๐จ ๐จ FLORIDA'S FREE KILL LAW: TWO YEARS. TWO OVERWHELMING HOUSE VOTES. ONE FAILED DAMAGE CAPS AMENDMENT. ONE OVERWHELMING SENATE VOTE. STILL NO JUSTICE.
For nearly 36 years, Florida's Free Kill law has made justice financially impossible for loved ones of those who fit this profile:
โ๏ธ 25 or older
โ๏ธ Unmarried/widowed
โ๏ธ No minor children
Who benefits?
Hospitals, insurance companies, and the powerful special interests fighting to preserve these legal protections.
HERE'S WHAT HAPPENED IN 2025:
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The Florida House passed HB 6017 by a vote of 104 to 6!
Only SIX representatives voted against ending Free Kill:
โ Wyman Duggan, District 12 (Duval)
โ Karen Gonzalez Pittman, District 65 (Hillsborough)
โ James Buchanan, District 74 (Sarasota)
โ Toby Overdorf, District 85 (Martin/St. Lucie)
โ Tom Fabricio, District 110 (Miami-Dade)
โ Will Robinson, District 71 (Manatee)
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โก๏ธ The bill then went to the Florida Senate.
Senator Clay Yarborough introduced an amendment that would have imposed medical malpractice damages caps, despite previous Florida Supreme Court rulings striking down such caps as unconstitutional.
17 senators ultimately supported the amendment, with Senator Darryl Rouson changing his initial YES vote to NO.
โ The damages cap amendment FAILED.
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The Senate then PASSED the repeal bill 33 to 4!
Both chambers overwhelmingly supported ending Free Kill.
โ MAY 29, 2025: GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS VETOED THE BILL.
Free Kill survived.
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HERE'S WHAT HAPPENED IN 2026:
Representative Dana Trabulsy filed HB 6003 to repeal Free Kill AGAIN.
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The Florida House passed HB 6003 by a vote of 88 to 17!
These 17 representatives voted against repeal:
โ Kimberly Berfield, District 58 (Pinellas)
โ James Buchanan, District 74 (Sarasota)
โ Ryan Chamberlin, District 24 (Marion)
โ Wyman Duggan, District 12 (Duval)
โ Tom Fabricio, District 110 (Miami-Dade)
โ Richard Gentry, District 27 (Lake/Marion/Volusia)
โ Karen Gonzalez Pittman, District 65 (Hillsborough)
โ Peggy Gossett-Seidman, District 91 (Palm Beach)
โ Brian Hodgers, District 32 (Brevard)
โ Jeff Holcomb, District 53 (Hernando/Pasco)
โ Chad Johnson, District 22
โ Chip LaMarca, District 100 (Broward)
โ Lauren Melo, District 82 (Collier/Hendry)
โ Danny Nix, District 75 (Charlotte/Sarasota)
โ Toby Overdorf, District 85 (Martin/St. Lucie)
โ Will Robinson, District 71 (Manatee)
โ David Smith, District 38 (Seminole)
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โก๏ธ The House passed the bill and sent it to the Senate.
BUT THIS TIME, THE SENATE NEVER EVEN VOTED!
โ Senator Clay Yarborough, Judiciary Committee Chair, did not bring the Senate companion bill, SB 1700, forward for a vote.
โ Senator Kathleen Passidomo, Rules Committee Chair, did not bring the House-passed HB 6003 forward for a vote.
โ Senate President Ben Albritton, despite documented requests, did not allow the House-passed legislation to reach a full Senate vote.
MARCH 13, 2026: BOTH BILLS DIED IN COMMITTEE.
Free Kill survived AGAIN.
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WHERE DOES GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE BYRON DONALDS STAND?
Donalds was not in the Florida Legislature during either vote.
However, he is on record stating that any conversation about ending Free Kill would begin and end with a conversation about restoring medical malpractice damages caps.
Florida's Supreme Court already declared previous medical malpractice damages caps unconstitutional.
BOTTOM LINE:
๐ด 2025: HOUSE PASSED. SENATE PASSED. DESANTIS VETOED.
๐ด 2026: HOUSE PASSED. SENATE LEADERSHIP DID NOT ADVANCE THE BILL FOR A VOTE.
TWO YEARS. OVERWHELMING BIPARTISAN SUPPORT. SAME RESULT.
Florida families are still denied equal access to justice.
๐ข PLEASE SHARE THIS POST!
โ HUMAN LIVES ARE NOT BARGAINING CHIPS.
โ CORPORATE PROFITS SHOULD NEVER COME BEFORE JUSTICE.
JOIN THE MOVEMENT TO END FREE KILL.
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WE NEED LOBBYING AND POLITICAL DONATION REFORM IF FREE KILL IS TO FINALLY END IN FLORIDA.
JOIN THE MOVEMENT:
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