House passes reforms after Hope Florida scandal

The House has approved changes in the wake of the Hope Florida scandal to add more oversight and transparency for settlement funds after the state funneled millions of dollars from a Medicaid settlement for political purposes.

And the push was unanimous, with the House passing the measure (HB 593) 116-0. But its fate remains unclear in the Senate, where a companion bill (SB 802) has not been called to a Committee vote.

HB 593 was sponsored by Rep. Alex Andrade, a Republican who has been a fierce critic of Gov. Ron DeSantis.

“Some folks just don’t feel like telling you the wrong that they’re doing. And we as the Legislature have an obligation to direct and oversee the executive in these circumstances,” Andrade said on the House floor. “This is an important policy. Otherwise, you’re going to have situations where money is taken that is owed to the state and diverted to improper purposes.”

Under the bill, the state would be banned from directing money from a lawsuit settlement to a third party as a condition of the settlement.

Last year, Andrade chaired a House Subcommittee that probed into why Centene paid $10 million to the Hope Florida Foundation as part of a $67 million Medicaid settlement. The money was eventually funneled to a political committee run by then-DeSantis Chief of Staff James Uthmeier to fight the marijuana legalization ballot initiative that ultimately failed in 2024.

“Rep. Andrade, is this bill related to what happened with the Hope Florida scandal?” House Democratic Leader Fentrice Driskell asked point blank on the House floor Wednesday.

Andrade answered yes. “We had no idea for months that $10 million dollars had been properly diverted to James Uthmeier’s PAC.”

Uthmeier, today the Attorney General, has denied any wrongdoing and has not been charged with a crime.

HB 593 would also require a state agency receiving settlement dollars to give written notification within 10 days to a group of people that includes the Senate President, the House Speaker, the Senate and House minority leaders, and the Attorney General.

Lawmakers expressed concern that the Medicaid settlement had been received and diverted secretly.

“When I became aware of Hope Florida, I went back through my records, because actually as Minority Leader, I’m entitled to receive notification of settlements with the state. But there was none. And there’s been no accountability for that,” Driskell said.

On the House floor, several Democrats praised Andrade’s bill. No Republican, other than Andrade, spoke during Wednesday’s debate that lasted just under 10 minutes. Democrats said the bill was important for good governance and tracking taxpayer money. 

“The fact that you took it upon yourself to investigate even though you’re scrutinized, you stand up for what’s right,” Democratic Rep. Robin Bartleman told Andrade, who has frequently been in a war of words with DeSantis and Uthmeier. “No matter what party you are, you should want these provisions in place.”

Still, a lack of clarity in the Senate remains.

“If it is not passed in both chambers this year, my hope is that it comes back next year because it’s a concern,” said Andrade, who is term-limited.