Florida School Boards Association
Week 3 of Interim Committee Meetings is now complete. Several education-related bills were heard this week and committees continued hearing presentations and budget updates. Covid-19 protocols remain in place for both House and Senate, but we encourage members to access resources on our Legislative Session page and to continue communicating with their local delegations on…
School voucher reform bill clears Senate Education Committee Proponents argue the bill makes navigating the state’s school-voucher system easier. By Jason Delgado on February 3, 2021 The Senate Education Committee advanced a sweeping proposal Thursday that further promotes Florida’s school choice options. The measure, SB 48, passed along a party-line 6-4 vote. Sen. Manny Diaz, a South Florida…
COVID-19 business liability bill reaches final House committee stop Democrats wanted to modify what the courts are asking physicians to certify in liability cases. By Renzo Downey on February 3, 2021 A bill creating COVID-19 liability protections for businesses is one step away from going to a vote in the House. The House Pandemics…
Tallahassee will see chilly temperatures, high winds, and significantly more bill action during Week 3 of Interim Committee Meetings. See highlights for the week in our calendar report. Monday’s schedule is relatively light, but SB 78 Dues and Uniform Assessments will be heard in Senate Judiciary. If passed, this bill would affect how unions (including…
Monday marks Week 2 of Florida’s Interim Committee Meetings leading up to the 2021 Legislative Session. Our team has updated the SCHEDULE as well as our BILL TRACKING LIST for you to use as a reference. You can access the legislative toolkit and other resources at any time HERE. Both chambers will continue to require…
L E G I S L A T I V E A L E R T January 21, 2021 Today, Senator Diaz (R-Hialeah) filed SB 48, a bill consolidating voucher programs into education savings accounts (ESA). FSBA’s team is working through the 158 page bill, but wanted you all to be aware of its filing. At…
Manny Diaz bill would expand eligibility, maximize parental choice in K-12 scholarship programs Donors would be allowed to contribute through a newly created state trust fund. By Peter Schorsch on January 21, 2021 A bill that would simplify Florida’s education choice programs by merging five scholarship programs into two, while adding flexible spending options, has been filed…
Please see the summary below covering the COVID Relief Package. The American Rescue Plan to Fund Vaccinations, Provide Immediate, Direct Relief to Working Families Bearing the Brunt of the COVID-19 Crisis, and Support Struggling Communities The COVID-19 pandemic and the corresponding economic crisis are devastating families across the country. While Congress’s bipartisan action in December…
Prioritize teachers for vaccinations | Column A letter to Gov. DeSantis from Tampa Bay thought leaders. Published Jan. 13 Dear Gov. DeSantis, Happy New Year! Thank you for your leadership balancing COVID-19, Florida’s economy, and budget. Florida is making progress on every front. Here in the Tampa Bay area, a group of community and business leaders…
This week in Tallahassee, legislators and staff will convene for the first interim committee week. A schedule of the week’s meetings and education-related topics can be found HERE. Monday’s schedule includes a procedural briefing and closed security briefing. Senate Education will meet Tuesday to discuss K12 scholarship programs and financial aid. Wednesday will be busy…