The Florida Legislative Session convened on January 9 and adjourned on March 8. JPEF encourages you to contact your state Representative and Senator if you wish to share your concerns, voice your support, or provide additional information to them.
Tracked bills
HB 49: Employment and Curfew of Minors
Florida authorizes cities and counties to enact their own curfew ordinances for minors under the age of 16. The law provides that any minor under the age of 16 cannot be present at a public establishment during the following hours, not including legal holidays:
- Sunday to Thursday from 11:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.
- Saturday or Sunday from 12:01 a.m. to 6:00 a.m.
- 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. if suspended from school.
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HB 931: Chaplains
The bill authorizes each school district or charter school to adopt a policy to allow volunteer school chaplains to provide support, services, and programs to students as assigned by the district school board or charter school governing board. Any such policy adopted by a school district or charter school must, at a minimum, describe the supports, services, or programs that volunteer school chaplains may be assigned; require that principals of schools with a volunteer school chaplain inform all parents of the availability of such supports, services, and programs; and require written parental consent before a student participates in or receives supports, services, and programs provided by a volunteer school chaplain.
HB 1403: School Choice
Florida’s school choice programs primarily consist of the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship (FTC) including students in a personalized education program (PEP), the Family Empowerment Scholarship for students attending private school (FES-EO), and the Family Empowerment Scholarship for students with disabilities (FES-UA).
This bill makes several changes to existing law.
HB 1285: Education
This comprehensive bill makes a number of changes to Florida’s K-12 public schools.
SB 7004: Education
SB 7004 builds on the deregulation of public schools provisions in House Bill 1 (Ch. 2023-16, Laws of Fla.) and provides to school districts additional authority related to prekindergarten programs, retention and graduation, assessments, school improvement, instructional materials, and reporting.
SB 7002: Deregulation of Public Schools
This bill builds on the deregulation of public schools provisions in House Bill 1 and removes some regulations on school districts to advance efficient administrative processes, enhance facilities management, and simplify financial requirements.