TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – On Friday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed another eight bills into law, adding to the growing pile of legislation set to take effect later this year.
Most of these new laws are aimed at education and schooling in Florida, such as prohibiting cell phones in schools and changing rules for corporal punishment.
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Below is a full list of the new laws and a brief summary of what changes they’ll bring about:
HB 443 — Charter Schools
House Bill 443 allows charter schools to adopt their own codes of student conduct.
Under this law, charter school governing boards must adopt procedures related to student welfare and parental rights.
In addition, a high-performing charter school will be allowed to assume the charter of another charter school in the same district.
The law is set to take effect on July 1.
HB 875 — Teacher Preparation
House Bill 875 aims to help align the principles and standards of Florida’s different teacher preparation programs.
Some of the changes made by this law are as follows:
- Standardizes requirements for teacher mentors and clinical educators
- Requires the DOE to develop criteria for clinical educator training
- Allows certain educator certification requirements to be satisfied by completing teacher preparation programs with new core curricula
- Requires school districts to set minimum qualifications for part-time, non-degreed teachers of fine/performing arts
The law took effect upon being signed.
HB 969 — Student Mental Health
House Bill 969 requires the state to evaluate the mental health services that school districts provide to students.
An initial evaluation will be provided to DeSantis and lawmakers before the end of the year, with a final evaluation being given by Dec. 1, 2026.
The law took effect upon being signed.
HB 1105 — Education Rules (Part One)
House Bill 1105 provides a variety of new provisions regarding education in Florida. These changes include the following:
- Cell Phones (K-8): Prohibits students from using cell phones during the day in grades K-8, with some exceptions
- Cell Phones (High School): Requires a pilot study to look at prohibiting high school students from using cell phones
- Career Education: Requires the DOE to develop integrated courses to let students earn credit in both career education courses and required classes for high school graduation
- High School Diplomas: Eliminates the certificate of completion and requires notification for students who fail to earn a high school diploma
- Bright Futures Scholarships: Expands eligibility for the Bright Futures Scholarship Program to students who graduated from an out-of-state high school if they live with a parent who retired from the military within 12 months before the graduation
- Charter Schools: Eliminates provisions that require 50% of teachers at a school to support a conversion into a charter school, instead leaving it solely to parental support
The law is set to take effect on July 1.
HB 1255 — Education Rules (Part Two)
House Bill 1255 revises the definition of “economically disadvantaged” for families seeking School Readiness services, using “state median income” instead of “federal poverty level.”
The law also makes a myriad of other changes, such as requiring certain private schools to implement the same background screening requirements as public schools for employees.
In addition, the law requires that school districts that allow corporal punishment must obtain parental consent before it can be administered.
The law is set to take effect on July 1.
HB 1567 — Administering Insulin
House Bill 1567 allows direct-support professionals and family members to administer insulin to people with developmental disabilities.
More specifically, the law authorizes this in group home facilities, permitting the use of sliding-scale insulin therapy, insulin pens, and epinephrine via an insulin pen.
The law is set to take effect on July 1.
SB 994 — Driver’s Licenses
Senate Bill 994 mandates that adults applying for a driver’s license must complete a traffic law and substance abuse education course.
The law is set to take effect on July 1.
SB 1102 — School Readiness
Senate Bill 1102 expands the eligibility criteria for children with special needs in the School Readiness program.
Under this law, such children must have their accommodations validated by a licensed health care professional, mental health professional, or educational psychologist.
In addition, the law requires an IEP and an IFSP to determine the child’s eligibility for accommodations.
The law is set to take effect on July 1.