Capitol Connection

2026 LEGISLATIVE SESSION: WEEK 3

As the 2026 Florida Legislative Session entered its third official week (January 26–30), committees across both chambers continued deep dives into some of the session’s most consequential policy areas including education, early learning, healthcare, child welfare, and juvenile justice setting the stage for major floor debates later in the session.


Education

Education policy remained a focal point of hearings and committee referrals this week. The House Careers & Workforce Subcommittee advanced House Bill 1279, a comprehensive education measure impacting vocational rehab services, dual-enrollment, and the structure of Florida College System institutions and state universities; the bill now sits in the House Budget Committee as lawmakers wrestle with state education funding priorities.


In parallel, bills reshaping student supports moved through respective committees: both SB 72 and its House companion HB 615 (Individual Education Plans) made progress, underscoring ongoing focus on individualized services for students with exceptional needs, including parental access to educational documentation and orientation processes.


Meanwhile, pre-K through grade-12 discussions spilled into broader education panels. The House Education & Employment Committee took up HB 1119, a proposal broadly restricting how school districts evaluate literary and artistic content in school libraries, highlighting intense debate about instructional content and school district oversight.


Early Learning & Child Care

Early learning issues also surfaced this week. House Bill 765, addressing licensing standards for childcare facilities and establishing an Early Learning Endowment Fund within the Department of Education, was formally introduced and referenced across multiple committees — reflecting growing legislative attention to early childhood workforce supports and quality standards.


Healthcare Policy Committees

Healthcare policy saw pivotal movement this week in the Legislature. The Senate Committee on Health Policy advanced SB 1756, the so-called Medical Freedom bill, with a narrow committee vote that expands reasons parents may opt their children out of school immunization requirements and revises certain healthcare provider obligations; the measure also includes provisions allowing pharmacists to dispense ivermectin without a prescription under specific conditions.


Child Welfare

On the child welfare front, the Senate Committee on Children, Families, and Elder Affairs continued working through several bills with implications for protective services and family custody processes. SB 42 focusing on how child protective investigations incorporate medical evaluations and consultation with physicians or advanced practice nurses was favorably reported out and is now advancing toward appropriations consideration.


In the House, HB 1331, a comprehensive child welfare bill, moved into its first subcommittee assignment, signaling legislative interest in modernizing statutes governing protective investigations and services for at-risk children.


Juvenile Justice & Related Appropriations

While there were fewer marquee juvenile justice bills on committee agendas this week, the broader Children, Families, and Elder Affairs and Health & Human Services committees included discussions around custody rights, temporary guardianship procedures, and Medicaid eligibility pathways for working adults with disabilities, which intersect with juvenile welfare and youth stability outcomes.


Looking Ahead

Week 3 officially concluded on January 29, providing a clearer picture of which bills have momentum and which are still needing introduction and spotlighting the next critical phase: upcoming budget proposals and initial House/Senate appropriations. As committees prepare for Week 4, legislators are positioned to weigh competing policy priorities with the session now one-third complete. 

  

Until next time!

 

Sincerely,

 

The Florida Alliance of Children’s Councils & Trusts


Voted Favorably By Committee

Did Not Pass Committee Vote

Temporarily Postponed in Committee

Referred to Committee but Not Yet Heard

Bill has not yet been referred to committees

Healthy Development

HB 233 - Child Restraint Requirements

Rep. Cobb

❶❷

SB 1384 - Child Restraint Requirements

Sen. Rodriguez

❶❷❸

These similar bills strengthen child restraint requirements by requiring children up to age 8 to use a booster seat, adding exceptions for height and certain circumstances, and preserving penalties for violations.

SB 368 - Presumptive Medicaid Eligibility for Pregnant Women

Sen. Davis

❶❷❸

HB 1351 - Presumptive Medicaid Eligibility for Pregnant Women

Rep. Daniels, F.

❶❷❸

These identical bills expands qualified providers authorized to conduct presumptive Medicaid eligibility determinations for pregnant women and ensure extended, uninterrupted coverage of medically necessary services during this period.

HB 515 - Doula Support for Healthy Births Pilot Program

Rep. Campbell

❶❷❸

SB 514 - Doula Support for Healthy Births Pilot Program

Sen. Osgood

❶❷❸

These identical bills expands qualified providers authorized to conduct presumptive Medicaid eligibility determinations for pregnant women and ensure extended, uninterrupted coverage of medically necessary services during this period.

HB 693 - Health & Human Services

Rep. Redondo

These comparable bills transform health care regulation by improving Medicaid program oversight, repealing certificate-of-need requirements, establishing interstate licensure compacts, and revising licensure, eligibility, and scope of practice provisions across multiple health professions.

HB 363 - Dental Therapy

Rep. Chaney

❶❷

SB 1758 - Public Assistance

Sen. Gaetz

❶❷


SB 732 - Education of Abusive Head Trauma

Sen. Osgood

❶❷❸

This bill expands evidence-based education on abusive head trauma through new distribution requirements and a statewide public awareness campaign.

