Florida legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Florida H499: Dependent Children
Status: Failed, March 13, 2026
Provides additional situations in which rebuttable presumption of detriment is created; requires certain guardians ad litem & attorneys ad litem to have special training in parricide; requires certain persons to provide to court & certain agencies & persons access to certain records of child; requires visitation or other contact to be supervised by person who has special training in parricide; requires court to refer certain children to specified trauma-informed therapeutic services; provides additional reasons law enforcement officer or authorized agent of DCF can take child into custody; requires hearing before placing certain children in shelter.
What the bill says
An act relating to dependent children; providing a short title; amending s. 39.01, F.S.; defining the term "incapacitated parent or legal custodian"; amending s. 39.0139, F.S.; revising legislative findings and intent; providing additional situations in which a rebuttable presumption of detriment is created; requiring certain guardians ad litem and attorneys ad litem to have special training in parricide; requiring certain persons to provide to the court and certain agencies and persons access to certain records of a child…
From the introduced text, November 19, 2025:
A bill to be entitled An act relating to dependent children; providing a short title; amending s. 39.01, F.S.; defining the term "incapacitated parent or legal custodian"; amending s. 39.0139, F.S.; revising legislative findings and intent; providing additional situations in which a rebuttable presumption of detriment is created; requiring certain guardians ad litem and attorneys ad litem to have special training in parricide; requiring certain persons to provide to the court and certain agencies and persons access to certain records of a child; requiring visitation or other contact to be supervised by a person who has special training in parricide; requiring the court to refer certain children to specified trauma-informed therapeutic services; amending s. 39.401, F.S.; providing additional reasons a law enforcement officer or authorized agent of the Department of Children and Families can take a child into custody; amending s. 39.402, F.S.; requiring a hearing before placing certain children in a shelter; amending ss. 39.302, 394.495, 934.255, 960.065, and 984.03, F.S.; conforming cross-references; providing an effective date. words underlined are additions. hb499-00 FLORIDAHOUSEOFREPRESENTATIVES HB 499 2026 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: Section 1. This act may be cited as "Ellie's Law." Section 2. Subsections (39) through (91) of section 39.01, Florida Statutes, are renumbered as subsections (40) through (92), respectively, subsection (10) and …
Sponsors
- Alvarez, Jose (D, HD-046) · primary sponsor
Latest actions
- : Died in Human Services Subcommittee
- : 1st Reading (Original Filed Version)
- : Now in Human Services Subcommittee
- : Referred to Health & Human Services Committee
- : Referred to Justice Budget Subcommittee
- : Referred to Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee
- : Referred to Human Services Subcommittee
- : Filed
Common questions
- What is H499?
- H499 is a bill in the Florida Legislature (2026 Regular Session): Dependent Children.
- What does H499 do?
- In its own words: An act relating to dependent children; providing a short title; amending s. 39.01, F.S.; defining the term "incapacitated parent or legal custodian"; amending s. 39.0139, F.S.; revising legislative findings and intent; providing additional situations in which a rebuttable presumption of detriment is created; requiring certain guardians ad litem and attorneys ad litem to have special training in parricide; requiring certain persons to provide to the court and certain agencies and persons access to certain records of a child…
- What is the status of H499?
- Failed as of March 13, 2026. Latest action: Died in Human Services Subcommittee (March 13, 2026).
- Who sponsored H499?
- Alvarez, Jose (D, HD-046).
- Where is the official record for H499?
- On the Florida Legislature website: https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/499
Source: official Florida record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.