Florida Legislature's Final Sprint Sends Wave of Bills to DeSantis, Leaves Others Dangling
Condo insurance, nitrous oxide ban, e-bike rules and a penny-rounding measure clear Tallahassee — but AIDS drug funding and immigration emergency fund remain in limbo as session nears close
TALLAHASSEE — The Florida Legislature is barreling toward its 2026 session finale with a flurry of bills cleared for Gov. Ron DeSantis' desk, but two of the most consequential measures — one that would restore HIV medication access to thousands of Floridians and another expanding the governor's immigration enforcement spending power — remain unresolved with days left on the clock.
The end-of-session blitz has direct implications for Treasure Coast residents, from condo owners in St. Lucie County grappling with skyrocketing insurance costs to HIV-positive residents who lost access to medications on March 1.
The biggest insurance story of the session cleared Monday when the House voted 88-19 to approve SB 1028, directing Citizens Property Insurance to establish two new clearinghouses — one for commercial residential and one for non-residential policies — by Jan. 1, 2027. The Senate had already passed the measure 34-1. The bill would push more condominium and commercial policies toward private insurers and surplus lines carriers, which are companies not licensed in Florida but permitted to operate as "eligible" insurers.
Critics are raising flags. House Minority Leader Fentrice Driskell, D-Tampa, said the bill is "being pushed by a billionaire mega donor which would force commercial properties off Citizens Property Insurance, which could raise premiums." Insurance Commissioner Mike Yaworsky warned a Senate committee in February that surplus lines carriers aren't required to disclose new premium rates or coverage terms until the day before a policy renews — a consumer transparency gap that could blindside policyholders in an already battered market. Citizens' overall policy count has already fallen from 1.41 million in October 2023 to 335,000 as of last Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the Senate passed a $31 million fix Tuesday to restore eligibility to thousands of Floridians cut from the AIDS Drug Assistance Program after the Department of Health slashed coverage in January, citing a $120 million shortfall tied to federal funding cuts. The agency dropped the income threshold from 400% of the federal poverty level — about $62,600 annually — to 130%, or $20,345, blocking more than 10,000 Floridians from accessing HIV medications. According to available information,
House Speaker Daniel Perez, R-Miami, said Tuesday he hadn't decided whether to take up the Senate's amendment to HB 747. Sen. Jason Brodeur, R-Sanford, who sponsored the fix, said he believed it was "probably" in good shape for House passage. Advocates estimate about 6,000 people have lost coverage since March 1. One drug still not covered under the proposal: Biktarvy, among the most commonly prescribed once-a-day HIV medications. According to available information,
The immigration emergency fund fight is a parallel standoff. DeSantis has used the Emergency Preparedness and Response Fund — created in 2022 to handle hurricanes and natural disasters — for immigration enforcement. The House and Senate remain split on whether to formally authorize that use of the fund with session's end approaching. According to available information,
On less contested fronts, the Legislature sent DeSantis a ban on over-the-counter sales of nitrous oxide (SB 432), the so-called "Whip-Its" canisters sold at gas stations and smoke shops statewide. E-bike regulations (SB 382) also cleared the House unanimously, requiring riders to slow to 10 mph within 50 feet of pedestrians on shared pathways — a measure with obvious relevance along the Treasure Coast's growing network of multi-use trails.
A local government DEI ban is also headed to DeSantis' desk According to available information,, extending the state's restrictions on diversity, equity and inclusion programs to municipal and county governments. Treasure Coast local governments will need to audit existing programs for compliance.
And in a measure that passed 111-1, the House approved SB 1074 allowing retailers to round cash transactions to the nearest nickel — a practical adjustment to the federal government's halt of penny minting. Jacksonville Democrat Angie Nixon cast the lone dissenting vote.
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