Senate Bill 542 (2026) — Naturopathy
SB 542
Florida Bills
Florida Senate - 2026 SB 542 By Senator Garcia 36-00465-26 2026542__ Page 1 of 20 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. A bill to be entitled 1
An act relating to naturopathy; providing a short 2 title; providing legislative findings and intent; 3 renumbering, reenacting, reordering, and amending s. 4 462.01, F.S.; defining the term “board”; revising the 5 definition of the terms “natureopathy” and 6 “naturopathy”; repealing s. 462.023, F.S., relating to 7 powers and duties of the Department of Health; 8 creating s. 462.002, F.S.; creating the Board of 9 Naturopathy within the department; providing for 10 membership of the board; providing term limits; 11 providing applicability; specifying requirements for 12 the first naturopath members appointed to the board; 13 creating s. 462.003, F.S.; providing rulemaking 14 authority to the board; creating s. 462.004, F.S.; 15 providing licensure requirements for naturopaths; 16 providing for licensure by endorsement; renumbering, 17 reenacting, reordering, and amending s. 462.08, F.S., 18 relating to renewal of license to practice 19 naturopathy; providing requirements for licensure 20 renewal; creating s. 462.006, F.S.; providing titles 21 and abbreviations licensed naturopaths may use and are 22 prohibited from using; creating s. 462.007, F.S.; 23 specifying acts that are outside the scope of practice 24 of naturopaths; authorizing licensed naturopaths to 25 prescribe, dispense, and administer specified non-26 legend nutritional product; specifying that controlled 27 and noncontrolled legend drugs are outside the scope 28 of a licensed naturopath’s prescriptive authority; 29
Florida Senate - 2026 SB 542 36-00465-26 2026542__ Page 2 of 20 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. creating s. 462.008, F.S.; authorizing the board to 30 adopt certain rules for the health, safety, and 31 welfare of the public; repealing s. 462.09, F.S., 32 relating to disposition of fees; reenacting and 33 amending s. 462.11, F.S., relating to naturopaths to 34 observe regulations; conforming provisions to changes 35 made by the act; repealing s. 462.13, F.S., relating 36 to additional powers and duties of the department; 37 reenacting and amending s. 462.14, F.S., relating to 38 grounds for disciplinary action and action by the 39 department; conforming provisions to changes made by 40 the act; making technical changes; reenacting and 41 amending ss. 462.16 and 462.17, F.S., relating to 42 reissue of license and penalty for offenses relating 43 to naturopathy, respectively; conforming provisions to 44 changes made by the act; reenacting and amending s. 45 462.18, F.S.; providing continuing education 46 requirements for licensed naturopaths; reenacting and 47 amending s. 462.19, F.S.; making conforming and 48 technical changes; reenacting s. 462.2001, F.S., 49 relating to saving clause; providing an effective 50 date. 51 52 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 53 54
Section 1. This act shall be known as the “Florida 55 Naturopathy Sunrise Act.” 56
Section 2.
(1) The Legislature finds that naturopathy is a 57 distinct healing art emphasizing natural methods of health care. 58
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(2) The Legislature further finds that public health and 59 safety require updated, modernized licensing, scope of practice 60 standards, and regulatory oversight for naturopaths. 61
(3) It is the intent of the Legislature to reestablish 62 licensure for naturopaths to ensure professional competency, 63 protect the public health, and provide residents of this state 64 with access to regulated naturopathic care. 65
Section
Section 462.01, Florida Statutes, is renumbered 66 as
section 462.001, Florida Statutes, and reenacted, reordered, 67 and amended, to read: 68 462.001 462.01
Definitions.—As used in this chapter, the 69 term: 70 (1) “Board” means the Board of Naturopathy. 71 (3) “Natureopathy” and “naturopathy” shall be construed as 72 synonymous terms and mean the use and practice of biofeedback; 73 biochemistry; Christian Science or prayer treatments; 74 counseling; diagnostic procedures, including physical 75 examinations for diagnostic purposes, clinical laboratory tests, 76 if conducted in cooperation with a licensed physician, and 77 physiological function tests; dietary therapy; dietary 78 recommendations; digestive aids; Eastern medicine; Eastern 79 medicine dietary recommendations; enzymes; external 80 applications; first aid; food; food extracts; health coaching; 81 health education; herbal substances, excluding CBD and THC 82 compounds; homeopathy; hygiene; hydrotherapy; hypnotherapy, if 83 licensed as a hypnotherapist or certified in hypnotherapy; 84 indigenous medicine; iridology; ordering an ultrasound, X-ray, 85 or electrocardiogram test, only if working with a licensed 86 physician and referring the client to an appropriate licensed 87