HB 1029 - Maternal Health and Early Learning

Rep. Hinson

❶❷❸

SB 1508 - Maternal Health and Early Learning

Sen. Davis

❶❷❸

These similar bills expand access to maternal health services, remove restrictions on birthing centers, authorize doula and midwife services in hospitals, and revise early learning and school attendance requirements.

HB 1133 - Pediatric Behavioral and Mental Health Screenings

Rep. Tendrich

❶❷❸

SB 1302 - Pediatric Behavioral and Mental Health Screenings

Sen. Rouson

❶❷❸

These similar bills establish new statewide standards and protocols for pediatric behavioral and mental health screenings under the Medicaid program.

Early Learning

HB 345 - Funding for the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program

Rep. Edmonds

❶❷❸

SB 512 - Funding for the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program

Sen. Osgood

❶❷❸

These identical bills revise funding for the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program by recalculating and adjusting the base student allocation annually while allowing for additional legislative support.

HB 715 - School and Child Care Facility Emergency Alerts

Rep. Young

❶❷❸

SB 814 - Emergency Alerts

Sen. Jones

❶❷❸

These identical bills create a new emergency alert system requiring law enforcement to notify schools, child care facilities, and the public when an imminent threat exists.

HB 765 - Child Care and Early Learning Services

Rep. McFarland

❷❸

SB 1690 - Early Childhood Education

Sen. Calatayud

❶❷❸

These similar bills expand and revise child care definitions, licensing requirements, insurance requirements, coverage exemptions, and create a dedicated early learning endowment fund.

HB 845 - Employee Child Care Assistance Program Study

Rep. Nixon

❶❷❸

SB 946 - Study on Childcare Assistance Programs

Sen. Arrington

❶❷❸

These similar bills require OPPAGA to study public and private employee child care assistance programs to evaluate their costs, affordability, and effects on school readiness.

K-12 Education

HB 173 - Parental Rights

Rep. Kendall

❷❸

SB 166 - Parental Rights

Sen. Grall

❶❷❸

These identical bills strengthen parental consent requirements for minors seeking certain health, mental health, and educational services.

HB 963 - Administrative Efficiency in Public Schools

Rep. Smith

❶❷❸

SB 320 - Administrative Efficiency in Public Schools

Sen. Simon

❶❷

These identical bills streamline administrative processes for district school boards, revises requirements for teacher contracts and certification, expands flexibility in instructional material purchasing and school construction, and simplifies procedures for distributing and using certain district and charter school funds. SB 320 in House Messages.

HB 579 - Family Empowerment Scholarship Program

Rep. Bartleman

❶❷

SB 690 - Family Empowerment Scholarship Program

Sen. Jones

❶❷❸

These identical bills require participating private schools to provide parents with written information about their offerings, including specialized services and therapies, prior to enrolling a student for the first time and clarify which accommodations will be honored from any existing education plans.

HB 857 - Student Support Services for K-12 Schools Services for K-12

Rep. Lopez

❶❷❸

SB 1008 - Student Support Services for K-12

Sen. Truenow

❶❷❸

These identical bills authorize district school boards to refer students to qualified organizations for mentoring, counseling, tutoring, and extracurricular student support services while ensuring nondiscriminatory participation and Level 2 background screenings for all personnel involved.

HB 1071 - Education

Rep. Trabulsy

❶❷

SB 1090 - Education

Sen. Grall

❶❷❸

These similar bills prohibit discriminatory educational expenditures, strengthen parent opt-out rights, require FDA-approved epinephrine devices, shorten provider ineligibility periods, mandate mathematics instruction plans, remove certain door lock provisions, and revise district and educator accountability requirements.

HB 1181 - Enforcement of School Attendance

Rep. Hart-Lowman

❶❷❸

SB 1190 - Enforcement of School Attendance

Sen. Rouson

❶❷❸

These identical bills require district school boards to implement a mandatory electronic alert system to notify school officials and parents when a student reaches the truancy threshold.

HB 1501 - K-12 School Lunches and Breakfasts

Rep. Joseph

❶❷❸

SB 1674 - K-12 School Lunches and Breakfasts

Sen. Rouson

❶❷❸

SB 1098 - Universal Free School Breakfast and Lunch Program

Sen. Jones

❶❷❸



These comparable bills require each public school to offer lunch and breakfast to students under federal programs, with free breakfasts, restricted payment collection practices, and state reimbursement for qualifying meals.

HB 1279 - Education

Rep. Kincart Jonsson

❷❸

SB 1052 - Education

Sen. Grall

❶❷❸

These similar bills expands tuition waivers, restrict admissions, tighten service provider requirements, and revise funding and financial aid rules in Florida’s public postsecondary education system.

