TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida’s most ambitious citizen-led push to expand Medicaid has been pushed back two years. Florida Decides Healthcare (FDH) announced this week it will suspend efforts to qualify for the 2026 ballot and instead aim for 2028, blaming a new state law that dramatically raised costs and imposed stricter rules on ballot initiatives.
“Rules Changed in the Middle of the Game”
At issue is House Bill 1205, a petition-law overhaul signed earlier this year by Gov. Ron DeSantis. The measure sharply raised petition verification fees — by more than 3,000% in some counties — shortened deadlines, limited who could gather signatures, and even threatened petition workers with racketeering charges.
FDH Executive Director Mitch Emerson described the impact as “a death by a thousand cuts.”
“We have been figuring out a solution to address so many different changes… in the middle of the game,“ said Emerson. “You know, if you're playing basketball, and the refs suddenly say there's a four-point line, but we're not going to tell you where it is, but we'll let the opponents know. How are you going to play? How is this fair?”
Emerson said state leadership was to blame for the effort’s shift to the next election cycle. He, like many critics, believes HB 1205’s intent was creating hurdles to access Florida’s ballot.
DeSantis and Republicans in the legislature approved the bill during this year’s regular lawmaking session. They see it as a necessary election integrity measure after allegations of signature fraud for ballot initiatives in 2024.
“These initiatives, these petitions should not be able to be manipulated this way,” DeSantis said earlier this year. “Our constitution should not be for sale to the highest bidder.”
Building Toward 2028
FDH says it has already collected more than 200,000 petitions, raised $6 million, and assembled a coalition of more than 100 grassroots organizations across Florida. The campaign argues their pause is about timing, giving them three years to fundraise, expand their network, and continue a legal challenge to HB 1205, which heads to trial in early 2026.
The group plans to restart petition gathering in February 2026 with an eye toward the 2028 ballot and turnout from a presidential race.
What’s at Stake
The delay comes at a moment of heightened concern over access to healthcare. Roughly 1.4 million Floridians currently fall into the Medicaid “coverage gap” — making too much to qualify for Medicaid but too little to afford private insurance. Advocates warn that if federal Affordable Care Act subsidies expire in January 2026, the number of uninsured could nearly triple to 3 million people.
For Floridians like Andrea Dumala of St. Petersburg, the stakes are deeply personal.
“Without Medicaid, it’s a struggle each and every day,” Dumala said. “And I’m going to continue to struggle each and every day until Florida decides to do the proper thing and expand Medicaid.”
Emerson warned the consequences could ripple far beyond individuals. Hospitals could close, rural communities could lose access to emergency care, and uncompensated care costs — estimated in the billions — would fall back on taxpayers.
“People are going to die— that could have been prevented,” Emerson said. “One death is too many, but it’s going to be thousands.”
Political Divide
The announcement drew sharp reaction in Tallahassee.
Democratic Rep. Christine Hunschofsky of Parkland called the delay “heartbreaking.”
“This is not the time to make healthcare more expensive,” she said. “This is the time to take advantage of everything we can.”
Many Republicans, however, remain opposed. GOP gubernatorial candidate Paul Renner recently reiterated his stance against Medicaid expansion. He said he would fight the effort if he takes the helm as Florida’s chief executive.
“I absolutely oppose Medicaid expansion,” Renner said. “Resources should stay with the truly needy — children, the elderly, the disabled. If we disperse all that, we will not have enough for the people who really need it.”
Chair for the Florida GOP Evan Power also weighed in on Thursday. In a statement he said it was clear the campaign lacked the backing it needed.
“Medicaid expansion isn’t popular in Florida, it’s clear they cannot get the support for the initiative,” said Power. “Pair that with the fact they can no longer bring their out-of-state petition gatherers makes their task insurmountable.”
Public Support
FDH polling suggests Floridians disagree. Surveys have shown about two-thirds of voters back Medicaid expansion, including a slim majority of Republicans. Similar measures have passed in conservative states like Oklahoma, Missouri, and Idaho once voters had a chance to weigh in.
FDH is betting on that trend in Florida.
“We are very confident,” said Emerson. “Frankly, with the loss of the ACA subsidies, the fact that people are going to be seeing their health insurance costs go up two, three— up to 600% of what they are currently paying… the need for this will become that much more apparent, and the work will continue.”
Want to see more local news? Visit the WTXL ABC 27 Website.
Stay in touch with us anywhere, anytime.
