The Home Care Association of Florida’s (HCAF) 2026 Home Care Day at the Capitol was a record-breaking success.

On February 10-11, 55 home care industry advocates from across Florida traveled to Tallahassee — the largest turnout in the history of this event — demonstrating the growing strength, unity, and influence of Florida’s home care provider community.

This year’s advocacy effort, which took place at the midpoint of the 60-day lawmaking period, produced measurable, unprecedented engagement:

• 60 in-person legislative meetings
• 92 additional lawmakers reached through targeted office visits and formal delivery of advocacy materials
• 152 of 156 Florida lawmakers engaged

In just two days, Florida home care professionals ensured that nearly the entire Legislature heard directly from the providers delivering care in patients’ homes every day.

Click here to view the event photo album.

Formal Recognition in the Florida Senate

Home Care Day 2026 received formal recognition on the Senate floor, where Alexis Calatayud (R-Miami) welcomed HCAF and this year’s record-breaking delegation. Click here to view the video and advance to the 13-minute mark.

In her remarks, Senator Calatayud recognized HCAF as the statewide trade association representing more than 2,700 licensed home health agencies and welcomed industry professionals who traveled to Tallahassee to engage directly with policymakers.

She emphasized that HCAF plays a vital role in supporting Florida’s care-at-home providers through education, advocacy, and collaboration — ensuring that vulnerable Floridians can receive high-quality, cost-effective care where they prefer to be: at home.

On behalf of the Florida Senate, she thanked HCAF and its advocates for their commitment to strengthening Florida’s health care system and formally welcomed participants to the chamber.

Strategic Preparation & Leadership Engagement

The event began Tuesday evening with a Welcome Reception & Policy Briefing at The Assembly on Adams, steps from the Capitol complex. Advocates received policy updates, messaging guidance, and strategic direction to ensure disciplined, focused conversations in legislative offices.

Special guest Representative John Snyder (R-Stuart) addressed attendees, reinforcing the importance of home care within Florida’s broader health care delivery system.

From first-time participants to seasoned advocates, attendees consistently noted how prepared and confident they felt heading into meetings:

“From the start with the Advocacy 101, I was left with no questions…I felt fully prepared going into meetings.”

“As a first timer…you all did a phenomenal job from the Home Care Day 101 training through the last scheduled meeting.”

“It’s an incredible experience to walk these halls — not just as visitors, but as advocates.”

2026 Policy Priorities Delivered Directly to Lawmakers

Across 60 formal meetings — and dozens of additional legislative touchpoints — advocates presented a unified message focused on six key priorities:

1. Care at Home Consumer Safety & Transparency (SB 1068/HB 1013) – Modernizing consumer protections and establishing uniform truth-in-advertising standards across Florida’s care-at-home marketplace.
2. Family Caregiver Controlled Substance Delegation Amendment (SB 902/HB 733) – Targeted statutory clarification to preserve continuity of care for medically fragile children while maintaining strong clinical oversight.
3. Assisted Living Facility Third-Party Credentialing Reform (SB 788/HB 1057) – Preventing duplicative “pay-to-enter” vendor barriers that delay care delivery and restrict resident choice.
4. Local Licensing of Home Caregivers (SB 580/HB 555) – Protecting state-regulated caregivers from unnecessary and duplicative local licensure or registration requirements.
5. Medicaid Personal Care Rate Parity (SB 38/HB 219) – Correcting reimbursement inequities that destabilize the workforce and jeopardize access to services.
6. Private Duty Nursing Reimbursement Redesign (Budget) – Building upon the Governor’s proposed investment to implement acuity- and region-based rate adjustments that better reflect workforce realities.

The coordinated meeting schedule — spanning House and Senate leadership, committee chairs, and bill sponsors — reflects the breadth and strategic depth of engagement achieved this year.

Why Record Attendance Matters

This year’s record turnout was not symbolic — it was strategic. A larger presence:

• Signals industry unity
• Demonstrates statewide reach
• Reinforces the urgency of workforce and reimbursement challenges
• Elevates the credibility of HCAF’s policy proposals
• Ensures that home care remains visible amid a crowded legislative agenda

With 152 lawmakers directly engaged, HCAF significantly expanded its policy footprint at a critical midpoint in Session.

Advocacy Does Not End Here

Home Care Day is a catalyst — not a conclusion. As committee hearings continue and budget negotiations intensify, the relationships built during Home Care Day will shape outcomes for providers, caregivers, and the patients who rely on care at home.

To every advocate who attended: your presence made this record-breaking year possible.

If you were unable to join us this year, we encourage you to participate next year and experience firsthand the impact of organized, informed advocacy.

What’s Next

As budget negotiations move forward and legislation advances through committee stops, HCAF members can monitor the status of our priorities and other relevant legislation through the real-time bill tracker.

HCAF will continue providing timely updates as session progresses and will release a comprehensive legislative report later this spring outlining wins, challenges, and strategic opportunities ahead.