Behavioral Health Licensing Changes: Fall 2026 State Roundup

Florida

SB 1030 (Chapter 2026-123), effective July 1, 2026, amended section 397.407. Majority-ownership and contractual transfers now count as transfers, a change of 5% or more in controlling interest triggers Level 2 screening for the new party’s leadership, and providers adding a level of care with a clean 12-month record do not have to admit clients during probation.¹
October 2025 rule changes addressed mobile medication-assisted treatment units and updated federal methadone rules, and the MAT needs assessment rule was repealed.^{2, 3}

SB 1352 would create a two-year DDAP license for accredited providers in good standing, with one inspection every two years. It passed the Senate 45 to 5 on June 22, 2026 and is in the House Human Services Committee.⁴
Mental health procedures (Chapter 5100): the Independent Regulatory Review Commission approved the final-form regulation on October 15, 2026.⁵
Crisis intervention licensing (Chapter 5250) remains a proposal after its 2025 comment period.⁶

SB 437, effective September 1, 2025, requires penalties against chemical dependency treatment facilities to consider ability to pay and allows abuse and neglect training to be delivered live online; HHSC proposed implementing rules on July 10, 2026.^{7, 8}
Open HHSC proposals on licensed chemical dependency counselor telehealth records and on transport standards for mental health facilities.⁹

AB 1037 (Chapter 569, Statutes of 2025): DHCS must offer a combined licensure and incidental medical services application by January 1, 2027; admission agreements may not require abstinence or sobriety for admission or continued treatment; and licensees must prioritize keeping clients connected to treatment after a relapse.¹⁰
SB 83: DHCS must post summaries of the violations it issues to licensed facilities and certified programs.¹¹

Proposed OASAS Part 810 amendments would add ownership transfers and new controlling sponsors to review, lengthen the local review window to 30 days, require FBI-inclusive background checks before an application is complete and make recertification reviews unannounced.¹²
Part 819 lapsed after February 28, 2026, moving legacy residential programs to other parts such as Part 820.¹³
A single integrated behavioral health license is authorized by Mental Hygiene Law § 36.08, effective once rates are approved.¹⁴

N.J.A.C. 8:43K took effect April 6, 2026, creating one integrated outpatient license for primary care, mental health, substance use and opioid treatment services.^{15, 16}
S-4477/A-4535, which would have allowed residential mental health services inside residential SUD facilities, was conditionally vetoed on September 28, 2026.¹⁷