The Florida Patient Protection Act aims to improve patient care standards in health care facilities by establishing minimum staffing levels for direct care registered nurses. It introduces a new section in the Florida Statutes, section 395.1013, which emphasizes the necessity of adequate nursing staff for optimal health outcomes. The bill mandates that health care facilities create staffing plans that comply with specified nurse-to-patient ratios based on the type of unit, ensuring that patients are only placed in units that meet these standards. It also prohibits the use of video cameras or monitors as substitutes for direct observation by registered nurses, with certain exemptions during declared states of emergency.

In addition to staffing requirements, the bill provides whistle-blower protections for nurses who report unsafe patient conditions, preventing retaliation against those who cooperate in investigations against health care facilities. It outlines civil penalties for non-compliance and mandates that the Agency for Health Care Administration maintain transparency by posting relevant information online. The legislation specifies nurse-to-patient ratios for various units, such as one nurse for every two infants in intensive care and one nurse for each active labor patient. It also allows collective bargaining agreements to take precedence over staffing requirements, as long as they do not set lower ratios. The provisions of this act are set to take effect on January 1, 2026.