Legislative Updates

Broward County Public Schools is dedicated to keeping our parents, students, and community members informed about important legislative developments. This page provides up-to-date information on State and Federal legislative actions that directly affect our schools and the education of our children. Whether it's proposed laws, new policies, or funding decisions, our goal is to help you stay informed and engaged with the issues that shape our classrooms and impact student success.

State BILLS TO WATCH & BCPS PRIORITIES

Updated 11/17/25

Taken together, the bills in the State Legislature touch nearly all of BCPS’ legislative priorities, with the densest activity around safety, student supports, and academic programming.

Strengthening District Operations and Capital Resources is reflected in bills on term limits for school board members, electronic payment for public records, legal notices, public meetings, and use of educational facilities, all of which impact governance, transparency, and facility use.

The Academic Excellence priority is supported by bills on IEP procedures, autism supports, cursive instruction, anti-discrimination (including hairstyle protections and Title VI implementation), multilingual assessments, career planning, student athletics, and observances such as Veterans’ Day and required portraits of Washington and Lincoln.

Retaining a High-Quality Instructional Workforce appears in proposals to protect certain public employees who use medical marijuana, require oaths for school personnel, create a teacher training and mentoring program, and adjust VPK funding.

Investing in Public Education is addressed through millage-rate legislation and multiple property-tax/homestead proposals that could affect school revenue.

Under Commiment to Technology, School Safety, Security, and Mental Health, several bills strengthen school safety and student health (mass-casualty training for educators, seizure-action planning, student elopement protocols, school-zone pedestrian safety, and limits on smoking in public places), with some impact on weapons on or near school sites.

While a small number of bills (e.g., Charlie Kirk Day of Remembrance; flag-display limitations) sit outside BCPS’ stated priority areas but may still affect district operations.

Download BCPS 2026 State Legislative Priorities

Download Bills Summary Relative to BCPS

STRENGTHENING DISTRICT OPERATIONS AND CAPITAL RESOURCE

Four children touching heads together looking down

STRENGTHENING DISTRICT OPERATIONS AND CAPITAL RESOURCE

We are advocating for legislation that ensures fair compensation for charter use of district-owned facilities; preserves School Board authority to assess rental and leasing fees; supports responsible stewardship of public assets; and maintains local discretion in granting rights of refusal and managing the disposition of surplus properties—while also promoting fairness, accountability, and consistency across funding models for all entities receiving public dollars (traditional public, home school, public charter, and private schools) so each has a fair and competitive opportunity.

We support legislation to expand industry certification opportunities for students, including, but not limited to, leadership and soft skill coursework.

BILLS TO WATCH:

HB 27: Term Limits for Members of Boards of County Commissioners and District School Boards by Holcomb

SB 44: Electronic Payment of Public Records Fees by Rouson

HB 49: Political Activities on School Grounds by Gossett-Seidman

HB 105: Local Government Enforcement Actions by Brackett

HB 247 / SB 248: Public Records/Municipal Clerks by Campbell / Rodriguez

SB 332: Public Meetings by Bradley

SB 380: Legal Notices by Trumbull

SB 424: Educational Facilities by Rouson

ACADEMIC ECXELLENCE FOR ALL STUDENTS

ACADEMIC ECXELLENCE FOR ALL STUDENTS

We support the removal of statutory limitations that tie Title I eligibility thresholds to prior-year district levels or the statewide percentage of economically disadvantaged students, to allow local flexibility in expanding support to more schools in need.

BILLS TO WATCH:

SB 72: Individual Education Plans by Harrell

HB 127 / SB 444: Required Instruction in Cursive Writing by Overdorf / Grall

SB 178: Athletics in Public K-12 Schools by Jones

SB 206: Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder by Harrell

HB 235 / SB 252: Prohibited Discrimination Based on Hairstyle by Driskell / Jones

HB 305 / SB 342: Statewide, Standardized Assessments by Harris / Arrington

HB 371 / SB 420: Patriotic Displays in Classrooms by Snyder / Burgess

HB 409 / SB 464: Observance of Veterans' Day by K-12 Schools by Giallombardo / Ávila

HB 415 / SB 486: Discrimination in Education by Tendrich / Polsky

HB 417 / SB 448: Career and Academic Planning For Middle and High School Students by Tant / Arrington

RETAINING A HIGH-QUALITY INSTRUCTIONAL WORKFORCE

Teacher in the middle of a classroom facing children with hands raised

RETAINING A HIGH-QUALITY INSTRUCTIONAL WORKFORCE

We support legislation that ensures competitive compensation and performance-based bonuses for the instructional workforce, and promotes long-term recruitment and retention of high-quality educators, while also establishing paid family leave benefits for school district employees to strengthen recruitment and retention, promote employee well-being, and provide greater stability and continuity in the classroom for students.

BILLS TO WATCH:

SB 136: Protections for Public Employees who use Medical Marijuana as Qualified Patients by Polsky

HB 147 / SB 430: Oaths of Classroom Teachers / School Personnel by Fabricio / Yarborough

HB 157 / SB 182: School Teacher Training and Mentoring Program by Hinson / Jones

HB 345: Funding for the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program by Edmonds

INVESTING IN PUBLIC EDUCATION: BUDGET, FINANCE, AND FEFP PRIORITIES

Teacher doing a selfie with student around her

INVESTING IN PUBLIC EDUCATION: BUDGET, FINANCE, AND FEFP PRIORITIES

We support legislation that addresses the District’s structural funding gap—reflected in FY 2025–26 revenues of $4.676 billion against expenditures of $5.399 billion, resulting in a $722 million shortfall requiring reserves and transfers—while increasing overall education funding to meet or exceed the national per-pupil average and minimizing the impact of property tax reform.

