to electronically transfer certain reports to appropriate county sheriff's office or local law enforcement agency; requires certain persons to report certain knowledge or suspicion to central abuse hotline; requires central abuse hotline to accept certain reports & immediately notify DCF to ensure that onsite protective investigation is promptly initiated; creates rebuttable presumption; provides methods to rebut such presumption; requires department to maintain specified record; prohibits department from returning child to custody of child's parent unless certain actions are taken & determinations are made by court.
What the bill says
An act relating to reports of child abuse, abandonment, or neglect; amending s. 39.201, F.S.; requiring the central abuse hotline to electronically transfer certain reports to the appropriate county sheriff's office or local law enforcement agency; requiring certain persons to report certain knowledge or suspicion to the central abuse hotline; requiring the central abuse hotline to accept certain reports and immediately notify the Department of Children and Families to ensure that an onsite protective investigation is promptly initiated…
From the introduced text, October 13, 2025:
A bill to be entitled An act relating to reports of child abuse, abandonment, or neglect; amending s. 39.201, F.S.; requiring the central abuse hotline to electronically transfer certain reports to the appropriate county sheriff's office or local law enforcement agency; requiring certain persons to report certain knowledge or suspicion to the central abuse hotline; requiring the central abuse hotline to accept certain reports and immediately notify the Department of Children and Families to ensure that an onsite protective investigation is promptly initiated; creating a rebuttable presumption; providing methods to rebut such presumption; requiring the department to maintain a specified record under certain circumstances; prohibiting the department from returning a child to the custody of the child's parent unless certain actions are taken and determinations are made by the court; providing an effective date. Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: Section 1. Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section 39.201, Florida Statutes, is amended, and paragraph (f) is added to subsection (3) of that section, to read: words underlined are additions. hb153-00 FLORIDAHOUSEOFREPRESENTATIVES HB 153 2026 39.201 Required reports of child abuse, abandonment, or neglect, sexual abuse of a child, and juvenile sexual abuse; required reports of death; reports involving a child who has exhibited inappropriate sexual behavior.-- (1) MANDATORY REPORTING.-- (a)1. A person is …
Sponsors
- Sirois, Tyler (R, HD-031) · primary sponsor
- Sirois (R, 31) · primary sponsor
Latest actions
- : Withdrawn prior to introduction
- : Now in Human Services Subcommittee
- : Referred to Health & Human Services Committee
- : Referred to Health Care Budget Subcommittee
- : Referred to Human Services Subcommittee
- : Filed
Common questions
- What is H153?
- H153 is a bill in the Florida Legislature (2026 Regular Session): Reports of Child Abuse, Abandonment, or Neglect.
- What does H153 do?
- In its own words: An act relating to reports of child abuse, abandonment, or neglect; amending s. 39.201, F.S.; requiring the central abuse hotline to electronically transfer certain reports to the appropriate county sheriff's office or local law enforcement agency; requiring certain persons to report certain knowledge or suspicion to the central abuse hotline; requiring the central abuse hotline to accept certain reports and immediately notify the Department of Children and Families to ensure that an onsite protective investigation is promptly initiated…
- What is the status of H153?
- Failed as of January 5, 2026. Latest action: Withdrawn prior to introduction (January 5, 2026).
- Who sponsored H153?
- Sirois, Tyler (R, HD-031), with 1 co-sponsor.
- Where is the official record for H153?
- On the Florida Legislature website: https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/153
Source: official Florida record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.