Session Update
2025 Legislative Session Week 8 – April 21-25, 2025
Week 8 of the legislative session is complete, and committees have completed their work. Any bill not heard in all committees of reference is no longer eligible for passage this session. While it is probable the session will not end on May 2 as scheduled, policy bills are on agenda to be heard on the floor during Week 9. We are still waiting for Budget Conference to begin as major differences still remain between the House and the Senate for this year’s spending allocations. The legislature will either need to extend the session or schedule a special session before June 30 to pass the budget for this year.
Nursing Education Programs
HB 919 Overdorf/SB 526 Harrell
Reforms nursing education program approval processes and requirements in Florida. Requires Board of Nursing to deny applications if a program has faced adverse regulatory action in any U.S. jurisdiction.
Mandates revocation of approval for programs with adverse regulatory actions against them by another U.S. jurisdiction. Revises application content including the inclusion of the nursing program director's name and stricter faculty qualification requirements. Outlines specific percentages for clinical training and simulation in curriculum. Instates comprehensive evaluation and standardized admission criteria.
Establishes an exit examination for students, posting average results on the program's website. Adds additional reporting requirements like exit examination results in annual reports. Introduces mandatory remediation for programs with below-standard graduate passage rates. Authorizes on-site evaluations by the Department of Health and considers denial of such inspections as legal violations. Extends the rulemaking authority of the Board relating to the enforcement of accountability standards. Enhances the role of the Florida Center for Nursing in evaluating program-specific data including exit examination outcomes and the impact of remediation. Passed the House and waiting for passage in the Senate.
Education/Higher Education
HB 1307 Temple/SB 1624 Calatayud
Enhances various aspects of Florida's educational system through numerous provisions.
Provides tuition assistance to active Florida State Guard members, allowing them six fee-waived credit hours per term at state universities and Florida College System institutions, on a space-available basis.
Revises the duties of the Office of Ocean Economy to include stronger workforce development and collaboration across universities and industries to enhance the ocean economy. Specifies that the President of the University of Florida appoints members to the scientific advisory council within the Florida Center for Brain Tumor Research. Extends the maximum term length for members of the Assistive Technology Advisory Council from three to five years. Modifies the annual reporting deadline for apprenticeship and preapprenticeship programs to November 30. Adapts the administration of the apprenticeship training program to emphasize inclusion of underrepresented groups. Introduces a "nonresident online student" classification for tuition purposes in state universities and Florida College System institutions. Specifies that the out-of-state fee for nonresident online students should be based on market rates and exceed typical out-of-state fees. Repeals a fee waiver provision for certain students with grandparent residency in the state. Mandates that institutions benefiting from the PIPELINE Fund allocate funds specifically to health care-related programs. No activity this week.
Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program
HB 1107 Kincart Jonsson/SB 270 Burgess
Amends Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program eligibility requirements. Permits students who earn a high school diploma from a non-Florida school to qualify for a scholarship if they live with a parent or guardian who is on, or has retired from, a military or public service assignment away from Florida within 12 months before the student's high school graduation. No activity this week.
Educator Preparation
HB 875 Rizzo/SB 1590 Burgess
Bills seek to streamline teacher preparation, certification, and professional development requirements to strengthen educator quality and accountability. SB 1590 establishes the Task Force for Educator Preparation to revise and enhance educator training, assessment, and professional development by 2028. Passed the House and waiting for passage in the Senate.
Education
HB 1255 Trabulsky/SB 1618 Calatayud
Bills propose significant modifications to Florida's education system, ranging from prekindergarten through grade 12 and extending to higher education in SB 1618. Key provisions that impact the SUS. Fee waivers for Florida State Guard members. Makes modifications to out-of-state fee waivers for students with Florida resident grandparent waivers. Expands the duties of The Office of Ocean Economy at Florida Atlantic University. Adds Classic Learning Test (CLT) as an alternative to SAT/ACT for preeminent state research university eligibility. Both bills expand authority regarding FDA-approved emergency opioid antagonists. Passed the House and waiting for passage in the Senate.
Higher Education
HB 1321 Salzman
Implements various changes regarding governance and regulations in Florida's higher education institutions. Requires Board of Governors citizen members to meet financial disclosure requirements from January 1, 2026. Revises term limits for members and chairs of the State Board of Education, allowing only two terms for members and a single 2-year term for chairs. Sets term limits for members and chairs of Florida College System institution boards of trustees. Removes the State Board of Education's approval for actions related to the president of a Florida College System institution and mandates the formation of a presidential search committee. Requires all appointed members of the Board of Governors to be Florida residents and sets a single 7-year term limit. Specifies that state university presidents are appointed by the university board of trustees without needing confirmation from the Board of Governors, also requiring a presidential search committee. Updates term limits and appointment considerations for university boards of trustees. Mandates inclusion of supplemental textbooks and instructional materials in course lists, and revises syllabi posting requirements to include detailed course information. Repeals statute relating to applicants for president of state university or Florida College System institution. Passed the House and waiting for passage in the Senate.
Higher Education
SB 1726 Calatayud
Amends various statutes to impose new regulations and processes regarding the governance and operation of higher education institutions in Florida. Requires all citizen members of the Board of Governors to comply with financial disclosure requirements specifically outlined in the State Constitution. Revises the term limits for members and the chair of the State Board of Education and the Florida College System institution boards of trustees, limiting service terms to prevent extensive consecutive reappointments. Establishes that the appointment of state university and Florida College System institution presidents will be decided by their respective boards without requiring approval from the State Board of Education or the Board of Governors. Mandates the creation of search committees for university and college presidential appointments, detailing committee composition rules to include diverse stakeholders but exclude direct subordinates and certain education officials. Implements residency requirements for appointed members of the Board of Governors, stipulating that they must be residents of Florida and shall serve a single 7-year term. Introduces detailed requirements for textbooks and instructional materials in higher education institutions, including the publication of syllabi and extensive material details to optimize affordability and accessibility. Specifies the structure and duties of presidential search committees for universities, outlining the inclusive but independent selection process. Repeals existing statutory provisions concerning applications for president positions at universities and Florida College System institutions. No activity this week.