Mar. 13, 2026 at 3:55pm

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The Florida House and Senate unanimously approved a $31 million funding package for the state’s AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP), which provides access to costly HIV/AIDS medications that reduce the virus to undetectable levels. The move comes after the DeSantis administration sought to cut eligibility and coverage for the program, sparking legal challenges and concerns over access to critical drugs.

Why it matters

The ADAP program is a lifeline for thousands of low-income Floridians living with HIV/AIDS, ensuring they can afford and access the medications that suppress the virus and prevent transmission. The bipartisan legislative action to restore funding prevents disruptions in care and sends a message that access to HIV treatment is a priority for the state.

The details

The $31 million in funding will keep the ADAP program operating through June 30, 2026, maintaining eligibility at 400% of the federal poverty level. The legislation also requires the Department of Health to directly distribute medications to enrollees, a change from the previous insurance assistance model. Additionally, the DOH must provide detailed monthly reports to legislative budget leaders on program finances, enrollment, and prescription data.

The House and Senate voted unanimously to pass the ADAP funding bill on March 13, 2026.The DeSantis administration had previously sought to reduce ADAP eligibility and coverage starting on February 28, 2026.
The players

Florida Legislature

The state’s legislative body that approved the $31 million in funding to maintain the AIDS Drug Assistance Program.

Gov. Ron DeSantis

The Florida governor who will decide whether to sign the ADAP funding bill passed by the legislature.

Florida Department of Health

The state agency that oversees the ADAP program and had previously sought to reduce eligibility and coverage, sparking legal challenges.

AIDS Healthcare Foundation

The organization that sued the DeSantis administration in court to try to halt the proposed ADAP cuts.

Rep. Michele Rayner

A Democratic state representative who praised the bipartisan effort to restore ADAP funding, calling it a “life-saving program.”

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What they’re saying

“No one in the state of Florida should lose access to the medication keeping them alive because of a budget dispute. These are our neighbors. These are people who did everything right. Today, the Legislature stood with them.”

— Esteban Wood, Director of Advocacy and Legislative Affairs, AIDS Healthcare Foundation (Press Statement)

“This is when the process works, right? This is the beauty of the process and making sure that our people are taken care of. Because this is not just an issue that is limited to one group of people or one area of people. It is literally an issue that that affects all of us, and if all of us are not well, if all of us are not healthy, then none of us are well and none of us are healthy.”

— Rep. Michele Rayner, State Representative, District 70 (Florida Phoenix)

What’s next

Gov. Ron DeSantis will have 7 days to sign or veto the ADAP funding bill if it is sent to him while the legislature is still in session, or 15 days if sent after the session ends. The Department of Health has already begun preparations to quickly implement the new program rules if the governor signs the legislation.

The takeaway

The bipartisan effort to restore ADAP funding in Florida underscores the critical importance of ensuring access to life-saving HIV/AIDS medications, regardless of income or background. This episode highlights the need for sustainable, long-term solutions to support vulnerable populations and public health priorities in the state.