Florida Senate - 2026 SB 542 36-00465-26 2026542__ Page 4 of 20 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. health care professional for conducting and interpreting the 88 tests; mechanotherapy or stretch therapy; minerals; naturopathic 89 light touch therapy; naturopathic testing, such as tongue and 90 nail observational testing; nutrition counseling; nutrition 91 education; nutritional substances, such as amino acids, vitamins 92 and minerals, and nutritional IV therapies, only if ordered in 93 cooperation with a licensed physician; phytotherapy; plant 94 substances; sanitation; spiritual healing; and animal 95 organotherapy not scheduled under
chapter 893 psychological, 96 mechanical, and material health sciences to aid in purifying, 97 cleansing, and normalizing human tissues for the preservation or 98 restoration of health, according to the fundamental principles 99 of anatomy, physiology, and applied psychology, as may be 100 required. Naturopathic practice employs, among other agencies, 101 phytotherapy, dietetics, psychotherapy, suggestotherapy, 102 hydrotherapy, zone therapy, biochemistry, external applications, 103 electrotherapy, mechanotherapy, mechanical and electrical 104 appliances, hygiene, first aid, sanitation, and heliotherapy; 105 provided, however, that nothing in this
chapter shall be held or 106 construed to authorize any naturopathic physician licensed 107 hereunder to practice materia medica or surgery or chiropractic 108 medicine, nor shall the provisions of this law in any manner 109 apply to or affect the practice of osteopathic medicine, 110 chiropractic medicine, Christian Science, or any other treatment 111 authorized and provided for by law for the cure or prevention of 112 disease and ailments. 113 (2) “Department” means the Department of Health. 114
Section
Section 462.023, Florida Statutes, is repealed. 115
Section
Section 462.002, Florida Statutes, is created to 116
Florida Senate - 2026 SB 542 36-00465-26 2026542__ Page 5 of 20 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. read: 117 462.002 Board of Naturopathy.— 118
(1) There is created within the department the Board of 119 Naturopathy. 120
(2) The board shall be composed of seven members appointed 121 by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate. Four members must 122 be naturopaths licensed under this chapter; one member must be a 123 physician licensed under
chapter 458 or
chapter 459; one member 124 must be a chiropractic physician licensed under
chapter 460; and 125 one member must be a pharmacist licensed under
chapter 465. 126
(3) Members shall serve 4-year terms. Members may serve for 127 no more than 8 consecutive years and no more than 12 years in 128 total. After serving 8 consecutive years, a member is eligible 129 for reappointment for one additional 4-year term after 1 130 calendar year has passed since the date of the end of the last 131 term served. 132
(4) As the terms of the members expire, the Governor shall 133 appoint successors for terms of 4 years, and such members shall 134 serve until their successors are appointed. 135
(5) All applicable provisions of
chapter 456 relating to 136 activities of regulatory boards shall apply. 137
Section 6. The first naturopath members appointed to the 138 Board of Naturopathy under s. 462.002, Florida Statutes, as 139 created by this act, must meet all qualifications to obtain a 140 license pursuant to s. 462.004, Florida Statutes. 141
Section
Section 462.003, Florida Statutes, is created to 142 read: 143 462.003 Rulemaking authority.—The board has authority to 144 adopt rules pursuant to ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54 to implement 145
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chapter conferring duties upon it. Such 146 rules include, but are not limited to, rules relating to 147 licensure requirements, standards of practice, and continuing 148 education. 149
Section
Section 462.004, Florida Statutes, is created to 150 read: 151 462.004 Licensure requirements; licensure by endorsement.— 152
(1) Any person desiring to be a licensed naturopath under 153 this
chapter must apply to the department, submit to background 154 screening in accordance with s. 456.0135, and submit proof to 155 the department that she or he meets all of the following 156 criteria: 157 (
