SESSION WATCH
Became law HOUSE · SESSION 2026 · CHAPTER 2026-59

No. CS/CS/HB 1279

Education
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SPONSOR
Education & Employment Committee; Careers & Workforce Subcommittee; Kincart Jonsson
FILED BY
Jennifer Kincart Jonsson — District 49, Republican [search donations]
EFFECTIVE
7/1/2026

Filed under Education.

PROVIDED SUMMARY

Education; Requires entities that offer fee-based services to individuals who are blind or visually impaired to disclose in writing whether the services may be obtained elsewhere at no cost; requires certain service providers to apply to, rather than register with, the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation; revises the date for a requirement to obtain a license as a marriage and family therapist; revises public information requirements relating to virtual instruction options; revises the conditions considered an educational emergency; authorizes a student to carry a United States Food and Drug Administration-approved epinephrine delivery devices, rather than epinephrine auto-injectors; deletes obsolete provisions related to calculation of kindergarten readiness rates; requires the Department of Children and Families to determine whether a child care provider is the primary cause of certain class I violations; revises provisions related to certain law schools; authorizes a school district to reserve funds for certain STEM-related educational services, etc.

Full bill text →

Plain English Summary

AI-GENERATED
Mandates written disclosures for fee-based services to blind individuals.

Private entities charging blind or visually impaired individuals for services must now provide a written disclosure stating whether equivalent services are available at no cost elsewhere.

Vocational rehabilitation service providers must now apply to the division for approval rather than simply registering, shifting their regulatory status from passive to active.

School districts are required to use a uniform weighted grading system to calculate high school grade point averages for honors courses, removing local discretion.

Schools must notify parents in writing within 10 school days if a student misses special education services and allow access to provider logs within 15 days.

KEY PROVISIONS
§ 1 Mandatory Disclosure for Fee-Based Services to Blind Individuals majors. 413.0114(1)

AICreates a new legal duty for private entities to provide written disclosures before accepting payment.

“disclose in writing whether equivalent or substantially similar services may be available at no cost” bill text, line 155 →
§ 2 Shift from Registration to Application for Vocational Rehabilitation Providers majors. 413.208(1)

AIChanges the regulatory status of service providers from a passive registration to an active approval process.

“Service providers must apply to the division”
§ 3 Mandatory Weighted Grading for Honors Courses majors. 1003.437

AIReplaces local discretion with a state mandate, requiring all districts to use a uniform weighted GPA system for honors courses.

“District school boards shall use the weighted grading system to calculate weighted high school grade point averages”
§ 4 Expanded Dual Enrollment Eligibility majors. 1007.271

AIBroadens the definition of eligible students to include home education students and explicitly authorizes participation at private, not-for-profit colleges.

“Postsecondary institutions that are eligible to participate in the dual enrollment program are Florida public postsecondary institutions and eligible not-for-profit independent” bill text, line 105 →
§ 5 New IEP Service Notification and Access Rights majors. 1003.5716

AICreates a mandatory 10-day written notification requirement for missed services and a 15-day right for parents to access provider logs.

“the school district must notify the parent or guardian in writing or by electronic means within 10 school days” bill text, line 756 →
§ 6 Expanded Definition of Educational Emergency moderates. 1001.42(21)

AIBroadens the criteria for declaring an emergency to include persistently low-performing schools.

“or are persistently low-performing schools as described in s. 1002.333” bill text, line 279 →
§ 7 Updated Virtual Instruction Public Information Requirements moderates. 1001.42(17)(a)

AIRequires districts to inform the public about virtual options beyond the Florida Virtual School.

“including educational opportunities available through approved virtual instruction program providers under s. 1002.45” bill text, line 273 →
§ 8 Expanded Epinephrine Device Provisions moderates. 1002.20(3)(i)

AIBroadens the types of medical devices students may carry and schools may stock.

“a United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved epinephrine delivery device” bill text, line 359 →
TIMELINE
5/5/2026
Chapter No. 2026-59 ; Companion bill(s) passed, see CS/HB 453 (Ch....
5/1/2026
Approved by Governor
4/30/2026
Signed by Officers and presented to Governor
3/13/2026
Ordered engrossed, then enrolled
3/13/2026
CS passed as amended; YEAS 81, NAYS 16
3/13/2026
Amendment 476262 Concur
3/13/2026
Added to Senate Message List
3/13/2026
In Messages
3/13/2026
CS passed as amended; YEAS 36 NAYS 1 -SJ 906
3/13/2026
Read 3rd time -SJ 906
3/13/2026
Amendment(s) adopted (476262) -SJ 895
3/13/2026
Read 2nd time -SJ 895
3/13/2026
Substituted for CS/CS/SB 7038 -SJ 895
3/13/2026
Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading
3/13/2026
Withdrawn from Rules -SJ 894
3/3/2026
Received
3/3/2026
Referred to Rules
3/3/2026
In Messages
3/3/2026
CS passed; YEAS 84, NAYS 25
3/3/2026
Read 3rd time
3/3/2026
Added to Third Reading Calendar
3/3/2026
Amendment 277549 Failed
3/3/2026
Read 2nd time
2/26/2026
1st Reading (Committee Substitute 2)
2/26/2026
Bill added to Special Order Calendar (3/3/2026)
2/26/2026
Bill referred to House Calendar
2/26/2026
CS Filed
2/26/2026
Laid on Table under Rule 7.18(a)
2/26/2026
Reported out of Education & Employment Committee
2/26/2026
Favorable with CS by Education & Employment Committee
2/24/2026
PCS added to Education & Employment Committee agenda
2/10/2026
Now in Education & Employment Committee
2/10/2026
Reported out of Budget Committee
2/10/2026
Favorable by Budget Committee
2/6/2026
Added to Budget Committee agenda
1/30/2026
Now in Budget Committee
1/30/2026
Referred to Education & Employment Committee
1/30/2026
Referred to Budget Committee
1/29/2026
1st Reading (Committee Substitute 1)
1/29/2026
CS Filed
1/29/2026
Laid on Table under Rule 7.18(a)
1/29/2026
Reported out of Careers & Workforce Subcommittee
1/28/2026
Favorable with CS by Careers & Workforce Subcommittee
1/26/2026
PCS added to Careers & Workforce Subcommittee agenda
1/15/2026
Now in Careers & Workforce Subcommittee
1/15/2026
Referred to Education & Employment Committee
1/15/2026
Referred to Budget Committee
1/15/2026
Referred to Careers & Workforce Subcommittee
1/13/2026
1st Reading (Original Filed Version)
1/8/2026
Filed
44 EARLIER →
STATUTES IT CHANGES
s. 413.0114
+152 / −0
s. 413.208
+175 / −12
s. 491.005
+1 / −1
s. 1001.42
+58 / −17
s. 1001.92
+9 / −0
s. 1002.20
+56 / −20
STAFF ANALYSES