TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) – A Florida group has determined that healthcare wants to get a vote revision to expand Medicaid.
Executive Director Mitch Emerson cited new regulations that began in July as a reason for the 2026 polls not being measured. Instead, the group will try to do that during the 2028 election.
“If this is what we’re going to vote in 2028, Floridians are going to say ‘Yes’,” Emerson said.
Voting data released by the group showed that the group had enough support to exceed the 60% threshold required to amend the state constitution.
However, taking citizen-led measures in a vote is not so simple. State lawmakers passed House Bill 1205. Petition cardiovascular must be registered with the state and trained online. The law also added fines and fines if the state reveals the issue during the signature collection process. The Act also increased the price tag to verify the petition within other regulations.
“We’ve worked very hard in terms of adapting to a changing set of rules,” Emerson said.
St. Petersburg Democrat Michel Rayner did not support the bill, as he said it would be difficult for citizens to hear, especially when lawmakers are not acting on a particular issue.
“If you really want to have an honest conversation about the voting initiative, what went wrong, what went right, then put all the solutions on the table,” Rayner said.
State Democrats also believe the new law is only in place after some Republican national leaders opposed a citizen-led push to legalize recreational marijuana and expand access to abortion.
Republicans don’t buy that debate. St. Pete Beach State Assemblyman Linda Chaney said HB 1205 was meant to prevent fraud. During her discussion about the bill, she mentioned what was mapped in a Florida State Department report from a previous citizen-led initiative.
“Identity theft, signature after the petition is filled out,” Cheney said. “A false statement to voters about what they are signing the petition. All the key elements of this report have been put into this bill.”
The law is challenged in court. All parties are expected to return to court in January.