a) Is at least 21 years of age. 158 (
b) Has obtained professional liability insurance. 159 (
c) Has obtained first aid and cardiopulmonary 160 resuscitation certifications. 161 (
d) Holds one or more of the following qualifications: 162 1. Board certification in naturopathy from the American 163 Naturopathic Medical Certification Board. 164 2. Successful passage of the Naturopathic Doctors Licensing 165 Exam from the National Board of Naturopathic Examiners. 166 3. Successful passage of the Naturopathic Physicians 167 Licensing Examinations from the North American Board of 168 Naturopathic Examiners. 169
(2) The department shall issue a license by endorsement to 170 any applicant who, upon applying to the department, demonstrates 171 that she or he meets the requirements for licensure by 172 endorsement under s. 456.0145. 173
Section
Section 462.08, Florida Statutes, is renumbered 174
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section 462.005, Florida Statutes, and reenacted and amended, 175 to read: 176 462.005 462.08 Renewal of license to practice naturopathy.—177 Each licenseholder shall biennially renew her or his license to 178 practice naturopathy. As a condition for licensure renewal, an 179 applicant must maintain professional liability coverage and 180 certifications in first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation 181 and comply with the continuing education requirements of s. 182 462.18. The department shall renew a license upon receipt of a 183 renewal application and proof of compliance with the 184 requirements of this
section The applicant must furnish to the 185 department such evidence as it requires of the applicant’s 186 compliance with s. 462.18, relating to educational requirements. 187 The biennial renewal fee, the amount of which shall be 188 determined by the department but which may not exceed $1,000, 189 must be paid at the time the application for renewal of the 190 license is filed. 191
Section
Section 462.006, Florida Statutes, is created 192 to read: 193 462.006 Titles.— 194
(1) Naturopaths licensed under this
chapter may use any of 195 the following titles or abbreviations: “naturopath,” 196 “traditional naturopath,” “naturopathic practitioner,” “licensed 197 naturopath,” “L.N.,” or “N.D.” 198
(2) Naturopaths licensed under this
chapter may not use any 199 of the following titles: “naturopathic medical doctor” or 200 “naturopathic physician.” 201
Section
Section 462.007, Florida Statutes, is created 202 to read: 203
Florida Senate - 2026 SB 542 36-00465-26 2026542__ Page 8 of 20 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. 462.007 Scope of practice; prescriptive authority.— 204
(1) This
chapter does not authorize a licensed naturopath 205 to engage in or perform any of the following: 206 (
a) Acupuncture. 207 (
b) Electroacupuncture. 208 (
c) Emergency medicine. 209 (
d) Endoscopies. 210 (
e) Injections, including injections with the use of 211 syringes. 212 (
f) Local anesthesia. 213 (
g) Physiological function tests requiring infusion, 214 injection, inhalation, or ingestion of medications to perform 215 the test. 216 (
h) Practice or claim to practice medicine, surgery, 217 osteopathy, dentistry, podiatry, optometry, chiropractic 218 medicine, or physical therapy. 219 (
i) Surgery and surgical procedures. 220
(2) A licensed naturopath may prescribe, dispense, and 221 administer non-legend nutritional products, including, but not 222 limited to, all of the following: 223 (
a) Essential and nonessential amino acids, such as lysine, 224 glutamine, and tryptophan. 225 (
b) Electrolytes and hydration products, such as oral 226 rehydration salts and electrolyte powders. 227 (
c) Enzymes, including digestive enzymes such as amylase, 228 protease, lipase, bromelain, and papain. 229 (
d) Fatty acids, such as omega-3s, omega-6s, and medium-230 chain triglycerides. 231 (
e) Herbal and botanical substances, such as echinacea, 232
Florida Senate - 2026 SB 542 36-00465-26 2026542__ Page 9 of 20 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. ginseng, green tea extract, milk thistle, and turmeric. 233 (
f) Minerals, such as calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, 234 selenium, and zinc. 235 (
g) Nutraceuticals and specialty compounds, such as alpha-236 lipoic acid, coenzyme Q10, glucosamine, chondroitin, and L-237 carnitine. 238 (
h) Other non-legend nutritional substances, such as 239 collagen peptides, fiber supplements, and natural antioxidants. 240 (
