THE BILL ITSELF

HR 8127

Autoimmune Awareness Month

underlined language is being added; struck language is being deleted. Line numbers are the Legislature's own — the same ones amendments cite.

1 House Resolution

2 A resolution designating March 2026 as "Autoimmune

3 Awareness Month" in Florida.

5 WHEREAS, researchers have identified more than 140

6 autoimmune diseases, many of which are chronic, debilitating,

7 and currently have no known cure, and

8 WHEREAS, autoimmune diseases can affect nearly every part

9 of the human body, including the blood, blood vessels, muscles,

10 nervous system, gastrointestinal tract, endocrine glands, and

11 multiple organ systems, and can be life-threatening, and

12 WHEREAS, autoimmune diseases display a high degree of

13 comorbidity within individuals and families, suggesting shared

14 risk factors, and

15 WHEREAS, autoimmune diseases have a major impact on the

16 individuals and families they affect, as well as our society and

17 health care costs, and current projections suggest that

18 autoimmune diseases may soon take their place among the

19 predominant medical disorders, and

20 WHEREAS, approximately 8 percent of the United States

21 population is living with an autoimmune disease, and nearly 80

22 percent of those with an autoimmune disease are women, and

23 WHEREAS, autoimmune diseases in children are rare and they

24 can be challenging to diagnose and difficult to treat, and

25 WHEREAS, diagnosing autoimmune conditions remains

26 difficult, with studies indicating that up to 76 percent of

27 patients receive at least one incorrect diagnosis before the

28 underlying cause is identified, and

29 WHEREAS, delays in diagnosis can be frustrating and take a

30 toll on both physical and mental health and can also result in

31 significant harm, and

32 WHEREAS, the Autoimmune Association has reported that it

33 takes on average 4.5 years for a patient to receive an

34 autoimmune disease diagnosis, and

35 WHEREAS, "Autoimmune Awareness Month" serves as a valuable

36 opportunity to help educate the public about autoimmune

37 diseases, support individuals and families, and promote greater

38 understanding of these diseases, NOW, THEREFORE,

40 Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of

41 Florida:

43 That March 2026 is designated as "Autoimmune Awareness

44 Month" in Florida.