FL H5003

Medicaid & Health Care Programs: Authorizes AHCA to seek additional spending authority and realign funding across multiple Medicaid supplemental payment programs, including the Hospital Directed Payment Program, Low Income Pool, Disproportionate Share Hospital, physician supplemental payments, and Florida Kidcare; requires teaching hospital participation in the Low Income Pool as a condition of participating in directed payment and indirect medical education programs; and mandates replacement of the Florida Medicaid Management Information System (FMMIS) with the modular Florida Health Care Connection (FX) system under an executive steering committee structure.

Education Funding & University Reserves: Incorporates by reference the FEFP calculations and school readiness reimbursement rates dated March 28, 2025; requires universities with carry forward balances exceeding the 7% minimum to commit 12% of their FY 2025-2026 state operating fund carry forward to incomplete PECO capital outlay projects, with new detailed documentation requirements for prior-year spending plans.

Prescription Drug Pricing: Directs AHCA, in consultation with DOH, APD, DCF, and the Department of Corrections, to competitively procure a vendor to negotiate prices for prescribed drugs and biologics—including insulin and epinephrine—with the vendor compensated on a contingency basis from achieved savings.

Environmental & Water Resources: Continues Land Acquisition Trust Fund distributions including a minimum of the lesser of 25% or $200 million annually for Everglades restoration (CERP, EAA Reservoir at $64 million/year, Lake Okeechobee Watershed at $50 million/year), $100 million for land acquisition, and the lesser of 7.6% or $50 million for spring restoration; requires DEP to include 2025-2026 GAA-funded water initiatives in the Water Quality Improvement Grant Program.

State Workforce & Benefits Administration: Requires DMS to assess a monthly health insurance charge to each state agency for every vacant position eligible for coverage, equal to the employer's cost of individual coverage, effective July 1, 2025, with agencies remitting payment within 30 days from existing salaries and benefits allocations; positions fully funded with federal funds are exempt.

Criminal Justice & Court System: Extends DOC authority to request additional positions if inmate population exceeds February 2025 projections by 1% for two consecutive months or 2% in any month; sets FY 2025-2026 court-appointed counsel compensation caps ranging from $2,000 (misdemeanors) to $25,000 (capital cases at trial), with hourly overage rates capped at $75 (noncapital) and $100 (capital); and authorizes the Chief Justice to receive temporary trust fund loans for court operations.

State Agency Fiscal Controls & Travel: Limits appropriation transfers between budget categories to 5% or $250,000 (whichever is greater) with 3-day advance notice; restricts state employee travel to mission-critical activities with written agency head approval required for out-of-state, foreign, conference, or training travel; caps lodging at $225/day for meetings and conferences; and freezes legislative salaries at the level in effect July 1, 2010.

Emergency Management & Disaster Recovery: Authorizes the Division of Emergency Management to increase budget authority for federally declared disaster reimbursements; extends the Triumph Gulf Coast Trust Fund for hurricane recovery revolving loan programs for businesses impacted by Hurricane Michael; and maintains the Division's exemption from state data center requirements through July 1, 2026.

Medical Marijuana Rulemaking & Other Regulatory Extensions: Extends the exemption of medical marijuana rules from standard rulemaking requirements for rules adopted before July 1, 2025, and requires DOH to initiate nonemergency rulemaking by July 1, 2026; extends county Medicaid contribution provisions, behavioral health managing entity carry-forward authority, and juvenile detention county payment enforcement mechanisms through FY 2025-2026.

Technology & Reporting Requirements: Mandates that agencies inventory all ongoing technology projects exceeding $1 million cumulative cost in legislative budget requests; requires DFS to continue replacing FLAIR and CMS with the Florida PALM integrated enterprise system under a 15-member executive steering committee; directs agencies to review all statutorily required reports and recommend modifications or repeals by October 15, 2025; and requires the Department of Commerce to submit an annual reemployment assistance system modernization report by September 1, 2025.