Developmental Disabilities

HB 411 revises Florida's legal definition of "autism" and "autism spectrum disorder" to align with the most recent edition of the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). The bill updates the current description - which previously used outdated terms like "pervasive developmental disability" - to reflect current medical understanding of autism as a neurologically based condition affecting social interaction, communication, and behavior. This change directly affects state agencies, schools, and healthcare providers that rely on the statutory definition for eligibility, service planning, and data collection related to autism. The revised definition will take effect on July 1, 2026.