‘Just Got a Serious Glow Up:’ Woman Says a New Florida Law Affects Pregnant Women. Here’s How It Helps You Get Better Parking

"Still no paid maternity leave."

Photo by: @debroahchoetv & Chilingaryan

By: Stacy Fernandez

Jul 6, 2025 at 1:00pm ET

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Being pregnant is rough on the body. From swollen feet to constant nausea and back pain to an incessant need to pee, carrying children is a herculean task. That’s why Florida has a new law to make life a bit easier for pregnant people.

In a video with more than 114,000 views, journalist Deborah Choe (@deborahchoetv) outlines a law that just went into effect in Florida.

“Florida moms to be, you guys just got a serious glow up,” Choe says in the TikTok.

She explains that a new law allows pregnant women to get a handicap parking permit. All you need is a doctor’s note confirming you’re pregnant.

“Parking struggles no more,” Choe says. She says that no matter which trimester you’re in, the permit lasts a year.

Choe captions the TikTok, "Florida just upgraded your parking game. The bump's the real MVP."

What Does The Law Say?

The new law, which took effect on July 1, was proposed by Florida State Rep. Fiona McFarland (R), who is a mother herself.

“Every parent just intuitively understands this is a great deal for pregnant women in Florida," McFarland said, according to Fox 13 Tampa.

The new law was modeled after one in Illinois, though that state only allows permits in the third trimester.

"It is a shout-out to the pregnant woman that we recognize you are pregnant. We understand that while pregnant, you have some special issues the rest of us do not have and, in this way, we appreciate that and will make it easier for you," Dr. Washington Hill told Fox 13 Tampa.

Is Pregnancy a Disability?

While pregnancy itself is not considered a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), there are physical and mental medical conditions associated with pregnancy—like gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, or pregnancy-related depression—that do qualify as a disability if they limit major life activities.

In these cases, a person could be entitled to reasonable accommodations at work under the ADA.

‘Still No Paid Maternity Leave’

Though many people are grateful for Florida’s new law, to some it’s not enough. The United States is an outlier among developed nations for maternal mortality, infant mortality, and not requiring paid maternity leave. It’s also significantly limited women’s reproductive rights in recent years.

One person jokingly said they’d rather walk further than have to go to the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV).

“My OB would have laughed at me and told me the extra steps are good for me,” another said.

Other comments were of a serious nature.

“But still no paid maternity leave policy,” another pointed out.

What do you think?

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“Please don’t use the available spaces if you really don’t need them. They are wider and allow us to get into and out of a wheelchair,” another said.

Motor1 reached out to Choe for comment via Instagram and TikTok direct message. We'll be sure to update this if she responds.