Gov. DeSantis vetoes laws on naturopathic medicine & workforce education for inmates

June 27, 2026 - 18:29

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has been relatively restrained with his veto pen after the most recent legislative session, but he rejected two additional bills on Friday. The first measure would have expanded the scope of practice for naturopathic doctors, allowing them to prescribe a broader range of medications and perform certain minor procedures. Supporters argued it would increase patient access to alternative care, but the governor's office indicated concerns about patient safety and a lack of clear regulatory oversight.

The second vetoed bill aimed to create a workforce education program for state prison inmates, providing vocational training in fields like construction and manufacturing to reduce recidivism. Proponents said it would help former inmates find jobs and lower the state's prison costs. DeSantis, however, cited potential conflicts with existing correctional education initiatives and questioned whether the program's funding was the best use of taxpayer dollars. The vetoes mark a continued pattern of the governor rejecting legislation he views as either too risky or fiscally questionable, even as lawmakers from both parties had pushed for the inmate training plan as a common-sense reform.