Florida HB 597: Diabetes Management in Schools

Effective: July 1, 2025 

What Is HB 597?
HB 597 is a new Florida law that requires public schools and school districts to keep an emergency supply of undesignated glucagon—a life-saving medication used to treat severe low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) in individuals with diabetes.

What to know:

1. Schools Must Stock Glucagon
All public schools (including charter schools) must now have a supply of glucagon that is not assigned to a specific student, but available for use in any emergency situation.

2. Staff Must Be Trained
Only trained school personnel are allowed to administer glucagon. This means schools must ensure that at least some staff members are properly trained to recognize a diabetes emergency and respond immediately.

3. How Schools Can Get Glucagon
Schools can acquire glucagon through:

  • Health department prescriptions

  • Donations or grants

  • Discounts from manufacturers

  • Purchasing directly

4. Safe Storage Is Required
Glucagon must be stored securely but be immediately accessible. It must also be stored according to the manufacturer's guidelines to ensure it's ready when needed.

5. Emergency Protocols
If glucagon is used, schools must:

  • Call 911 immediately

  • Notify the school nurse and the student’s parent or guardian

6. Legal Protection
Staff who administer glucagon in good faith, and suppliers who provide it, are protected from liability, unless gross negligence is involved.

Why This Law Matters

This law helps ensure that all students with type 1 diabetes are safer at school—even if they forget or lose their personal medication. By training staff and making life-saving glucagon accessible, Florida is taking a big step in improving diabetes care in schools.

Not in Florida? Here's How You Can Help Bring This to Your State:

If you live outside of Florida and want to see similar protections for students with diabetes in your schools, here’s what you can do:

  • Contact your state legislators and share information about Florida’s HB 597. Let them know why access to emergency glucagon in schools matters.

  • Speak to your school board or district leadership about stocking undesignated glucagon and providing staff training—even before a law is in place.

  • Share stories. Personal experiences from families, educators, and nurses are powerful tools in driving policy change.

Together, we can work toward a future where every student with type 1 diabetes is protected—no matter what state they live in.

Encourage your school to explore our Type 1 at School program, where we provide free training for nurses and staff on how to support students with Type 1 Diabetes—because confident care saves lives.