What these Bills Do: HB843 and SB898 would criminalize the unlicensed practice of anything within the proposed definition of “the practice of naturopathic medicine,” regardless of whether it poses a risk of harm to the public. The definition is so broad that it includes such natural therapies as “vitamins, minerals, dietary supplements, botanical medicines, medicinal fungi, and homeopathic medicines.” Thousands of citizens practice varying forms of naturopathic health care and naturopathic services. If you are a healer and provide vitamins and minerals or anything else within the definition of the “practice of naturopathic medicine” to your clients, then this law could further criminalize what you do.

Constitutionally, licensing is only required for occupations that present an imminent and significant risk of harm to the public. Complementary and alternative health care practitioners provide services that do not rise to the level of harm requiring licensure, and many states have protected these practitioners from being criminalized by passing Safe Harbor practitioner exemption laws that keep them safely in the public domain for all citizens to access as they choose.

Florida needs a safe harbor practitioner exemption law to protect their herbalists, homeopaths, traditional naturopaths, ayurvedic practitioners, and many more from the broad reach of restrictive occupational licensing laws, like other states have done so that citizens can maintain access to them.

Click Here to Read NHFA’s draft of a recommended Safe Harbor Practitioner Exemption bill for Florida.

Other things that you can do: 

Click Here to get contact info for your own Senator and Representative and let them know that you oppose these licensing bills and request they pass a safe harbor practitioner exemption bill in Florida. Contact them by phone, email, or personal letter. Your personal connection with legislators is very important!