Last week marked the final round of interim committee meetings before the 2026 Florida Legislative Session convenes on January 13, 2026 — and HCAF’s policy team was fully engaged in Tallahassee to advance home care priorities, strengthen key relationships, and lay the groundwork for another consequential session.

Legislative Monitoring and Committee Engagement

On December 9, HCAF attended the House Insurance & Banking Subcommittee meeting to monitor legislation directly affecting patient protections and health care decision-making. The committee heard House Bill 527, a proposal requiring insurer claim denials to undergo meaningful human review rather than automated decision-making. This legislation reflects the increasing legislative interest in transparency, accountability, and consumer protections as artificial intelligence continues to expand its reach.

HCAF also attended the House Health Care Facilities & Systems Subcommittee meeting on December 10, where the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) provided an update on Medicaid managed care outcomes and quality measures focused on maternal health and infant mortality; the full meeting packet is available here.

Strategic Political Engagement and PAC Activity

HCAF also participated in a political fundraiser supporting Representative Josie Tomkow (R-Polk City), Chair of the House Health & Human Services Committee and a candidate in the Senate District 14 special election to replace Lieutenant Governor Jay Collins.

The Home Care Political Action Committee (PAC) contributed to Representative Tomkow’s campaign in recognition of her leadership role, influence over health policy, and consistent engagement on issues affecting home health agencies and patients statewide.

Maintaining strong relationships with legislative leaders — particularly those shaping the health care agenda — is essential to protecting access to care and advancing meaningful reform.

Meetings With Key Legislative Champions

Throughout the week, HCAF engaged with a broad cross-section of influential lawmakers, including:

• Representative Mike Redondo (R-Miami), sponsor of Florida’s sweeping health care reform bill, the Big Beautiful Healthcare Frontier Act (House Bill 693), and an influential voice on health care policy who is slated to serve as Speaker following the 2030 elections.
• Representative Gallop Franklin (D-Tallahassee), HCAF’s legislative champion for the third consecutive year, who will again sponsor HCAF’s priority legislation in 2026 to establish uniform minimum consumer safety standards across all home care provider types.
• Representative Adam Anderson (R-Palm Harbor), chair of the Health Care Facilities & Systems Subcommittee and recipient of HCAF’s 2025 Home Care Legislative Advocate Award in recognition of his leadership in advancing common-sense regulatory reform and supporting access to care.
• Representative Chase Tramont (R-Orange Park), sponsor of landmark legislation reforming the Family Home Health Aide (FHHA) program and a long-standing ally on issues affecting medically fragile children and family caregivers.
• Senator Brian Avila (R-Hialeah Gardens) and Representative James Buchanan (R-Sarasota), both of whom continue to play influential roles in shaping Florida’s health policy landscape.

These conversations focused on building on recent legislative wins, preparing for new proposals in 2026, and reinforcing the critical role home health agencies play in delivering safe, cost-effective care in communities across Florida.

Agency Engagement: Advancing Consumer Safety

HCAF also met with leadership at the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) to discuss our 2026 priority legislation aimed at creating uniform minimum standards for in-home care consumer safety. This proposal seeks to address longstanding disparities in regulatory oversight among home health agencies, nurse registries, and homemaker/companion service providers — ensuring consistent protections, transparency, and accountability regardless of provider type.

This initiative builds directly on HCAF’s recent legislative successes, including reforms to the FHHA program and landmark home health modernization legislation signed into law in 2025.

Session Strategy and Coordination

Multiple meetings were held with HCAF’s contract lobbying firm, Continental Strategy, to refine bill language, coordinate stakeholder outreach, and finalize legislative strategy ahead of bill filing deadlines. With strong champions secured and clear priorities established, HCAF enters the 2026 session positioned for impact.

What’s Next: Advocacy in Action

Momentum is building — and member engagement will be critical.

• Home Care Day at the Capitol returns February 10–11, 2026, offering providers a direct opportunity to meet with lawmakers and advocate for policies that protect access to high-quality care at home.
• HCAF’s members-only bill tracker is updated in real time as legislation is filed and will serve as the foundation for Home Care Day meetings with legislators on Wednesday, February 11.

Help Fuel the Fight

These efforts are made possible by the collective advocacy and financial support of HCAF members. Contributions to the Home Care PAC ensure that home care has a strong, consistent voice in Tallahassee — before, during, and after session.

As Florida’s legislative landscape continues to evolve, HCAF remains focused, engaged, and ready to lead. Together, we are shaping the future of home care — one conversation, one bill, and one session at a time.