Florida School Boards Association
FLORIDA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Chris Sprowls, Speaker To: Florida’s District School Superintendents From: Chris Sprowls, Speaker Date: February 11, 2021 Re: Student Membership Counts & Federal Funds Dear Florida Superintendents, As you know firsthand, COVID-19 has brought unprecedented challenges and unforeseen complications to the delivery of K-12 public education in Florida. I appreciate all that…
It’s Week #4 of Interim Committee Meetings in Florida’s capital city and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are Super Bowl Champs! The Legislature will continue to take up bills and hear presentations during the second to last Interim Committee Week. On the docket this week are bills including SB 274 Juvenile Diversion Program Expunction, SB 52…
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…
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…