Committee advances bill requiring human-trafficking training before initial nurse licensure

Representative Bartleman presented the committee substitute for HB 303, saying the measure would require nurses to complete a two-hour human‑trafficking course before obtaining initial licensure and noting Florida "currently ranks third in the nation for human trafficking cases." The sponsor told the committee the 2017 law requiring a two‑hour course for license renewal would remain in place, and the bill simply moves that training to the front end of a nursing career so new graduates receive it before entering the workforce.

The sponsor cited workforce data, saying "In 2024, Florida produced 19,673 nursing graduates, all entering the workforce without mandatory human trafficking training," and argued that early training could reduce missed opportunities to identify victims during clinical visits. Members asked whether the proposal altered existing mandatory‑reporter responsibilities; Bartleman said it did not: "They have their mandatory reporters, their procedures that their hospitals give them, so everything remains the same. This bill is simply just moving the training up."

Public testimony supporting the bill came from social‑work and nursing organizations. Kevin Kano of the National Association of Social Workers said education and awareness "is crucial in the prevention of human trafficking," and Jack Corey, representing the Florida Nurses Association through Public Affairs Consultants, said the association—described as a voice for Florida's nurses—urged the committee to support the bill.

The committee recorded 24 yeas, 0 nays on the roll call and reported CSHB 303 favorably. The measure now moves forward in the legislative process.