i) Probiotics and prebiotics, such as bifidobacterium, 241 fructooligosaccharides, inulin, and lactobacillus. 242 (
j) Protein and meal supplements, such as casein, plant-243 based proteins, and whey protein. 244 (
k) Vitamins, such as vitamin A, vitamin B-complex, vitamin 245 C, vitamin D, vitamin E, and vitamin K. 246
(3) This
chapter does not authorize a licensed naturopath 247 to prescribe, dispense, and administer controlled and 248 noncontrolled legend drugs, including, but not limited to, any 249 of the following: 250 (
a) Antibiotics. 251 (
b) Antidiabetics. 252 (
c) Antihypertensives. 253 (
d) Antivirals. 254 (
e) Barrier devices for contraception or abortion. 255 (
f) Biologics. 256 (
g) Botulinum toxin. 257 (
h) Corticosteroids, including inhaled corticosteroids. 258 (
i) Herbal substances containing CBD and THC compounds. 259 (
j) Hormonal therapies. 260 (
k) Lipid-lowering agents. 261
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l) Local anesthesia. 262 (
m) Nonopioid pain medications. 263 (
n) Ophthalmic or oral inhalation drugs in aqueous format. 264 (
o) Proton pump inhibitors. 265 (
p) Thyroid hormones. 266 (
q) Vaccinations. 267 (
r) Any controlled substance on Schedules I–V of s. 893.03. 268 (
s) Any other controlled substance or legend drug not used 269 for the practice of naturopathy. 270
Section
Section 462.008, Florida Statutes, is created 271 to read: 272 462.008 Infection control.—The board may adopt rules 273 relating to the prevention of infection, safe disposal of any 274 potentially infectious materials, and other requirements to 275 protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public. 276
Section
Section 462.09, Florida Statutes, is repealed. 277
Section
Section 462.11, Florida Statutes, is reenacted 278 and amended to read: 279 462.11 Naturopaths to observe regulations.—Naturopaths 280 licensed under this
chapter Doctors of naturopathy shall observe 281 and are be subject to all state, county, and municipal 282 regulations in regard to the control of contagious and 283 infectious diseases, the reporting of births and deaths, and to 284 any and all other matters pertaining to the public health in the 285 same manner as is required of other practitioners of the healing 286 art. 287
Section
Section 462.13, Florida Statutes, is repealed. 288
Section
Section 462.14, Florida Statutes, is reenacted 289 and amended to read: 290
Florida Senate - 2026 SB 542 36-00465-26 2026542__ Page 11 of 20 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. 462.14 Grounds for disciplinary action; action by the 291 department.— 292
(1) The following acts constitute grounds for denial of a 293 license or disciplinary action, as specified in s. 456.072(2): 294 (
a) Attempting to obtain, obtaining, or renewing a license 295 to practice naturopathy naturopathic medicine by bribery, by 296 fraudulent misrepresentation, or through an error of the 297 department. 298 (
b) Having a license to practice naturopathy naturopathic 299 medicine revoked, suspended, or otherwise acted against, 300 including the denial of licensure, by the licensing authority of 301 another state, territory, or country. 302 (
c) Being convicted or found guilty, regardless of 303 adjudication, of a crime in any jurisdiction which directly 304 relates to the practice of naturopathy naturopathic medicine or 305 to the ability to practice naturopathy naturopathic medicine. 306 Any plea of nolo contendere shall be considered a conviction for 307 purposes of this chapter. 308 (
d) False, deceptive, or misleading advertising. 309 (
e) Advertising, practicing, or attempting to practice 310 under a name other than one’s own. 311 (
f) Failing to report to the department any person who the 312 licensee knows is in violation of this
chapter or of the rules 313 of the department. However, a person who the licensee knows is 314 unable to practice naturopathy naturopathic medicine with 315 reasonable skill and safety to patients by reason of illness or 316 use of alcohol, drugs, narcotics, chemicals, or any other type 317 of material, or as a result of a mental or physical condition, 318 may be reported to a consultant operating an impaired 319
Florida Senate - 2026 SB 542 36-00465-26 2026542__ Page 12 of 20 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. practitioner program as described in s. 456.076 rather than to 320 the department. 321 (
g) Aiding, assisting, procuring, or advising any 322 unlicensed person to practice naturopathy naturopathic medicine 323 contrary to this
chapter or to a rule of the department. 324 (
