The "Florida Patient Protection Act" aims to improve patient care standards in healthcare facilities by establishing minimum staffing levels for direct care registered nurses. The bill introduces a new section in Florida Statutes that mandates healthcare facilities to create staffing plans adhering to specified nurse-to-patient ratios based on the type of unit, such as intensive care or emergency departments. It prohibits the use of video cameras as a substitute for direct nurse observation and allows for exemptions from staffing requirements during declared states of emergency under certain conditions. Additionally, the bill emphasizes whistleblower protections for nurses advocating for patient safety and outlines civil penalties for violations.

Key provisions of the bill include defining an acuity-based patient classification system to assess nursing care needs, establishing minimum staffing levels, and prohibiting mandatory overtime to meet these requirements. It specifies that only direct care registered nurses can relieve one another during breaks and mandates designated staffing levels for certain units. The legislation also protects nurses from retaliation for reporting unsafe work conditions and establishes civil penalties of up to $25,000 for non-compliance. The act is set to take effect on January 1, 2026, and clarifies that collective bargaining agreements may take precedence over staffing requirements, provided they do not establish lower patient-to-nurse ratios.