Florida legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Florida H279: Luggage for Children Placed in Out-of-home Care
Status: Failed, March 13, 2026
Requires DCF to provide certain children with piece of luggage for certain purposes; provides department requirements; requires department to submit specified annual report to Legislature; provides sources of funding for distribution of pieces of luggage; requires department's direct-support organization to receive & use certain funding to administer law.
What the bill says
An act relating to luggage for children placed in outof-home care; providing a short title; creating s. 39.4011, F.S.; providing legislative findings and intent; providing construction; providing definitions; requiring the Department of Children and Families to provide certain children with a piece of luggage for certain purposes; providing department requirements; requiring the department to submit a specified annual report to the Legislature; providing sources of funding for the distribution of pieces of luggage…
From the introduced text, October 28, 2025:
A bill to be entitled An act relating to luggage for children placed in outof-home care; providing a short title; creating s. 39.4011, F.S.; providing legislative findings and intent; providing construction; providing definitions; requiring the Department of Children and Families to provide certain children with a piece of luggage for certain purposes; providing department requirements; requiring the department to submit a specified annual report to the Legislature; providing sources of funding for the distribution of pieces of luggage; requiring the department's direct-support organization to receive and use funding for certain purposes; amending ss. 39.401 and 39.4085, F.S.; conforming provisions to changes made by the act; providing an effective date. Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: Section 1. This act may be cited as the "Fostering with Dignity Act." Section 2. Section 39.4011, Florida Statutes, is created to read: 39.4011 Luggage for children placed in out-of-home care.-- (1)(a) The Legislature finds that children being placed in words underlined are additions. hb279-00 FLORIDAHOUSEOFREPRESENTATIVES HB 279 2026 out-of-home care often transport their personal belongings in trash bags, which intensifies emotional distress for the child and reinforces his or her feelings of disposability. Accordingly, the Legislature intends that every child in this state being placed in out-of-home care be provided with a suitable reusable bag, suitcase, or backpack in …
Sponsors
- Bartleman, Robin (D, HD-103) · primary sponsor
- Cross, Lindsay (D, HD-060) · primary sponsor
- Campbell, Daryl (D, HD-099)
- Driskell, Fentrice (D, SD-016)
- Eskamani, Anna (D, HD-042)
- Rosenwald, Mitch (D, HD-098)
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 Health Care Budget Subcommittee
- : Referred to Human Services Subcommittee
- : Filed
Common questions
- What is H279?
- H279 is a bill in the Florida Legislature (2026 Regular Session): Luggage for Children Placed in Out-of-home Care.
- What does H279 do?
- In its own words: An act relating to luggage for children placed in outof-home care; providing a short title; creating s. 39.4011, F.S.; providing legislative findings and intent; providing construction; providing definitions; requiring the Department of Children and Families to provide certain children with a piece of luggage for certain purposes; providing department requirements; requiring the department to submit a specified annual report to the Legislature; providing sources of funding for the distribution of pieces of luggage…
- What is the status of H279?
- Failed as of March 13, 2026. Latest action: Died in Human Services Subcommittee (March 13, 2026).
- Who sponsored H279?
- Bartleman, Robin (D, HD-103), with 5 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for H279?
- On the Florida Legislature website: https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/279
Source: official Florida record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.