The Relentless Road to Justice: A Historical Documenting of Advocates Pushing to Repeal Florida's Free Kill Law
- Melody
- 4 days ago
- 4 min read
A movement fueled by heartbreak, driven by hope, and united by truth.
For nearly a decade, everyday Floridians have been fighting to end one of the most unjust laws in our state: Florida Statute 768.21(8): a provision that blocks families from seeking justice when an unmarried adult child or parent dies due to gross medical negligence. The only acceptable and eventual win is for a full repeal of Florida's Free Kill law.
At the heart of this long-running battle is the Florida Medical Rights Association (FMRA), the engine that has gathered, educated, and mobilized thousands of advocates across the state. Melody McDonald (then Page) and Debbie Sowden founded FMRA to create a place where grief could be transformed into impact. Where survivors could become advocates. Where silence would no longer be the only option. We leaned into social media to give people's voices a center of gravity.
This isn’t a story of overnight success—it’s a story of relentless persistence. It’s the story of people steadily moving mountains that power and money tried to cement in place. As I write this, I want every advocate who feels disheartened by Governor DeSantis' veto of HB 6017 to pause and look back. Year after year, we’ve moved this cause forward. What was once ignored is now debated. What was once dismissed has now passed both chambers of the Legislature. We are closer today than we were when I began this journey in 2016, after losing my father to a sedative overdose at Broward Health North Hospital. For the full story of the 2025 session click here.
Hold onto hope. Keep going. Because, as Margaret Mead said,
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world.
Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”
📜 A Citizens’ History of Ending Florida Free Kill: Year-by-Year Progress
2019 – Cracks in the Wall
Rep. Amy Mercado files the first-ever amendment to repeal Florida’s Free Kill law.
Rep. John Cortez files a standalone bill addressing adult disabled children.Both die in Civil Justice Subcommittee, but the movement begins.
2020 – The First Full Repealer
Rep. Emily Slosberg files HB 6051, a full repeal.The bill goes unheard, but the cry for justice grows louder.
2021 – Enter the Senate
Rep. Spencer Roach files HB 651, repealing the adult child exclusion.
Co-Introducers: Driskell, Jenne, Joseph, Morales, Roth, Slosberg, Valdés, Woodson.
Sen. Ana Maria Rodriguez files SB 1112, the Senate’s first-ever companion bill.The House bill passes committees but dies in Rules. The Senate bill is ignored—but momentum builds.
2022 – Dual-Front Advocacy
HB 6011 (Roach) passes all committees, then dies in Rules again.
HB 6039 (Hinson) focuses on restoring parental rights; it’s unheard but not unseen.
SBs 262 & 560 (Rodriguez) mirror the House bills. The Senate refuses to hear them.
FMRA begins drawing more attention. Advocates fill the Capitol. Media starts to listen.
2023 – More Voices, More Strength
HB 1435, a bipartisan effort led by Rep. López and others, dies in committee.
SB 690 (Book) is filed with strong Senate backing. It dies in Judiciary.
Though the bills stall, the message doesn’t. FMRA rallies grew larger. Victims' families spoke in legislative hearings for the first time.
2024 – A Plot Twist
Partial repealers (HB 77 and SB 310) fail in Civil Justice.
HB 129, a full repeal, garners wide co-sponsorship but dies in committee.
SB 248 (Reps Yarborough, Burgess, Book, Hutson, Perry & Stewart) appears to repeal the law, but instead layers on hurdles to access justice. FMRA and allies expose the truth, and the bill dies in Fiscal Policy.
This year, FMRA saw lawmakers attempt to hijack the repeal with caps and carveouts. But the public was watching. And speaking.
2025 – The Closest We've Come
HB 6017, championed by Reps. Trabulsy and López, passes every committee and a full House vote.
SB 734, filed by Sen. Yarborough, clears the Senate floor—despite last-minute amendments designed to sabotage it.
The House and Senate bills unite. For the first time, a full repeal clears both chambers.
Then—Governor Ron DeSantis vetoes it.
But we are not defeated. We are moved, we are united and we keep raising our voices.
💪🏼 To Every Advocate and Supporter: Thank You
Some of you shared a post, signed a petition, or wrote to your legislator.Some of you testified publicly, traveled to Tallahassee, or told your story in the media.Every action mattered.
FMRA was built on these actions. The movement only exists because you keep showing up.
🙌 Don’t Give Up Now
When you look at this timeline, you can see it clearly: we have made progress every single year. What began as unheard bills has become bipartisan legislation that passed the entire Florida Legislature.
That is the power of the people.
But it’s more than a political journey—it’s a healing journey, too. For every advocate who has turned personal grief into public service, who has spoken through trembling voices or stood tall in the face of silence—your courage has created ripples of change. Every step forward is not only a step toward justice, but a step toward healing.
We have come too far to stop now. This veto is not the end—it’s a turning point. With your continued support, we will push for a veto override or return stronger in 2026. Have faith. Justice will prevail. We may not know when, but we know it will.
📝 Add Your Voice Right Now
Join thousands of Floridians demanding justice. Sign the open letter requesting an override of DeSantis' veto at www.FloridaFreeKill.org
We are the voice for the voiceless. We will not stop until justice is restored in Florida.
With love for all of you,
Melody
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