h) Failing to perform any statutory or legal obligation 325 placed upon a licensed naturopath naturopathic physician. 326 (
i) Making or filing a report that which the licensee knows 327 to be false, intentionally or negligently failing to file a 328 report or record required by state or federal law, willfully 329 impeding or obstructing such filing or inducing another person 330 to do so. Such reports or records shall include only those which 331 are signed in the capacity as a licensed naturopath naturopathic 332 physician. 333 (
j) Paying or receiving any commission, bonus, kickback, or 334 rebate, or engaging in any split-fee arrangement in any form 335 whatsoever with a physician, organization, agency, or person, 336 either directly or indirectly, for patients referred to 337 providers of health care goods and services, including, but not 338 limited to, hospitals, nursing homes, clinical laboratories, 339 ambulatory surgical centers, or pharmacies. The provisions of 340 This paragraph may shall not be construed to prevent a 341 naturopath naturopathic physician from receiving a fee for 342 professional consultation services. 343 (
k) Exercising influence within a patient-naturopath 344 patient-physician relationship for purposes of engaging a 345 patient in sexual activity. A patient is shall be presumed to be 346 incapable of giving free, full, and informed consent to sexual 347 activity with her or his naturopath physician. 348
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l) Making deceptive, untrue, or fraudulent representations 349 in the practice of naturopathy naturopathic medicine or 350 employing a trick or scheme in the practice of naturopathy 351 naturopathic medicine when such scheme or trick fails to conform 352 to the generally prevailing standards of treatment in the 353 medical community. 354 (
m) Soliciting patients, either personally or through an 355 agent, through the use of fraud, intimidation, undue influence, 356 or a form of overreaching or vexatious conduct. A “solicitation” 357 is any communication which directly or implicitly requests an 358 immediate oral response from the recipient. 359 (
n) Failing to keep written medical records justifying the 360 course of treatment of the patient, including, but not limited 361 to, patient histories, examination results, test results, X 362 rays, and records of the prescribing, dispensing and 363 administering of non-legend drugs. 364 (
o) Exercising influence on the patient or client in such a 365 manner as to exploit the patient or client for the financial 366 gain of the licensee or of a third party, which shall include, 367 but not be limited to, the promoting or selling of services, 368 goods, appliances, or non-legend drugs and the promoting or 369 advertising on any prescription form of a community pharmacy 370 unless the form also states “This prescription may be filled at 371 any pharmacy of your choice.” 372 (
p) Performing professional services that which have not 373 been duly authorized by the patient or client, or her or his 374 legal representative, except as provided in s. 743.064, s. 375 766.103, or s. 768.13. 376 (
q) Prescribing, dispensing, administering, mixing, or 377
Florida Senate - 2026 SB 542 36-00465-26 2026542__ Page 14 of 20 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. otherwise preparing a non-legend legend drug, including any 378 controlled substance, other than in the course of the 379 naturopath’s naturopathic physician’s professional practice.
For 380 the purposes of this paragraph, it shall be legally presumed 381 that prescribing, dispensing, administering, mixing, or 382 otherwise preparing non-legend legend drugs, including all 383 controlled substances, inappropriately or in excessive or 384 inappropriate quantities is not in the best interest of the 385 patient and is not in the course of the naturopath’s 386 naturopathic physician’s professional practice, without regard 387 to her or his intent. 388 (
r) Prescribing, dispensing, or administering any medicinal 389 drug appearing on any
schedule set forth in
chapter 893 by the 390 naturopath naturopathic physician to herself or himself, except 391 one prescribed, dispensed, or administered to the naturopath 392 naturopathic physician by another practitioner authorized to 393 prescribe, dispense, or administer medicinal drugs. 394 (
s) Being unable to practice naturopathy naturopathic 395 medicine with reasonable skill and safety to patients by reason 396 of illness or use of alcohol, drugs, narcotics, chemicals, or 397 any other type of material or as a result of any mental or 398 physical condition.
