Carlos Guillermo Smith, Equality Florida celebrate Gov. DeSantis signing bill that helps people with AIDS

Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed legislation providing nearly $31 million via a bipartisan amendment to restore eligibility to thousands of people who lost coverage in the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP).

“This is a powerful reminder of what’s possible when people refuse to stay silent. Because people living with HIV, providers, and other advocates spoke out and demanded action, more than 10,000 Floridians will continue receiving the medications they rely on,” Equality Florida Public Policy Director Jon Harris Maurer said in a statement.

With little fanfare and no ceremonial press conference, DeSantis signed HB 697, which addressed drug costs. But a bipartisan cohort lawmakers also added an amendment to provide a stopgap to the Floridians losing their AIDS medication support.

Because of federal funding cuts, Florida’s Department of Health (DOH) dropped the ADAP coverage threshold from 400% of the poverty level, a yearly income of $62,600, to 130% of the poverty level, or $20,345.

For Floridians with HIV/AIDS losing coverage, they would have otherwise spent thousands of dollars out of pocket to get their life-saving drugs. Under the bill, their bridge funding is covered through June 30, which marks the end of the fiscal year.

Democratic Sens. Shevrin Jones, Rosalind Osgood and Carlos Guillermo Smith joined Republican Sens. Alexis Calatayud and Ileana Garcia to craft the fix.

“This $30.9 million in emergency funding will put lifesaving HIV medications back in the hands of more than 12,000 Floridians. That only happened because patients and advocates spoke out and demanded action,” Smith, an Orlando Democrat, said in a statement.

“I’m grateful to the advocates and the bipartisan group of lawmakers who came together quickly to deliver this short-term fix. But let’s be clear, this is only a bridge. We need a long-term solution that guarantees consistent, uninterrupted access to treatment.”

The Legislature is still negotiating the Fiscal Year 2026-27 budget and is expected to return to Tallahassee to finish it after the Regular Session. That budget could contain additional funding for July 1 onward.

“The Legislature and the DOH must pursue every available option to keep the program solvent, including Medicaid waiver programs, alternative insurance strategies that maximize rebates, and other cost-controlling measures,” Smith said in a statement.

Florida Equality added, “Let’s be clear, the fight isn’t over. Lawmakers must follow through with long-term funding in the state budget to ensure that this does not become a public health crisis once again.”