HB 497 Florida House · 2025 Regular Session

Nonprofit Agricultural Organization Medical Benefit Plans

Summary

Nonprofit Agricultural Organization Medical Benefit Plans; Provides authority, duties, & prohibited acts of nonprofit agricultural organizations offering medical benefit plans to their members.

Bill status in committee 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2025

Committee Review

Apr 2025

House Passage

Mar 2025

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Feb 10, 2025 Last action Apr 29, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

H 497 Filed → H 497 c1 · 7 edits

MODERATE

This bill was revised to change the focus from 'health coverage' to 'medical benefit plans' for nonprofit agricultural organizations. The eligibility criteria were modified to require organizations to be 501(c)(3) tax-exempt entities rather than 501(c)(5), and the membership requirement was changed from being in more than half the counties to having members collectively residing in the majority of counties. The bill now explicitly states these plans are not insurance and requires specific disclaimers on marketing materials, annual financial audits, and prohibits marketing through licensed agents.

Scope change

The bill's scope narrowed from allowing any nonprofit agricultural organization to offer health coverage to specifically authorizing 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations to offer medical benefit plans that are not subject to insurance regulations.

ELIGIBILITY

Changed the required tax-exempt status from 501(c)(5) to 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Modified the geographic membership requirement from 'more than half of the counties' to 'members who, collectively, are residents of the majority of counties'.

REQUIREMENT

Added requirement for written disclaimers on all applications and marketing materials stating the plan is not insurance.

Added requirement for annual financial audits performed by independent certified public accountants.

Added prohibition on marketing or selling medical benefit plans through agents licensed by the department.

DEFINITION

Changed terminology from 'health coverage' to 'medical benefit plans' throughout the bill.

SCOPE

Added explicit statement that these medical benefit plans are not insurance for purposes of the Florida Insurance Code.

Floor votes · House Mar 31, 2025

How they voted

21–0

Passed · 5 other

Total votes 26

Mar 31, 2025

D Democratic7

4 Yea 3

57% Yea

R Republican19

17 Yea 2

89% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 2, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reported out of Commerce Committee

lower

Mar 31, 2025

House · Passed

House Vote: pass (21-0-5)

house

Mar 31, 2025

Lower · Passed

Favorable by Commerce Committee

lower

Mar 27, 2025

Lower · Passed

Added to Commerce Committee agenda

lower

Mar 12, 2025

Lower · Passed

Now in Commerce Committee

lower

Mar 12, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reported out of Health Care Facilities & Systems Subcommittee

lower

Mar 11, 2025

Lower · Passed

Favorable by Health Care Facilities & Systems Subcommittee

lower

Mar 7, 2025

Lower · Passed

Added to Health Care Facilities & Systems Subcommittee agenda

lower

Mar 7, 2025

Lower · Passed

Now in Health Care Facilities & Systems Subcommittee

lower

Mar 7, 2025

Committee

Referred to Commerce Committee

lower

Mar 7, 2025

Committee

Referred to Health Care Facilities & Systems Subcommittee

lower

Mar 7, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reported out of Insurance & Banking Subcommittee

lower

Mar 5, 2025

Lower · Passed

Favorable with CS by Insurance & Banking Subcommittee

lower

Mar 3, 2025

Lower · Passed

Added to Insurance & Banking Subcommittee agenda

lower

Feb 19, 2025

Lower · Passed

Now in Insurance & Banking Subcommittee

lower

Feb 19, 2025

Committee

Referred to Commerce Committee

lower

Feb 19, 2025

Committee

Referred to Health Care Facilities & Systems Subcommittee

lower

Feb 19, 2025

Committee

Referred to Insurance & Banking Subcommittee

lower

1 primary · 3 co-sponsors