Capitol Connection

2026 LEGISLATIVE SESSION: WEEK 2

As the 2026 Regular Session entered its second week, lawmakers continued advancing a broad array of policy proposals affecting Florida’s children, families, and communities. The House and Senate convened in Tallahassee to hear bills, move committee referrals, and set the stage for more substantive debates later in the session.


Education Policy Takes Shape


Education remained a central focus during the second week. The Senate unanimously approved an education regulatory reform bill that would reduce administrative requirements on Florida’s 67 school districts. The measure, sponsored by Sen. Corey Simon, would streamline mandates such as the uniform assessment calendar and provide expanded discretion to local school boards in how certain funds are used. The legislation now advances to the House for consideration. Broader scholarship reform continued to gain traction. The Senate passed SB 318, a bill to restructure and strengthen the state’s educational scholarship programs by consolidating funding sources, refining eligibility criteria, and tightening oversight. This move may affect the state’s flagship Family Empowerment and Hope scholarship initiatives.


Committees held hearings on several bills that will shape future debate, including measures on school safety, teacher contracts, and classroom technology. Subcommittees addressed topics ranging from limiting personal devices on campuses to discussions on teacher assessment and curriculum standards.


Child Welfare Advances in Committee


Lawmakers also focused on legislation affecting children’s health and welfare:

On child welfare, bills advanced that would revise oversight and services for youth under department care. For example, HB 763 and its Senate companion CS/SB 560 were positioned in committees to reconsider how psychotropic medication reporting, postsecondary support services, and performance metrics for aftercare services are managed for children in the custody of the Department of Children and Families.

Lawmakers also reviewed proposals like HB 1229, which would establish licensure standards and safety requirements for residential homes serving medically or technologically dependent children.


Health Care Issues Continue to Emerge Early in Session


Health-related priorities surfaced both in committee hearings and advocacy circles:

Early session news and advocacy reports highlighted proposed bills (e.g., those focused on maternal and child health workforce expansion such as doula support programs) as part of the emerging health agenda. While not yet advancing to floor votes, these measures reflect early movement on disparities in maternal and infant care and expanded support services.


Juvenile Justice on the Legislative Calendar


Juvenile justice reforms were introduced and referred to committees:

The Senate looked to introduce SB 1734, a juvenile justice bill that, among other provisions, authorizes the governor to recognize heroism among juvenile detention and probation personnel. While largely procedural, its introduction signals early session attention to youth justice system personnel and structure.


Looking Ahead


With the legislative session scheduled to run through March 13, committees will continue shaping policy proposals in the coming weeks. The second week set the foundation for major debates on education reform, child welfare practices, health care access, and juvenile justice standards. As bills move through appropriations and full chamber calendars, attention will turn to balancing fiscal priorities with the needs of families and children across Florida.

  

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

❶❷

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

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

❶❷❸

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

❶❷❸

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.

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

❷❸

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

❶❷❸

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

❶❷❸

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

❷❸

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

❶❷❸

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

❶❷❸

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

❶❷❸

SB 1734 - Juvenile Justice

Sen. Martin

❶❷❸

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

❶❷

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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