No. CS/CS/SB 1062
Filed under Education.
Speech and Debate Education; Creating the Florida Speech and Debate Hall of Fame; designating Florida Speech and Debate Week annually in February; establishing the Florida Debate Initiative, Inc., (FDI) as a statewide speech and debate organization that performs certain functions in support of the Florida Civics and Debate Initiative (FCDI) in the Department of Education; requiring the Board of Governors of the State University System and the State Board of Education to develop specified undergraduate and graduate coursework, certificates, and micro-credentials, etc. APPROPRIATION: $2,400,000
Plain English Summary
AI-GENERATEDThe bill creates a new nonprofit, the Florida Debate Initiative, to manage statewide speech and debate programs. It receives $2.4 million in recurring state funds to operate.
School districts must submit annual reports to the state on their debate teams, participation rates, and resources. This creates a new, recurring administrative duty for every district.
The Department of Management Services must set aside a specific area in the Capitol Building for a new speech and debate hall of fame.
AIEstablishes the Florida Debate Initiative, Inc. (FDI) as the state's official nonprofit body to manage, develop, and expand K-20 civics, speech, and debate programs.
AIRequires every district school board to submit an annual report to the Department of Education detailing speech and debate team numbers, student participation, and resources needed for expansion.
AICreates a new speech and debate teacher endorsement requiring specific coursework, professional development, and board-determined competency in scholastic debate rules.
AIRequires the Board of Governors and State Board of Education to develop undergraduate and graduate coursework, certificates, and micro-credentials in speech and debate education.
AIAppropriates $2.4 million in recurring General Revenue funds for the 2026-2027 fiscal year to support FDI's administrative, programmatic, and tournament operations.