In enforcing this paragraph, the department 399 shall have, upon probable cause, authority to compel a 400 naturopath naturopathic physician to submit to a mental or 401 physical examination by physicians designated by the department. 402 The failure of a naturopath naturopathic physician to submit to 403 such an examination when so directed shall constitute an 404 admission of the allegations against her or him upon which a 405 default and final order may be entered without the taking of 406
Florida Senate - 2026 SB 542 36-00465-26 2026542__ Page 15 of 20 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. testimony or presentation of evidence, unless the failure was 407 due to circumstances beyond the naturopath’s naturopathic 408 physician’s control. A naturopath naturopathic physician 409 affected under this paragraph shall at reasonable intervals be 410 afforded an opportunity to demonstrate that she or he can resume 411 the competent practice of naturopathy naturopathic medicine with 412 reasonable skill and safety to patients.
In any proceeding under 413 this paragraph, neither the record of proceedings nor the orders 414 entered by the department may be used against a naturopath 415 naturopathic physician in any other proceeding. 416 (
t) Gross or repeated malpractice or the failure to 417 practice naturopathy naturopathic medicine with that level of 418 care, skill, and treatment which is recognized by a reasonably 419 prudent similar naturopath physician as being acceptable under 420 similar conditions and circumstances. The department shall give 421 great weight to the provisions of s. 766.102 when enforcing this 422 paragraph. 423 (
u) Performing any procedure or prescribing any therapy 424 which, by the prevailing standards of medical practice in the 425 community, constitutes experimentation on a human subject, 426 without first obtaining full, informed, and written consent. 427 (
v) Practicing or offering to practice beyond the scope 428 permitted by law or accepting and performing professional 429 responsibilities that which the licensee knows or has reason to 430 know that she or he is not competent to perform. 431 (
w) Delegating professional responsibilities to a person 432 when the licensee delegating such responsibilities knows or has 433 reason to know that such person is not qualified by training, 434 experience, or licensure to perform them. 435
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x) Violating a lawful order of the department previously 436 entered in a disciplinary hearing or failing to comply with a 437 lawfully issued subpoena of the department. 438 (
y) Conspiring with another licensee or with any other 439 person to commit
an act, or committing
an act, that which would 440 tend to coerce, intimidate, or preclude another licensee from 441 lawfully advertising her or his services. 442 (
z) Procuring, or aiding or abetting in the procuring of, 443 an unlawful termination of pregnancy. 444 (aa) Presigning blank prescription forms. 445 (bb) Prescribing by the naturopath naturopathic physician 446 for office use any medicinal drug appearing on
Schedule II in 447
chapter 893. 448 (cc) Prescribing, ordering, dispensing, administering, 449 supplying, selling, or giving any drug that which is an 450 amphetamine or sympathomimetic amine drug, or a compound 451 designated pursuant to
chapter 893 as a
Schedule II controlled 452 substance to or for any person except for: 453 1. The treatment of narcolepsy; hyperkinesis; behavioral 454 syndrome in children characterized by the developmentally 455 inappropriate symptoms of moderate to severe distractability, 456 short attention span, hyperactivity, emotional lability, and 457 impulsivity; or drug-induced brain dysfunction. 458 2. The differential diagnostic psychiatric evaluation of 459 depression or the treatment of depression shown to be refractory 460 to other therapeutic modalities. 461 3.
The clinical investigation of the effects of such drugs 462 or compounds when an investigative protocol therefor is 463 submitted to, reviewed, and approved by the department before 464
Florida Senate - 2026 SB 542 36-00465-26 2026542__ Page 17 of 20 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. such investigation is begun. 465 (dd) Prescribing, ordering, dispensing, administering, 466 supplying, selling, or giving growth hormones, testosterone or 467 its analogs, human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), or other 468 hormones for the purpose of muscle building or to enhance 469 athletic performance. For the purposes of this subsection, the 470 term “muscle building” does not include the treatment of injured 471 muscle.
