2026 Education Bills Headed to Gov. DeSantis’ Desk to Be Signed into Law.
Below are education bills that have passed both chambers of the legislature and are headed to Governor DeSantis’ desk to be signed into law. Click on the bill name to view the finalized language on the legislation. If Governor DeSantis signs the bills, they will become effective on July 1, 2026.
| SB 0178 | Athletics in Public K-12 Schools by Jones |
| Athletics in Public K-12 Schools; Requiring the Florida High School Athletic Association to adopt bylaws authorizing a head coach to support the welfare of a student by using personal funds to provide certain effects to the student; requiring the head coach to report such use of personal funds to the association; providing that such use of personal funds is presumed not to be an impermissible benefit, etc. Effective Date: 7/1/2026 | |
| HB 0453 | Requirements for a Standard High School Diploma by Gossett-Seidman |
| Requirements for a Standard High School Diploma: Provides that completion of 2 years of marching band satisfies both physical education & performing arts requirements for standard high school diploma & that students with disabilities may participate in Special Olympics to meet physical education requirement for standard high school diploma. Effective Date: July 1, 2026 | |
| SB 0538 | Extracurricular Activities by Simon |
| Extracurricular Activities; Authorizing district school boards to adopt policies for the use of certain funds to provide funding to athletic coaches or activity sponsors of extracurricular activities; revising eligibility requirements for a student to participate in an interscholastic or intrascholastic extracurricular activity; deleting requirements for the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) to facilitate a program for private school students to participate in an interscholastic or intrascholastic sport; authorizing a public school to assess an activity fee for certain students, etc. Effective Date: 7/1/2026 | |
| HB 0561 | Educator Preparation and Certification by Gerwig |
| Educator Preparation and Certification: Revises provisions relating to educator preparation institutes, award of temporary educator certifications, & reinstatement & renewal of professional educator certificates; & revises requirements for Florida Center for Teaching Excellence. Effective Date: July 1, 2026 | |
| HB 0753 | School Counselors by Hunschofsky |
| School Counselors: Requires evaluation criteria for certified school counselors to be based on specified standards; provides that persons seeking employment as school counselors are exempt from specified educator certification requirements; & provides that school districts may require such persons to meet certain requirements as condition of employment. Effective Date: July 1, 2026 | |
| HB 0757 | School Safety by Salzman |
| School Safety: Requires sheriffs to assist public postsecondary educational institutions in implementing guardian programs under certain provisions; authorizes public postsecondary educational institutions to participate in the school guardian program; requires a sheriff to establish a guardian training program or contract with certain other sheriff’s offices to do so in certain circumstances; creates the offense of discharging a weapon or firearm within 1,000 feet of a school, etc. Effective Date: upon becoming a law | |
| SB 0824 | School District Unimproved Real Property by Truenow |
| School District Unimproved Real Property; Requiring school districts to annually submit complete inventories of unimproved real property owned by the district to the Department of Education; requiring the department to compile and publish such data in a statewide report, etc. Effective Date: 7/1/2026 | |
| HB 0851 | Professional Learning for Instructional and School Administrative Personnel by Long |
| Professional Learning for Instructional and School Administrative Personnel: Requires certain professional learning systems to provide at least one autism-specific professional learning opportunity. Effective Date: July 1, 2026 | |
| HB 1073 | School Districts by Koster |
| School Districts: Provides members of district school board with specified rights relating to school district documents & budget matters; requires that certain documents from district school board meetings be kept as public records; requires that full line-item budget items be posted on school district’s website; requires district school boards to adopt policy prohibiting requirement that district employees be required or incentivized to sign nondisclosure agreement or confidentiality agreement. Effective Date: July 1, 2026 | |
| HB 1115 | Grants for Genetic Counseling Education by Anderson |
| Grants for Genetic Counseling Education: Creates Genetic Counseling Education Enhancement Grant Program within State University System; provides requirements for program. Effective Date: July 1, 2026 | |
| HB 1201 | Student Health and Safety by Mooney Jr. |
| Student Health and Safety: Revises DOH responsibilities for educational programs concerning epilepsy; revises requirements for student’s individualized seizure action plan; revises list of which employees must complete training in care of students with epilepsy & seizure disorders; & provides that training is valid for 5 years. Effective Date: July 1, 2026 | |
| HB 1279 | Education by Kincart Jonsson |
| Education: Revises provisions relating to vocational rehabilitation services, dual enrollment, FCS institutions, state universities, & career centers. Effective Date: July 1, 2026 | |
| HB 4027 | Hillsborough County Public Schools, Hillsborough County by Owen |
| Hillsborough County Public Schools, Hillsborough County: Provides for elected superintendent of schools; requires referendum. Effective Date: upon becoming a law, except that section 2 shall take effect only upon approval by a majority vote of those qualified electors of Hillsborough County voting in a referendum to be held in conjunction with the 2026 general election | |
Posted on March 15, 2026, in Uncategorized and tagged college, education, news, politics, teaching. Bookmark the permalink. Leave a comment.
Stephanie Busin 
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