2025 County Legislative Delegation Toolkit

Florida lawmakers are currently holding their annual series of County Legislative Delegation meetings — the official public forums where your county’s Senators and Representatives gather to hear directly from constituents. These meetings set the stage for the 2026 Florida Legislative Session, convening January 13, 2026.

For home care professionals, these meetings are critical:

• Direct Access to Lawmakers: Every legislator who represents your county will be in the room.
• Influence the Agenda: Legislators decide what issues to prioritize based on what they hear. If home care isn’t represented, other industries will dominate the conversation.
• Highlight Real-World Challenges: This is your chance to put the needs of providers, patients, and families on the record before decisions are made in Tallahassee.

These forums are open to the public and take place across the state in late summer and fall. Anyone may testify — whether to present a legislative proposal, request funding, or share concerns.

The Stakes for Home Care

• Florida’s Medicaid reimbursement rates are among the lowest in the nation, forcing agencies to make impossible choices and putting care for vulnerable patients at risk.
• Medicaid managed care red tape is delaying care, cutting authorized hours, and drowning providers in costly, time-consuming administrative requirements.
• Workforce shortages are at crisis levels — Florida has ranked dead last in the nation for home health aide availability since 2016. Providers are turning away referrals, and patients are going without care.

Legislative delegation meetings directly shape priorities, funding, and policy decisions. If home care professionals are absent, our issues won’t be heard — and solutions won’t be pursued.

Be Prepared

If you register and are confirmed to speak at your county’s delegation meeting, follow these guidelines to ensure your remarks are impactful:

• Reference HCAF’s issue brief, Florida Home Care at a Crossroads. Bring printed copies for each legislator to reinforce your message.
• Keep your comments concise (2-3 minutes):
  • Introduce yourself and the patients or communities you serve.
  • Identify one pressing challenge (rates, managed care, workforce) and give a local example.
  • Present one clear request, such as tying rate increases to cost indices, reducing managed care burdens, or investing in workforce development.