2026 Florida Legislative Agenda

Victory in the fight against cancer requires bold new public policies that promote cancer prevention, early detection of cancer, and expand access to quality, affordable health care. Lawmakers make many decisions that impact the lives of Floridians impacted by cancer and their leadership is vital to defeating this disease. In 2026, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) will work with the Florida Legislature on initiatives to provide affordable, adequate access to health insurance including Medicaid, and to ensure adequate funding for cancer research, lifesaving cancer screening programs, and comprehensive tobacco education and prevention. We will be making the following fact-based policies a priority and ask for your support:

Ensuring Access to Quality Care

• Medicaid Expansion: ACS CAN will advocate for low-income individuals and families to have access to health insurance coverage and non-emergent transportation services through the state Medicaid program. We will advocate for full Medicaid expansion for Floridians at 138% of the federal poverty level.
• Medicaid Defense: The preservation of eligibility, coverage, and access to Medicaid remains critically important for many low-income state residents who depend on the program for cancer and chronic disease prevention, as well as early detection, diagnostic, and treatment services. ACS CAN will work to ensure Medicaid enrollees have adequate access and coverage and will oppose proposals that create barriers or reduce access to care for cancer patients, survivors, and those who could be diagnosed with cancer.
• Affordable, Adequate Health Insurance: ACS CAN will advocate for policies that ensure access to quality, affordable and comprehensive health insurance including Medicaid and will support efforts to curb the availability of inadequate health plans.

Cancer Prevention and Early Detection

• Breast and Cervical Cancer: ACS CAN will advocate to make permanent the $3.6 million in state funding for the Mary Brogan Breast & Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program, Florida’s breast and cervical cancer screening and treatment program for low-income uninsured and underinsured women administered by the Florida Department of Health. This program provides medically underserved women access to screenings and diagnostic services, including mammograms, Pap tests, HPV tests and diagnostic testing if abnormal results are found. During the 2025 Legislative Session, the state dedicated an additional $1.83 million in non-recurring funding to the base $1.83 million. ACS CAN will work to ensure the full $3.6 million is recurring in the state budget.

Cancer Research Funding

• Research Appropriations: ACS CAN supports the state’s continued prioritization of cancer research and innovation through the Casey DeSantis Cancer Research Program and the Florida Cancer Innovation Fund and will advocate to maintain, at a minimum, funding for these critical programs. ACS CAN also supports the state’s continued investment in cancer and biomedical research grant programs, including the James and Esther King Biomedical Research Program and the BankheadColey Cancer Research Program, and request that program grants continue to be awarded on a peer-reviewed, competitive basis.

Reducing the Toll of Tobacco 

• Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Funding: ACS CAN supports the continued, full implementation of Article X, Section 27 of the Florida Constitution. Funding allocated for the Tobacco Prevention and Education program is approximately $92.4 million for Fiscal Year 2026-27 and allocated based on the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Best Practices. This program should continue to be fully funded and permitted to incorporate education around ecigarettes to address the youth e-cigarette epidemic and continue reductions in use for other tobacco products

For more information, contact: Susan Harbin, Florida Senior Government Relations Director, ACS CAN 

[email protected]; (770) 546-8845

ACS CAN is making cancer a top priority for public officials and candidates at the federal, state, and local levels. ACS CAN empowers advocates across the country to make their voices heard and influence evidence-based public policy change as well as legislative and regulatory solutions that will reduce the cancer burden. As the American Cancer Society’s nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy affiliate, ACS CAN is critical to the fight for a world without cancer. For more information, please visit www.fightcancer.org.