# Florida HB 1279: Education Florida HB 1279, Education, is a 2026 House bill sponsored by Jennifer Kincart Jonsson (Republican); status signed, last action 2026-05-05 (Chapter No. 2026-59; Companion bill(s) passed, see CS/HB 453 (Ch. 2026-70)); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-15). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/FL-HB1279-2026 - As of: 2026-10-15 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Florida HB 1279 - State: Florida - Session: 2026 - Title: Education - Status: signed - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2026-01-08 - Last action: 2026-05-05, Chapter No. 2026-59; Companion bill(s) passed, see CS/HB 453 (Ch. 2026-70) - Sponsor: Jennifer Kincart Jonsson (Republican) - Cosponsors: 2 - Subjects: Appropriation, Careers & Workforce Subcommittee, Budget Committee, Education & Employment Committee, House Calendar, Rules - Touches household money: yes - Roll calls: 3 (201 yes, 42 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 27 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Schools can use more allergy devices: benefit, medium. Public and private school rules now cover FDA-approved epinephrine delivery devices, not just auto-injectors. Schools may stock devices, but purchases are not required; supplies must be secured and staff must follow physician protocols. Staff administering the medicine must be trained to recognize… - Advanced course teachers earn student bonuses: benefit, medium. Beginning July 1, 2026, advanced-course teachers receive $50 for each student meeting the required state-identified assessment score. A qualifying teacher at a D- or F-rated school receives another $500 when at least one student qualifies. For grades 9–12, each qualifying student generates 0.16 ext… - More reading help for young children: benefit, medium. Voluntary Prekindergarten students scoring below the 25th percentile on their final screening qualify for summer reading support. The old cutoff was below the 10th percentile. The program provides 4 hours of instruction daily and at least 100 total hours before kindergarten. For students with subst… - Service families keep resident tuition status: benefit, medium. Beginning July 1, 2026, qualifying out-of-state service alone does not end Florida resident tuition status. Covered roles include active-duty or civilian Armed Forces personnel, State or Defense Department assignments, and Defense Department dependent-school teachers. Dependent children receive the… - Students can delay Benacquisto scholarship awards: benefit, medium. Beginning July 1, 2026, students qualifying for an initial Benacquisto Scholarship can defer that award for up to 1 year. The change provides more time to use the initial award rather than increasing its amount. - Students gain clearer dual enrollment options: benefit, medium. Eligible Florida secondary and home education students can take dual enrollment courses at participating public and eligible nonprofit colleges. Courses must count toward both high school completion and a career certificate, associate degree, or bachelor’s degree. Eligible students are exempt from… - Students get more virtual course choices: benefit, medium. Florida school districts must give students access to their choice of courses through district virtual programs or approved virtual providers. Districts must award credit when students successfully complete these courses. Districts must also include these virtual options in public information about… - Blind consumers learn about free services: benefit, low. Fee-based providers serving blind or visually impaired people must disclose possible free public alternatives before signing a contract or accepting payment. The written notice must use plain language and include Division of Blind Services contact information. Providers must supply an accessible fo… - Band and dance count toward graduation: benefit, low. Two years of marching band satisfy both the one-credit physical education requirement and the one-credit performing arts requirement. One credit in a qualifying dance techniques course satisfies either requirement, with a grade of C or better. The dance course must include significant health-relate… - Parents gain special education service records: benefit, low. Districts must notify parents within 10 school days when a scheduled related service in an individualized education program is missed. Notice must be written or electronic, explain the reason, and discuss a plan for make-up services. On request, parents can access service logs or progress notes wit… - Private schools gain hybrid attendance option: benefit, low. Participating private schools have a defined teacher-contact option for personalized education program students and students eligible for the specified scholarship. Schools can meet the rule through direct teacher contact on campus at least 2 school days each week. The student learning plan must co… - Students get new career-linked math pathways: benefit, low. Florida’s education department must identify 3 secondary math pathways by September 1, 2026, including career-linked applied algebra. Applied algebra courses are due January 1, 2027, for district use in the 2029–2030 school year. Courses must count toward required math credit and prepare students f… - Therapist applicants gain longer degree window: benefit, low. Marriage and family therapist applicants can use