Further, we support dedicated funding to ensure a full-time licensed nurse in every school, and advocate for maintaining the Required Local Effort rate to provide stable and sufficient local funding for BCPS, protect FEFP enhancements, and preserve the Education Enrollment Stabilization Program to prevent proration of district funds.

BILLS TO WATCH:

HB 149: Maximum Millage Rates for the 2027-2028 Fiscal Year by Chamberlin

HB 201, HB 203, HB 205, HB 207, HB 209, HB 211, HB 213 (Various Sponsors) Various bills proposing changes to property tax and homestead exemptions, including phased-out elimination, exemptions for seniors, property insurance relief, and modifications to assessment increases.

COMMITMENT TO TECHNOLOGY, SCHOOL SAFETY, SECURITY, AND MENTAL HEALTH

COMMITMENT TO TECHNOLOGY, SCHOOL SAFETY, SECURITY, AND MENTAL HEALTH

We are advocating for increased funding and resources for the Safe Schools and Mental Health Assistance Allocations to strengthen preventive safety measures, enhance security protocols, sustain mandated security personnel in every school, support training for the Guardian program, and cover costs associated with School Resource Officers.

We support legislation permitting any funds allocated under SB 7026, the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act, that were not used for the replacement of Building 12 to be redirected toward the construction of an off-site memorial.

In addition, we support legislation that strengthens the protection of student data—including governance of artificial intelligence in schools, safeguards for minors, requirements for age verification and transparency, content filtering, and regulations on the collection, storage, and use of data by technology companies—and provide clear guidance on the use of audio-visual recording in self-contained ESE classrooms, allowing for an annual parent notification, while ensuring student privacy and alignment with safety measures.

BILLS TO WATCH:

HB 23: Educator Certifications and Training by Daley

SB 124 / HB 129: Florida Virtual School by Rodriguez / Smith

SB 166 / HB 173: Parental Rights by Grall / Kendall

SB 186: Student Health and Safety by García

HB 283 / SB 498: School Zone and Pedestrian Safety by Alvarez, J. / Rodriguez

HB 321 / SB 406: Carrying Weapons and Firearms by Hunschofsky / Polsky

HB 389: Smoking in Public Places by Andrade

HB 423 / SB 494: Student Elopement by Eskamani / Arrington

Updates and Reports

2026 Regular Session Weekly Reports

2025 End of Regular Session Reports

2025 Regular Session Weekly Reports

Gray Robinson

Approved by the Board in December 2024, GrayRobinson is a premier law and consulting firm recognized as one of the most influential in Florida. Our multidisciplinary team of nearly 300 attorneys, advisors, and consultants brings deep experience and insight to every client engagement. With 16 offices across Florida and Washington, D.C., The firm serves a diverse range of clients—businesses, government entities, and individuals—by resolving complex legal issues, anticipating industry changes, and driving strategic momentum.

Their mission is to leverage our legal, lobbying, and regulatory expertise to help clients define and achieve their goals, while remaining deeply committed to serving our communities. We are proud to uphold a longstanding tradition of building relationships based on respect, loyalty, and integrity.

The Southern Group

Approved by the Board in December 2024, The Southern Group is a pioneering influence firm that redefined the lobbying landscape in Florida and beyond. Founded 25 years ago, they were the first to introduce a new model of advocacy—bringing together top talent from business, government, and politics, and building a statewide network that gives our clients unmatched access to local and state decision makers.

Over the past two decades, the firm built and retained a seasoned team of experts who develop winning strategies, open doors to power, and connect clients with the right people at the right time. Many of them have served in the very institutions they now help their clients navigate. As the lines between government, business, and public interest continue to blur, they remain at the forefront—adapting to emerging trends and delivering strategic influence that goes beyond traditional lobbying. While advocacy remains their foundation, the firm’s approach evolves with the moment, ensuring they stay smart, agile, and deeply connected in an ever-changing landscape.

Legislative Budgetary Updates

This section provides timely updates on State and Federal budget decisions that directly affect funding for Broward County Public Schools. Legislative budget outcomes have a significant impact on classroom resources, teacher salaries, student programs, facility improvements, and overall educational services. Our goal is to keep parents, students, and community members informed about how public education funding is allocated, what changes may be on the horizon, and how those changes may influence our schools and students.

GrayRobinson, P.A- 2025 Pre-K12 Education Appropriations Summary

2026 Legislative Session Schedule

Broward County Public Schools is committed to keeping our community informed and prepared for the upcoming legislative season. Below is the tentative schedule for the 2026 State Legislative Session, including key dates for committee meetings, session convening, bill filing deadlines, and other critical milestones. Staying aware of this timeline helps parents, students, staff, and community members better understand the legislative process and how it may impact public education throughout the year.

October, November & December 2025	Committee Weeks are scheduled periods before the official start of a legislative session during which lawmakers meet in committees to review, discuss, and revise proposed legislation. These weeks serve as a preparatory phase for the regular session, allowing legislators to: •Hear presentations from state agencies and stakeholders •Draft and debate bills •Conduct oversight of existing programs •Begin budget discussions •Set priorities for the upcoming session
September 16, 2025 (Tentative)	School Board adopt the 2026 State Legislative Priorities
October 2025 (Exact Date TBD)	Joint Delegation Meeting with the Broward Legislative Delegation
January 13, 2026	Regular Session convenes
March 3, 2026	Last day for regularly scheduled committee meetings
March 13, 2026	Last day of Regular Session
July 1, 2026	New legislation becomes effective