SESSION WATCH
Became law SENATE · SESSION 2026 · CHAPTER 2026-67

No. SB 124

Florida Virtual School
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SPONSOR
Rodriguez
FILED BY
Ana Maria Rodriguez — District 40, Republican [search donations]
EFFECTIVE
7/1/2026

Filed under Education.

PROVIDED SUMMARY

Florida Virtual School; Deleting provisions relating to the Florida Virtual School giving priority to certain students; providing that the board of trustees may use supplemental funding sources to develop a state-of-the-art technology-based education delivery system; authorizing the Florida Virtual School to accrue supplemental revenue from direct-support organizations; revising which entities review and approve expenditures, etc.

Full bill text →

Plain English Summary

AI-GENERATED
Removes student priority tiers and expands funding sources.

The bill deletes the legal requirement to prioritize specific student groups, such as rural students or military children, for enrollment. It replaces this with a mandate to serve all students who meet the profile for success in this educational delivery context.

The board of trustees may now use other supplemental funding sources to develop its technology-based education delivery system. It may also accrue revenue from direct-support organizations, a category that did not previously exist in the statute.

Expenditures recommended by support organizations are now contingent upon the review and approval of the president and chief executive officer. This replaces the previous rule where the executive director could override proposed expenditures that would violate Florida law.

The bill removes the requirement for the board to establish priorities for admission of students. It also deletes the mandate to report the performance of each school district franchise to the Commissioner of Education.

KEY PROVISIONS
§ 1 Removal of Student Priority Categories majors. 1002.37(1)(b)

AIEliminates statutory priority for specific student groups, making all eligible students equal in admission.

“shall give priority to: 1. Students who need expanded access to courses in order to meet their educational goals, such as home education students and students in inner-city and” bill text, line 36 →
§ 2 Expansion of Supplemental Revenue Sources majors. 1002.37(2)(e)

AIAllows the board to accrue revenue from direct-support organizations, broadening funding beyond supplemental support groups.

“may accrue supplemental revenue from direct-support organizations and supplemental support organizations, which include, but are not limited to, alumni associations, foundations, p” bill text, line 102 →
§ 3 Shift in Expenditure Approval Authority moderates. 1002.37(2)(e)

AITransfers approval of direct-support organization expenditures from the executive director to the president and CEO or designees.

“Such expenditures shall be contingent upon the review and approval of the president and chief executive officer of the Florida Virtual School or authorized designees” bill text, line 109 →
§ 4 Removal of Performance Reporting Requirement moderates. 1002.37(2)(h)

AIDeletes the requirement for the board to establish performance measures and report franchise performance to the Commissioner.

“The board of trustees shall establish the performance and accountability measures and report the performance of each school district franchise to the Commissioner of Education.” bill text, line 176 →
§ 5 Mandatory State Employee Status moderates. 1002.37(2)(f)

AIChanges employee eligibility for the Florida Retirement System from permissive to mandatory.

“All employees except temporary, seasonal, and student employees must be state employees for the purpose of being eligible to participate in the Florida Retirement System” bill text, line 157 →
TIMELINE
5/12/2026
Chapter No. 2026-67
5/11/2026
Approved by Governor
4/30/2026
Signed by Officers and presented to Governor
3/17/2026
Ordered enrolled
3/11/2026
Passed; YEAS 110, NAYS 2
3/11/2026
Read 3rd time
3/11/2026
Added to Third Reading Calendar
3/11/2026
Read 2nd time
3/10/2026
1st Reading (Original Filed Version)
3/10/2026
Bill added to Special Order Calendar (3/11/2026)
3/10/2026
Bill referred to House Calendar
2/11/2026
In Messages
2/11/2026
Immediately certified -SJ 299
2/11/2026
Passed; YEAS 39 NAYS 0 -SJ 292
2/11/2026
Read 3rd time -SJ 292
2/11/2026
Read 2nd time -SJ 292
2/9/2026
Placed on Special Order Calendar, 02/11/26
2/5/2026
Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading
2/5/2026
Favorable by- Fiscal Policy; YEAS 15 NAYS 0
2/2/2026
On Committee agenda-- Fiscal Policy, 02/05/26, 9:00 am, 412 Knott Building
1/29/2026
Now in Fiscal Policy
1/28/2026
Favorable by Appropriations Committee on Pre-K - 12 Education;...
1/23/2026
On Committee agenda-- Appropriations Committee on Pre-K - 12...
1/13/2026
Introduced
12/10/2025
Now in Appropriations Committee on Pre-K - 12 Education
12/9/2025
Favorable by Education Pre-K - 12; YEAS 6 NAYS 0
12/1/2025
On Committee agenda-- Education Pre-K - 12, 12/09/25, 3:30 pm, 412...
10/21/2025
Referred to Education Pre-K - 12; Appropriations Committee on...
10/7/2025
Filed
23 EARLIER →
STATUTES IT CHANGES
s. 1002.37
+96 / −371
STAFF ANALYSES
2 MORE →