the qualifying master’s-degree pathway for degrees awarded before September 1, 2032. The prior cutoff was September 1, 2027. The degree must emphasize marriage and family therapy or a closely related field. Applicants must also complete the graduate… - School officers face stronger safety oversight: benefit, low. School leaders must notify the county sheriff and Office of Safe Schools immediately, no later than 72 hours after specified events. These include officer dismissal for misconduct, other discipline, or an on-duty firearm discharge outside training. Safe-school officers who are sworn law enforcement… - Schools gain trained security guard options: benefit, low. Every school facility, including charter schools, must have at least one safe-school officer. Districts and charters can combine officer options despite local ordinances or development orders; districts must help charters access those options. Schools can contract through security agencies for guar… - Schools can fund more technology learning: benefit, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, districts may reserve up to 1% of Title I funds for eligible schools’ educational services. Allowed services now include science, technology, engineering, and math curricula, materials, and tools such as coding, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and robotics. Districts… - Trafficking data repository faces scheduled sunset: cost, low. The section governing Florida’s anonymous human trafficking data repository is repealed on July 1, 2027. The repeal does not occur if the Legislature reviews and reenacts the section before that date. - Colleges face tighter licensing exemption rules: cost, low. A college cannot avoid Commission for Independent Education oversight solely because another state agency approves one course or program. For this exemption, the other agency must approve or license the institution itself to operate. Separate exemptions remain for contract training, continuing educ… - Homeless students face tuition exemption limits: mixed, medium. Beginning July 1, 2026, the homeless-student tuition exemption requires a prior homelessness determination by a Florida public school. Students must meet the federal McKinney-Vento definition of homeless children and youths. The exemption covers workforce education, Florida College System instituti… - Middle school digital certificates gain limits: mixed, low. Public middle-grade students can earn CAPE Digital Tool certificates, alongside elementary students. Middle-grade students can earn no more than 2 certificates per school year. Certificates are paired with digital-skills coursework and remain eligible for extra school funding. - Struggling schools gain emergency staffing powers: mixed, low. Districts may use educational-emergency powers when any school has a D or F grade or is persistently low-performing. These powers include salary incentives and strategies for assigning high-quality teachers. Specified personnel strategies can proceed despite collective-bargaining requirements. The… - Students get uniform weighted grading rules: mixed, low. The State Board of Education must establish one statewide weighted grading system for honors courses and covered college-credit acceleration options. Districts must use it to calculate weighted high school grade point averages. The law does not specify the weights or how an individual student’s ave… - Public law schools use national standards: mixed, low. Florida International University and Florida A&M law schools use nationally recognized law-school accreditation standards for specified library and education requirements. Those standards also guide specified approval and disapproval triggers for state oversight recommendations. Library development… - Childcare quality labels get revised safeguards: mixed, low. A class I childcare violation affects Gold Seal eligibility only when the state finds the provider was the primary cause. A responsible provider cannot apply for 2 years, and an existing designation may be terminated until 2 violation-free years pass. The law removes the discretionary exception for… - Disability employment providers face approval standards: mixed, low. Beginning January 1, 2027, vocational rehabilitation providers must meet minimum qualifications and receive Division approval to participate. Providers apply during an annual application period and must maintain minimum effectiveness standards. Standards include placements in competitive, integrate… - Public colleges gain accreditation transition flexibility: mixed, low. Public colleges subject to the one-time accreditation change have up to 3 years after reaffirmation or a fifth-year review. They must obtain the new accreditation before their next such review. Colleges can use identified accrediting groups, not only regional groups, and must report progress quarte… - University awards use revised performance measures: mixed, low. Public university performance awards use revised measures, including adjusted graduation rates for engineering programs. The access measure counts first-year undergraduates enrolled in the fall who received a Pell Grant that term. The law does not set an award amount or create a payment to students. ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Jennifer Kincart Jonsson (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Careers & Workforce Subcommittee - Cosponsor: Education & Employment Committee ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-03-13 | Senate | Senate Floor Vote | pass | 36 | 1 | | | 2026-03-13 | House | House Floor Vote | pass | 81 | 16 | | | 2026-03-03 | House | House Floor Vote | pass | 84 | 25 | | ## Actions (50) - 2026-05-05: Chapter No. 2026-59; Companion bill(s) passed, see CS/HB 453 (Ch. 2026-70) - 2026-05-01: Approved by Governor - 2026-04-30: Signed by Officers and presented to Governor - 2026-03-13: Ordered engrossed, then enrolled (House) - 2026-03-13: CS passed as amended; YEAS 81, NAYS 16 (House) - 2026-03-13: Amendment 476262 Concur (House) - 2026-03-13: Added to Senate Message List (House) - 2026-03-13: In Messages (House) - 2026-03-13: CS passed as amended; YEAS 36 NAYS 1 -SJ 906 (Senate) - 2026-03-13: Read 3rd time -SJ 906 (Senate) - 2026-03-13: Amendment(s) adopted (476262) -SJ 895 (Senate) - 2026-03-13: Read 2nd time -SJ 895 (Senate) - 2026-03-13: Substituted for CS/CS/SB 7038 -SJ 895 (Senate) - 2026-03-13: Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading (Senate) - 2026-03-13: Withdrawn from Rules -SJ 894 (Senate) - 2026-03-03: Received (Senate) - 2026-03-03: Referred to Rules (Senate) - 2026-03-03: In Messages (Senate) - 2026-03-03: CS passed; YEAS 84, NAYS 25 (House) - 2026-03-03: Read 3rd time (House) - 2026-03-03: Added to Third Reading Calendar (House) - 2026-03-03: Amendment 277549 Failed (House) - 2026-03-03: Read 2nd time (House) - 2026-02-26: 1st Reading (Committee Substitute 2) (House) - 2026-02-26: Bill added to Special Order Calendar (3/3/2026) (House) - 2026-02-26: Bill referred to House Calendar (House) - 2026-02-26: CS Filed (House) - 2026-02-26: Laid on Table under Rule 7.18(a) (House) - 2026-02-26: Reported out of Education & Employment Committee (House) - 2026-02-26: Favorable with CS by Education & Employment Committee (House) - 2026-02-24: PCS added to Education & Employment Committee agenda (House) - 2026-02-10: Now in Education & Employment Committee (House) - 2026-02-10: Reported out of Budget Committee (House) - 2026-02-10: Favorable by Budget Committee (House) - 2026-02-06: Added to Budget Committee agenda (House) - 2026-01-30: Now in Budget Committee (House) - 2026-01-30: Referred to Education & Employment Committee (House) - 2026-01-30: Referred to Budget Committee (House) - 2026-01-29: 1st Reading (Committee Substitute 1) (House) - 2026-01-29: CS Filed (House) - 2026-01-29: Laid on Table under Rule 7.18(a) (House) - 2026-01-29: Reported out of Careers & Workforce Subcommittee (House) - 2026-01-28: Favorable with CS by Careers & Workforce Subcommittee (House) - 2026-01-26: PCS added to Careers & Workforce Subcommittee agenda (House) - 2026-01-15: Now in Careers & Workforce Subcommittee (House) - 2026-01-15: Referred to Education & Employment Committee (House) - 2026-01-15: Referred to Budget Committee (House) - 2026-01-15: Referred to Careers & Workforce Subcommittee (House) - 2026-01-13: 1st Reading (Original Filed Version) (House) - 2026-01-08: Filed (House) ## Bill text - er, 2026-07-01: [PDF](https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/1279/BillText/er/PDF) - e1, 2026-03-16: [PDF](https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/1279/BillText/e1/PDF) - c2, 2026-02-26: [PDF](https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/1279/BillText/c2/PDF) - c1, 2026-01-29: [PDF](https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/1279/BillText/c1/PDF) - Filed, 2026-01-08: [PDF](https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/1279/BillText/Filed/PDF) ## Related bills - SB 688: Naturopathic Medicine (vetoed) - HB 145: Claims Against the Government (vetoed) - HB 325: Education and Workforce Development for Inmates (vetoed) - SB 14: Relief of Jose Correa by Miami-Dade County (signed) - HB 6515: Relief/Lourdes Latour and Edward Latour/Miami-Dade County (signed) - HB 6507: Relief/L.E./Department of Children and Families (signed) ## Sources - [er (PDF)](https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/1279/BillText/er/PDF) - [e1 (PDF)](https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/1279/BillText/e1/PDF) - [c2 (PDF)](https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/1279/BillText/c2/PDF) - [c1 (PDF)](https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/1279/BillText/c1/PDF) - [Filed (PDF)](https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/1279/BillText/Filed/PDF) ## Related - [SB 688: Naturopathic Medicine](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/FL-SB688-2026) - [HB 145: Claims Against the Government](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/FL-HB145-2026) - [HB 325: Education and Workforce Development for Inmates](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/FL-HB325-2026) - [SB 14: Relief of Jose Correa by Miami-Dade County](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/FL-SB14-2026) - [HB 6515: Relief/Lourdes Latour and Edward Latour/Miami-Dade County](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/FL-HB6515-2026) - [HB 6507: Relief/L.E./Department of Children and Families](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/FL-HB6507-2026) - [Florida bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/florida/bills) - [Florida state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/florida) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/FL-HB1279-2026 (as of 2026-10-15).