Children with Unique Abilities

HB 615 - Individual Education Plans

Rep. Tendrich

❷❸

SB 72- Individual Education Plans

Sen. Harrell

❶❷❸

These identical bills require timely evaluations, IEP meetings, and enhanced parent engagement for students receiving exceptional student education services.

SB 206 - Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Sen. Harrell

❶❷

This bill requires completion of an autism micro-credential and provides expanded incentives for teachers of students with autism spectrum disorder.

HB 717 - Autism Spectrum Disorder

Rep. Maggard

❶❷❸

HB 851- Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Rep. Long

❶❷

These similar bills revise the definition of autism to align with the most recent DSM and mandate new teacher endorsement requirements for certain K-12 classrooms.

HB 969 - Detection of Developmental Delays & Autism Spectrum Disorder

Rep. Tant

❶❷❸

SB 1046 - Detection of Developmental Delays & Autism Spectrum Disorder

Rep. Calatayud

❶❷❸

These identical bills require the development and distribution of informational materials for detecting developmental delays and autism spectrum disorder in young students.

Child Protection

HB 47 - Specific Medical Diagnoses in Child Protective Investigations

Rep. Bartleman

❷❸

SB 42 - Specific Medical Diagnoses in Child Protective Investigations

Sen. Sharief

❷❸

These identical bills provide additional requirements and options in child protective investigations by expanding exemptions for immediate law enforcement referral, clarifying parental duties to report preexisting diagnoses, mandating consultation with medical professionals, and allowing certain medical examinations at the request of a parent or legal custodian.

HB 279 - Luggage for Children Placed in Out-of-home Care

Rep. Bartleman

❶❷❸

SB 306 - Luggage for Children Placed in Out-of-home Care

Sen. Berman

❶❷❸

These similar bills require the Department of Children and Families to provide children placed in out-of-home care with suitable luggage in lieu of trash bags for their personal belongings to promote dignity and stability.

HB 395 - Dependent Children

Rep. Rizo

❶❷❸

SB 996 - Dependent Children

Sen. Rodriguez

❶❷❸

These similar bills improve coordination with organizations that empower children and require a weekly cash allowance for dependent children in foster care.

HB 475 - Medical Placement for High-acuity Children

Rep. Salzman

❶❷❸

SB 1560 - Medical Placement for High-acuity Children

Sen. Simon

❶❷❸

These similar bills create a specialized framework for high-acuity children in the child welfare system requiring immediate, medically appropriate placements and services.

HB 949 - Temporary Custody of Minor Children

Rep. Salzman

❶❷❸

SB 1002- Temporary Custody of Minor Children

Sen. Gaetz

❷❸

These similar bills expand the rights of relatives, including grandparents, to petition for temporary or concurrent custody of minors when parental substance abuse or unfitness poses a threat of harm to the child.

HB 1331- Child Welfare

Rep. Yarkosky

❶❷❸

SB 1600 - Child Welfare

Sen. Yarborough

❶❷❸

These identical bills require child-serving organizations to implement standardized child abuse training, receive accreditation for child safety, and benefit from insurance discounts while strengthening departmental oversight and data collection.

Economic Self-Sufficiency

HB 337 - Food Insecure Areas

Rep. Rayner

❶❷❸

SB 852 - Food Insecure Areas

Sen. Jones

❶❷❸

These identical bills expand local governments’ authority to allow small-footprint grocery stores in food insecure areas, increasing access to nutrient-dense foods.

Juvenile Justice

HB 779 - Juvenile Justice

Rep. Young

❶❷❸

SB 918 - Juvenile Justice

Sen. Bracy Davis

❶❷❸

These similar bills strengthen juvenile justice requirements by mandating a defined commitment period for certain minors and reducing the minimum age for maximum-risk residential placement.

HB 1153 - Juvenile Justice

Rep. Cobb

❷❸

SB 1734 - Juvenile Justice

Sen. Martin

❷❸

These identical bills expand recognition and protections for juvenile detention and probation officers by including them alongside law enforcement, clarifying statutory definitions, and adjusting provisions for families and children in need of services.

Local Government

HB 203 - Phased Out Elimination of Non-School Property Tax for Homesteads

Rep. Miller

❶❷❸

This bill increases the homestead tax exemption for non-school property taxes incrementally over ten years and fully exempts homesteads thereafter, while prohibiting local governments from reducing first responder funding below a specified baseline.

HB 209 - Property Insurance Relief Homestead Exemption Non-school Property Tax

Rep. Busatta

❶❷❸

This bill increases the homestead exemption from non-school ad valorem taxes by $200,000 for insured homestead properties and prohibit reductions in local first responder funding below set levels.

HB 213 - Modification of Limitations on Property Assessment Increases

Rep. Griffitts

❶❷❸

This bill modifies limitations on property tax assessment increases for both homestead and non-homestead property, and prohibit local governments from reducing first responder funding below specified levels.

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