Session Update
2026 Legislative Session Week 2 – January 19-23, 2026
Week 2 of this year’s Legislative Session is complete. The committees began hearing bills and working to move key legislation forward. The House and Senate Budget committees will continue to hold hearings next week as they craft this year’s budget.
Nursing Education Programs
HB 121/SB 254
Strengthen nursing education program accountability by revising application and reporting requirements, imposing stricter standards for approval and compliance, and removing certain accreditation extensions. Has passed the House, in Senate Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services.
Technology Education
HB 1503/SB 1694
Expands general education core course requirements by adding technology courses at public postsecondary institutions. Requires technology courses to address computer science through artificial intelligence, robotics, software engineering, computer networks, database systems, and cybersecurity. No Activity this week.
Education
HB 1279/SB 1052
Requiring each Florida College System institution and state university to waive tuition and fees for members of the Florida State Guard if certain conditions are met; prohibiting a Florida College System institution or state university from admitting a student who is not a citizen of the United States or lawfully present therein; revising eligibility requirements for the Graduation Alternative to Traditional Education (GATE) Program; prohibiting a Florida College System institution or state university from imposing certain graduation requirements; revising conditions for a student to meet the definition of homeless children and youths for purposes of tuition and fee exemptions. No Activity this week.
Educator Certifications and Training
HB 23/SB 510
Revises core curricula for certain teacher preparation programs to include training relating to mass casualty incidents; requires certain postsecondary educator preparation institution programs to include training relating to mass casualty incidents; revises certified educator eligibility criteria to require such persons to receive training in mass casualty incidents; requires persons who hold adjunct teaching certificates to receive training in mass casualty incidents. No Activity this week.
Educator Preparation and Certification
HB 561/SB 1718
Authorizing an educator preparation institute to allow certain program participants to enroll in introductory coursework; revising the criteria for the award of a temporary educator certification to include certain persons with expired professional certificates; requiring that subject area coverages and endorsements for a certificate holder be reinstated with the certificate holder’s professional certificate; requiring the Florida Center for Teaching Excellence to collaborate with the David C. Anchin Center for the Advancement of Teaching for specified purposes. No Activity this week.
Public Postsecondary Education Safety Policies and Procedures
HB 77/SB 176
Requiring state universities and Florida College System institutions to adopt and implement specified policies and procedures relating to safety; providing requirements for such policies and procedures; requiring state universities and Florida College System institutions to annually review and update the policies and procedures. No Activity this week.
School Safety
HB 757/SB 896
Authorizes public postsecondary institutions to participate in school guardian program; authorizes certain college or university employees, faculty members, & students to openly carry handgun or carry concealed weapon or concealed firearm into college or university facility; creates offense of discharging weapon or firearm within 1,000 feet of school; provides exception; provides that person arrested for certain offenses must be held in custody until brought before court for admittance to bail; ranks offense created by act on offense severity ranking chart; requires that postsecondary institutions be made aware of mobile suspicious activity reporting tool in specified manner; requires public postsecondary educational institutions to promote use of such tool; requires transfer of specified educational records for certain students; requires State Board of Education & Board of Governors to adopt rules & regulations; requires certain trainings to include specified information relating to school safety; defines "public postsecondary educational institution"; authorizes such institutions to participate in certain programs and appoint certified school guardians; requires such institutions to adopt specified emergency response plans, provide specified training, post specified information, & adopt threat management processes; authorizes State Board of Education & Board of Governors to adopt rules & regulations.No Activity this week.
Political Activity on Public Institutions of Higher Education
HB 725/SB 1736
Defining the term “public institution of higher education”; requiring such institutions to promote specified discussion and debates; requiring such institutions to take specified actions relating to candidates for public office; requiring certain persons or entities to obtain prior approval from such institutions before conducting specified political activities on campus, etc. No Activity this week.
Foreign Students Enrolled in Public Postsecondary Educational Institutions
HB 721/SB 1276
Requires FCS institutions & state universities to limit number of enrolled students who are citizens of foreign country & who are not permanent residents of United States to specified percentage of students enrolled at institution or university. No Activity this week.