Florida Program for Brain-Damaged Kids Faces Funding Concerns

Bill to fix funding issues for NICA program raises worries about limiting benefits for families

Jan. 30, 2026 at 2:31pm

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A key Florida program that provides healthcare for children with neurological injuries related to their birth, the Florida Birth-Related Neurological Injury Compensation Association (NICA), is facing more projected claims than funding to pay for them. A bill to address the funding shortfall is facing concerns that it could limit payments to parents and guardians without increasing assessments on hospitals and physicians that help pay for the program.

Why it matters

The NICA program was created by the Florida Legislature to deal with rising medical malpractice premiums that were pushing obstetricians and gynecologists out of the state. The program provides care for children with birth-related neurological injuries, but critics argue the proposed fix puts too much pressure on families rather than increasing fees to sustain the program.

The details

The bill, SB 1668, would make changes to the NICA program to try to keep it solvent, including providing some benefits like dental coverage but also stopping payments if a parent is caring for their child while working remotely from home. The bill would also require families to maintain comprehensive major medical coverage for their child. While the bill includes mechanisms to activate additional funding sources if NICA's assets fall below 90% of projected costs, it does not increase the assessments on hospitals and physicians that help fund the program, which critics say is necessary.

  • The Senate Banking and Insurance Committee heard the bill on January 28, 2026.
  • A similar bill, HB 1291, passed through the House Insurance and Banking Subcommittee on January 29, 2026.

The players

Laura Youmans

Director of legislative and government affairs for the Florida Justice Association, the trial bar lobby.

Renee Oliver

A board member of NICA who has a son in the program.

Sen. Colleen Burton

The sponsor of SB 1668.

Rep. Adam Anderson

The sponsor of the House bill, HB 1291.

Sen. Jonathan Martin

The only senator to vote against SB 1668 in committee.

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What they’re saying

“Instead of addressing assessments the bill tightens benefits and restricts payments to families.”

— Laura Youmans, Director of legislative and government affairs for the Florida Justice Association (news-press.com)

“Families are always vigilant because one missed alarm, one clogged tube, one seizure, one breathing emergency — those things are life threatening. Parents are not asking for anything extravagant, they're only asking for the basic things their children need to survive and live with dignity.”

— Renee Oliver, NICA board member (news-press.com)

“The challenge that we face is how do we sustain that care at the level that gives them the highest quality of life that they're able to have while continuing to be able to pay for the program?”

— Sen. Colleen Burton, Sponsor of SB 1668 (news-press.com)

“The bill establishes explicit, repeatable mechanisms and thresholds to automatically activate these remedies as needed, ensuring that the program remains solvent indefinitely without requiring any legislative action.”

— Rep. Adam Anderson, Sponsor of HB 1291 (news-press.com)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.