Florida Governor Ron DeSantis vetoed Senate Bill 688 on June 26, 2026, blocking a measure that would have legalized and regulated naturopathic medicine. The veto leaves a 1959 ban intact, meaning the practice of naturopathy remains a third-degree felony in the state.
While DeSantis argued the bill would create unnecessary bureaucracy and costly fees, industry advocates and health freedom groups expressed deep disappointment, calling the decision a step backward for patient choice and deregulation.
On Friday, June 26, 2026, Governor Ron DeSantis officially vetoed Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 688 (CS/SB 688), a move that maintains Florida’s long-standing prohibition on naturopathy. By rejecting the legislation, the governor ensures that practicing holistic naturopathic medicine remains classified as a class-three felony in the state, upholding a legal dynamic that has been continuously in place for 67 years.
The bill, which was carried by Senator Ana Maria Rodriguez in the Senate and sponsored by Representative David Smith in the House, won overwhelming support in the Florida Legislature earlier this spring. It passed the Senate on March 5 by a vote of 33–3 and cleared the House on March 11 with an 85–22 majority.
The legislation sought to modernize state health codes by lifting the historical ban on the term “naturopathy” and establishing a formal licensing framework under the Department of Health for naturopathic doctors (NDs) who graduate from accredited four-year programs and pass national board exams.
Florida was initially one of the first states in the country to license naturopathic doctors, establishing regulations back in 1927. The state halted the issuance of new licenses in 1959 but kept the restrictive regulations on the books, effectively banning new practitioners while grandfathering in existing ones.
The last active, grandfathered naturopathic doctor in Florida, Dr. Robert Gelder, passed away in 2010. Since then, qualified naturopathic doctors living in the state have typically been forced to practice under alternative medical licenses, such as acupuncture or chiropractic medicine, to avoid criminal charges. Had the bill signed into law, Florida would have become the 27th U.S. jurisdiction to license the profession.
In his veto letter to Secretary of State Cord Byrd, Governor DeSantis explained his opposition by stating that the bill would introduce unneeded government oversight and financial burdens. DeSantis wrote that “current law allows licensed practitioners such as physicians, doctors of osteopathy, acupuncturists, and dietitians to employ naturopathic methods and recommend natural remedies.” He further noted that because natural remedies do not require prescriptions or U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval, citizens already enjoy access to them.
DeSantis stated that the legislation “may negatively impact Floridians who currently work in alternative medicine by mandating post-graduate education that cannot be obtained in Florida and require them to pay costly licensure fees to do the work they are already performing.” He added that “there is no need to create additional bureaucratic hurdles.”
While the governor pointed to the lack of in-state educational programs, proponents noted that two Florida medical institutions had recently sent letters to the governor expressing immediate interest in launching naturopathic medical programs if the bill became law. The governor’s veto letter did not mention the current felony status of the profession.
Proponents of the bill, who viewed the legislation as a way to combat Florida’s physician shortage and expand patient options, reacted with surprise to the decision. Todd Robinson, President of the Florida Naturopathic Physicians Association (FNPA)—an organization founded in 1935 that spearheaded the bill—strongly questioned the governor’s logic.
“Governor DeSantis’s rationale for vetoing CS/SB 688 is confusing,” Robinson said. “As Florida law stands after this veto, all activity related to naturopathy and naturopathic medicine remains both regulated and a felony as it has been since 1959. This bill would have removed that barrier to accessing naturopathy and opened the marketplace. It’s a baffling choice for a Governor who claims to support deregulation and health freedom.”
Advocates from health freedom organizations also voiced frustration, pointing to the friction between the veto and the governor’s national reputation. Bailey Kuykendoll of Stand for Health Freedom stated, “Governor DeSantis has built a reputation as a champion of medical freedom, which is why this veto is so disappointing. SB 688 was about giving Floridians more healthcare options, not more government.” Kuykendoll argued that true health freedom must include “the freedom to choose the healthcare provider that best aligns with your needs and values.”
The decision also drew criticism from national health advocates connecting the state’s move to shifting health policy goals in Washington, D.C. Del Bigtree, founder of the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) organization, commented on the setback. “It’s crazy that with the MAHA mandate in DC, we still can’t decriminalize naturopathy in Florida,” Bigtree said. “Natural medicine is a basic human right. We have so much work to do.”
Corporate backers and local practitioners eligible for the proposed license expressed a mix of sadness and resolve. Brian Blackburn, CEO of the Orlando-based supplement company Xymogen, which helped fund the legislative push, stated, “We’re saddened that Governor DeSantis has vetoed the bill this year. But we’re not giving up. Floridians’ right to natural, alternative, and integrative medicine is just too important to quit.”
Meanwhile, local clinic owners focused on the immediate impact the continuation of the ban has on public safety and training utilization. Dr. Sarah Fiedler, an acupuncture physician and owner of North Florida Naturopathic in Tallahassee, called the veto shocking, noting it “will prevent safe access to doctors proficiently trained in natural therapies.”
Dr. Kye Peven Xiong, owner of Winthrop Natural Medicine in Riverview, added that the decision defies expectations.
“As someone who has practiced naturopathic medicine in a licensed state, I’ve seen firsthand how NDs can integrate effectively into the larger healthcare system to improve outcomes for patients,” Xiong said. “I was looking forward to offering this part of my medical training to my patients in Florida, but it looks like they will have to continue waiting.”
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