Florida will soon launch new pregnancy and parenting website, thanks to the passage of HB-415, which took effect July 1.
The website will be run by the Florida Department of Health, in collaboration with the Department of Children and Families and the Agency for Health Care Administration. It will include educational materials on pregnancy and parenting, mentorship programs for fathers, adoption services, and financial assistance, along with other information. Included within the legislation was $466,000 for a third party to develop the website.
The bill, sponsored by state Rep. Berny Jacques, passed in May mostly along party lines, as many Democrats were opposed to the website because it won’t include information about abortion; all amendments to include abortion in the site failed. Some abortion supporters also expressed their displeasure that the site will contain information about pregnancy resource centers in the state — organizations that provide free help and services to families and pregnant women, but don’t promote abortion.
“Are you concerned at all that there won’t be a full picture of families’ options when it comes to pregnancy?” asked Sen. Lauren Book during a March Senate session.
“No,” replied Sen. Erin Grall, the bill’s Senate sponsor. “I’m confident the resources that the state provides to families and makes available will be accessible through this website.”
Sen. Tina Polsky questioned why a website was needed at all, since the Florida Department of Health already has some information on its website.
“It is a very difficult to use website,” Grall responded. “It is not up-to-date with all of the programs that we currently provide.”
I am proud to announce that my pregnancy and parenting resource website bill (HB 415) was signed by @GovRonDeSantis! This was my 7th and final bill of the session signed by the Governor.
This bill creates a one-stop-shop website for expectant mothers and fathers. The website…
— Berny Jacques (@BernyJacques) May 18, 2024
Jacques praised the bill’s passage after it was signed by Governor Ron DeSantis.
“The bill creates a one-stop-shop website for expectant mothers and fathers,” he explained in a post on X. “The website will include resources like prenatal/postnatal services, parenting education, and adoption services. I will always fight to make choosing life easier for expectant mothers and to make sure that pregnancy is never a burden.”
The website must be live by January 1, 2025.
