Medicaid expansion ballot initiative pushed to 2028

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida voters will not decide on Medicaid expansion in 2026, as the citizen initiative group Florida Decides Healthcare announced Thursday it is delaying its ballot effort until at least 2028.

What You Need To Know • Florida Decides Healthcare has decided to delay an ongoing ballot effort to expand medicaid until 2028 • The decision comes after HB 1205 was signed into law • The measure increases the requirements for groups gathering signatures for ballot initiatives

The group, which was initially targeting the 2026 ballot, cited hurdles created by a new state law, HB 1205, as the primary reason for the delay.

“Over the next three years we’re going to build the biggest, strongest campaign Florida has ever seen,” said Mitch Emerson, Executive Director of Florida