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Florida Medicaid Expansion Ballot Push Delayed to 2028 After New Petition Law

The campaign says HB 1205’s tightened rules, coupled with higher verification fees, made a 2026 qualification impossible.

FILE - People walk past a "vote" sign on the first day of early voting in the general election in Miami, on Oct. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, File)

Overview

  • Florida Decides Healthcare will restart signature gathering in February 2026 with the goal of qualifying for the 2028 ballot.
  • HB 1205 requires petition circulators to be Florida residents without felony convictions, shortens the submission window to 10 days, adds ID requirements, and increases penalties including a $50,000 fine for hiring out-of-state circulators.
  • Counties have raised signature verification fees to more than $4 per petition in some areas, which the campaign says has dramatically increased costs.
  • The campaign has 72,917 validated signatures versus the 880,062 required for 2026, rendering the Feb. 1 deadline unattainable.
  • A federal lawsuit challenging HB 1205 is moving forward with a January trial date, as state leaders defend the law as an anti-fraud reform.