The bill amends Florida Statutes to redefine "health facility" to encompass a broader range of non-profit entities, including limited liability companies that provide various health services such as hospital care and assisted living. It grants the authority overseeing these facilities the power to issue secured or unsecured loans for project costs, refinance existing debts, and lease projects under specific agreements. Additionally, the bill introduces a requirement for not-for-profit hospitals to provide a 120-day notice before closure, detailing the reasons and alternative emergency care options, thereby enhancing transparency and accountability in the operational framework of health facilities.

Moreover, the bill mandates that hospitals notify stakeholders within a 75-mile radius about impending closures, including impacts on local health insurance and provider networks, and requires three public meetings prior to closure. It also addresses revenue bonds by allowing loan payments to be included in financial agreements and clarifying bondholder security. The bill establishes criteria for property tax exemptions, stating that exemptions cannot be granted if a related hospital has closed its emergency department without establishing a new one within a specified timeframe. These amendments are retroactive to January 1, 2025, and will first apply to the 2025 tax roll.

Statutes affected:
H 229 Filed: 154.205, 154.213, 154.225, 154.235, 154.219, 154.221, 154.229, 154.247
H 229 c1: 154.205, 154.213, 154.225, 154.219, 154.221, 154.229, 154.247
H 229 c2: 154.205, 154.213, 154.225, 154.235, 154.219, 154.221, 154.229, 154.247