A prescription written for the drug products listed 472 above may be dispensed by the pharmacist with the presumption 473 that the prescription is for legitimate medical use. 474 (ee) Violating any provision of this
chapter or
chapter 475 456, or any rules adopted pursuant thereto. 476
(2) The board department may enter an order denying 477 licensure or imposing any of the penalties in s. 456.072(2) 478 against any applicant for licensure or licensee who is found 479 guilty of violating any provision of subsection (1) of this 480
section or who is found guilty of violating any provision of s. 481 456.072(1). 482
(3) The board department shall not reinstate the license of 483 a naturopath naturopathic physician until such time as the board 484 department is satisfied that such person has complied with all 485 the terms and conditions set forth in the final order and that 486 such person is capable of safely engaging in the practice of 487 naturopathy naturopathic medicine. 488
(4) The board department shall by rule establish guidelines 489 for the disposition of disciplinary cases involving specific 490 types of violations. Such guidelines may include minimum and 491 maximum fines, periods of supervision or probation, or 492 conditions of probation or reissuance of a license. 493
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Section
Section 462.16, Florida Statutes, is reenacted 494 and amended to read: 495 462.16 Reissue of license.—Any person who practices shall 496 practice naturopathy after her or his license has been revoked 497 is and registration annulled shall be deemed to have practiced 498 naturopathy without a license.; provided, However, at any time 499 after 6 months after the date of such revocation said 500 conviction, the department may grant a license to the person 501 affected, restoring to her or him all the rights and privileges 502 of and pertaining to the practice of naturopathy as defined and 503 regulated by this chapter. The fee therefor shall not exceed 504 $250. 505
Section
Section 462.17, Florida Statutes, is reenacted 506 and amended to read: 507 462.17 Penalty for offenses relating to naturopathy.—A 508 person who engages in any of the following acts commits a felony 509 of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 510 775.083, or s. 775.084 Any person who shall: 511
(1) Sells Sell, fraudulently obtains obtain, or furnishes 512 furnish any naturopathic diploma, license, record, or 513 registration or aids aid or abets abet in the same.; 514
(2) Practices Practice naturopathy under the cover of any 515 diploma, license, record, or registration illegally or 516 fraudulently obtained or secured or issued unlawfully or upon 517 fraudulent representations.; 518
(3) Advertises Advertise to practice naturopathy under a 519 name other than her or his own or under an assumed name.; 520
(4) Falsely impersonates impersonate another practitioner 521 of a like or different name.; 522
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(5) Practices Practice or advertises advertise to practice 523 naturopathy or uses use in connection with her or his name any 524 designation tending to imply or to designate the person as a 525 practitioner of naturopathy without then being lawfully licensed 526 and authorized to practice naturopathy in this state.; or 527
(6) Practices Practice naturopathy during the time her or 528 his license is suspended or revoked 529 530 shall be guilty of a felony of the third degree, punishable as 531 provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084. 532
Section
Section 462.18, Florida Statutes, is reenacted 533 and amended to read: 534 462.18 Continuing education Educational requirements.— 535
(1) At the time each licensee shall renew her or his 536 license as otherwise provided in this chapter, each licensee, in 537 addition to the payment of the regular renewal fee, shall 538 furnish to the board department satisfactory evidence that, in 539 the year preceding each such application for renewal, the 540 licensee has completed 25 hours of continuing education in 541 naturopathy and medical nutrition therapy, and attended the 2-542 day educational program as promulgated and conducted by the 543 Florida Naturopathic Physicians Association, Inc., or an, as a 544 substitute therefor, the equivalent of that program as approved 545 by the board department.
The department shall send a written 546 notice to this effect to every person holding a valid license to 547 practice naturopathy within this state at least 30 days before 548 prior to May 1 in each even-numbered year, directed to the last 549 known address of such licensee, and shall enclose with the 550 notice proper blank forms for application for annual license 551
Florida Senate - 2026 SB 542 36-00465-26 2026542__ Page 20 of 20 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. renewal. All of the details and requirements of the aforesaid 552 educational program shall be adopted and prescribed by the 553 department. In the event of national emergencies, or for 554 sufficient reason, the department shall have the power to excuse 555 the naturopaths naturopathic physicians as a group or as 556 individuals from taking this postgraduate course. 557
(2) The determination of whether a substitute annual 558 educational program is necessary shall be solely within the 559 discretion of the department. 560
Section
Section 462.19, Florida Statutes, is amended to 561 read: 562 462.19 Renewal of license; Inactive status.— 563
(1) The department shall renew a license upon receipt of 564 the renewal application and fee. 565
(2) A licensee may request that her or his license be 566 placed in an inactive status by making application to the 567 department and paying a fee in an amount set by the department 568 not to exceed $50. 569
Section
Section 462.2001, Florida Statutes, is 570 reenacted to read: 571 462.2001 Saving clause.—All licenses to practice 572 naturopathy issued pursuant to this
chapter and valid on October 573 1, 1985, shall remain in full force and effect. 574