Disability-Related Bills Moving in the Last Weeks of Session --Advocacy Still Needed!
- Chatequa Pinkston
- Apr 17
- 4 min read
Updated: 6 days ago
May 9, 2025, Update: The 2025 Florida legislative session is officially over but a special session has been called as a budget was not approved. We are happy to announce that the Agency for Persons with Disabilities bill referenced below passed! For information on the other bills, please visit the resource sites linked below.
Disability advocacy is again having a positive impact on the 2025 Florida legislative session. Here’s the scoop on the status of a few major bills we’re watching at Florida Self-Advocacy Central.
The current Florida legislative session runs from March 4 through May 2. This is an important time to stay updated on legislation and budget items that affect the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD).
Medicaid Enrollment for Permanently Disabled Individuals (HB 1227 / SB 7032) to address this issue by requiring that permanently disabled Medicaid beneficiaries remain presumed eligible for covered services during redetermination. Disability advocates are excited bills to reduce or eliminate yearly Medicaid redeterminations for permanently disabled people are experiencing more success than expected. FL SAND and The Arc of Florida were among the agencies that included this issue in their legislative platforms. The momentum for these bills was prompted by hundreds of Medicaid terminations in 2024 in Florida that created enormous anxiety and hardships for those affected. Read more at the FDDC’s April 14th Capitol Update.
This bill involves a series of improvements to Agency for Persons with Disabilities services provision. The senate and house bills are becoming more similar, some significant objections from advocates have been addressed and many experts believe a final bill will pass. Key items in the bill include
Requires APD to post quarterly reports on their website, including the number of people served on the waiver and the number of people on the waitlist. This provision was emphasized to improve transparency and accountability.
Requires an online application for crisis enrollment for waiver services in hopes of reducing the time from application to determination and delivery of services.
Establishes a Statewide Family Care Council to, among other things, collect data from established regional councils to advise APD on policies, programs and service delivery improvements; identify systemic barriers to the effective delivery of services and recommend solutions to address those barriers; and foster collaboration and the sharing of best practices.
Makes the Developmental Disabilities Managed Care Pilot Program available statewide for people on the waitlist and, in 2026, the full waiver. Enrollment in the pilot program is completely voluntary. Advocates continue to ask for data on the initial pilot program, which started last year for waitlist clients in seven counties.
A summary of the bill by the Florida Developmental Disabilities Council can be read here. Earlier versions of the bill wanted to combine Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) and Division of Blind Services with APD, but the clause was removed because of the advocacy of many people.
Although at this time a bill is not expected to pass, advocates were pleasantly surprised at the momentum of advocacy behind HB 311. Many power wheelchair users report long wait times and expensive repairs. This bill requires manufacturers to provide owners and repair providers with the documentation, parts, and tools needed to make repairs. Despite moving pretty fast for a first-time bill, it has slowed in the committee process.
It is still very important to continue advocating for this bill so legislators know how impactful it would be to wheelchair users, their families, and caregivers. Sometimes it takes several legislative seasons for a new bill to be approved and a strong self-advocate voice will improve its chances in future sessions. Please contact your state legislators via text, email, phone call or social media to let them know how important this bill’s eventual passage is and be on the lookout for similar bills this year.
Many other disability-related bills can be tracked via the Florida Developmental Disabilities Council’s (FDDC) weekly updates. The Arc of Florida has a list of bills with brief updates on its website as well. One of the best ways to stay updated is to participate in Family Café’s “Let’s Talk” Friday 4 PM (Eastern) Zoom meetings during the legislative session. Instructions are on their website or Facebook page. Note they are not meeting April 18 because of the Good Friday holiday.
Advocacy During the Legislative Session
Your response as a self-advocate is important. These are some tips for effective advocacy for these bills or any legislative priority important to you:
Make an appointment to speak with your legislators or their staff (everyone has one state senator and one representative in the legislature). This can be done virtually or by phone. Be prepared to share your story about wheelchair repairs or receiving APD services. Once you make the appointment, be on time. You can find your legislators here.
Be ready to respond to calls to action from disability agencies in emails or on social media. Agencies may ask you to email or call legislators when an important vote is coming up. Posting on a legislator's social media page can also be effective.
Once important bills have passed both the house and senate chambers, contact the governor's office and urge him to sign them into law.
Follow these and other priorities throughout the session. Below is a partial list of how you may do so.
1. Stay current on progress via FL SAND and FSACentral Facebook pages. Search #FloridaDDAdvocacy2025.
2. Sign up for emails at disability organizations to receive their legislative updates:
Florida Developmental Disabilities Council FDDC.org
Disability Rights Florida disabilityrightsflorida.org
The Arc of Florida arcflorida.org
The Family Cafe familycafe.net
Florida Self-Advocacy Central FSACentral.org
3. Participate in Family Café’s “Let’s Talk” Friday 4 PM (Eastern) calls during the legislative session. Instructions are on their website or Facebook page.
4. Follow bill progress and committee meeting schedules on these sites:
Florida Senate: www.flsenate.gov
Florida House of Representatives www.myfloridahouse.gov
Comments