TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – State lawmakers are pushing for more safety measures when it comes to preventing accidental drowning deaths.
According to state officials, at least 46 children had died as a result of an accidental drowning in Florida by June 2024.
During last year’s legislative session, lawmakers pushed through a law that would provide swim lesson vouchers to families so that more people could learn to swim.
Now, lawmakers are proposing a new bill that would require at least one pool safety measure as specified in the bill for property transferred or purchase on or after Oct. 1, 2025 — regardless of when the pool was installed.
“We know this will prevent accidental drownings at low cost and save lives,” said State Senator Carlos Guillermo Smith, who is sponsoring the bill in the State Senate.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, from 2019 to 2021 Florida was ranked the highest for unintentional drowning deaths among children ages 1 - 4.
The CDC also said the state ranked fourth in the U.S. in 2021 for unintentional drowning deaths among all ages.
“We know that, unfortunately, Florida has the unfortunate designation of being No. 1 in the nation for accidental child drownings,” Smith said. “We also know that adults, vulnerable populations like those that are dealing with Alzheimer’s and even a lot of autistic children as well are vulnerable to accidental drownings.”
Some of the safety measures specified in the bill include an approved pool safety covering and a pool alarm that when placed in the pool an alarm goes off if someone accidentally falls in the pool.
If the bill becomes law, if someone’s pool is not in compliance, they could face a second degree misdemeanor.
However, the person would not be penalized if they can show they installed a safety feature within 45 days of an arrest, summons or notice to appear.
“I think sometimes people say, ‘well, what is criminalizing?’ So they see that as a negative aspect of the bill,” said State Representative Johanna Lopez, who is sponsoring the bill in the House. “But you know when you’re going to try and buy a house, the person who is selling the house is going to make you aware of this new law because even the law provides for an educational portion.”
If passed the law goes into effect on July 1, 2025, but will only apply to houses sold on or after October 1, 2025.
The bill is set to have its first committee hearing on Tuesday.
