Takeaways from Tallahassee — Be prepared

Staff Reports – May 31, 2025

—Phew! Part Deux —

Justice reform advocates and health care providers joined DeSantis on Thursday while he vetoed the ‘free kill’ bill (HB 6017).

“The question is: What would this legislation do for the cost of health care in Florida, access to care in Florida, and our ability to recruit and keep physicians?” DeSantis said. “I don’t think that what they’ve proposed here is going to put us on the strong foot without these additional safeguards. So, for that reason, I am announcing that we will be vetoing that legislation.”

Andy Bolin, owner of Bolin Law Group, stated during a news conference with the Governor that Florida physicians are currently facing the highest medical insurance premiums in the United States.

They aren’t putting ‘Free Kill State of Florida’ signs at the border, but FJRI is jumping for joy following the Governor’s veto.

“We need to make sure we’re doing everything we can to engage physicians, to make sure that we have physicians that are not only going to be able to provide access to care, but that are making decisions based on the quality of care,” Bolin said.

Opponents of the ‘free kill’ repeal assert medical malpractice laws currently incentivize the pursuit of cases to win big claims, which can lead to “nuclear” verdicts that can add up to tens of millions of dollars for health care providers. These costs are ultimately passed on to health care consumers.

William Large, president of the Florida Justice Reform Institute, said in a statement that the legislation would have been “catastrophic” for Florida’s health care system and those who need it — Florida families.

“Having affordable access to health care is of paramount importance to Floridians and must be protected,” Large said. “HB 6017 proposed only to expand liability for our health care community without any safeguards to ensure that Florida’s health care system and residents do not suffer as a result.”