Background on Hope Florida’s Mission
Hope Florida, a welfare initiative championed by Florida’s First Lady, Casey DeSantis, was designed to transition individuals off government assistance and into community-based support. The initiative began in September 2021 with the goal of reducing state dependency. Over time, it became the center of a controversial investigation, raising questions about the misuse of state funds and connections to political campaigns.

Timeline of Key Events:

1. Sept. 9, 2021: Hope Florida Launches
   The program was created to connect Floridians in need with community organizations, focusing on helping them become self-sufficient and reduce reliance on government aid.

2. Aug. 25, 2023: Hope Florida Foundation Established
   The Hope Florida Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, was formed to support the initiative. These types of organizations are legally bound to avoid political lobbying or campaigning.

3. Aug. 2024: Failure to Publish Required Documents
   The foundation failed to publish its tax returns, fiscal plans, ethics codes, and results, which are legally required to be made public each year.

4. Sept. 27, 2024: Centene Settlement and Donation
   Florida settled a $67 million dispute with Centene Corp., a Medicaid contractor. A $10 million donation from Centene was directed to the Hope Florida Foundation as part of the settlement.

5. Oct. 2024: Political Involvement
   The money was used to fund grants to nonprofits that later funneled millions into a political action committee (PAC) associated with James Uthmeier, DeSantis’ former chief of staff. This PAC was active in opposing a recreational marijuana referendum.

6. Oct. 16-23, 2024: Fund Transfers
   The Hope Florida Foundation transferred $5 million to Secure Florida’s Future and Save Our Society From Drugs. These organizations subsequently made substantial donations to the PAC supporting anti-marijuana initiatives.

7. Nov. 5, 2024: Marijuana Amendment Defeated
   The Florida amendment on recreational marijuana was narrowly defeated, failing to meet the 60% threshold despite majority support.

8. Feb. 17, 2025: Uthmeier Appointed State Attorney General
   Uthmeier, central to the controversy, was appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis as the state’s Attorney General.

9. April 2025: Investigations Begin

   • April 11: The Miami Herald and Tampa Bay Times reported on the questionable flow of funds from Hope Florida to politically connected nonprofits.

   • April 15: Joshua Hay, the foundation’s board chair, testified before a state subcommittee, acknowledging procedural failures but defending the program.

   • April 16: The Hope Florida Foundation released its tax documents and bylaws publicly.

10. April 22-24, 2025: Further Revelations and Political Fallout

    • Uthmeier defended the legality of the fund transfers, while Republican Rep. Alex Andrade, leading the investigation, accused key figures of money laundering and fraud.

    • Gov. Ron DeSantis dismissed the investigation as a politically motivated attack on his wife ahead of the 2026 election.

    • House Speaker Daniel Perez confirmed that the investigation was ongoing.

Key Allegations and Investigations
The central issue revolves around the use of $10 million from the Medicaid settlement, which was transferred to nonprofit groups with political ties. These groups later contributed significant sums to a PAC that fought against a marijuana legalization referendum. Despite assurances from DeSantis and Hope Florida supporters that the initiative has helped thousands transition off public aid, critics and lawmakers are questioning the integrity of the foundation’s financial practices.

The investigation has raised doubts about the transparency and ethics of the Hope Florida program, and ongoing scrutiny suggests that it could have major political implications for both DeSantis’ gubernatorial future and his broader national ambitions.