SESSION WATCH
Died SENATE · SESSION 2026

No. SB 1646

Educational Facilities
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SPONSOR
Simon
FILED BY
Corey Simon — District 3, Republican [search donations]
EFFECTIVE
7/1/2026

Filed under Education.

PROVIDED SUMMARY

Educational Facilities; Revising the formula to calculate funds for remodeling, renovation, maintenance, repairs, and site improvement of existing facilities; requiring a board to prioritize a specified amount of funds to correct unsafe, unhealthy, or unsanitary conditions; requiring the Department of Education to participate in a design review process; authorizing a district school board to enter into a contingency construction contract, etc.

Full bill text →

Plain English Summary

AI-GENERATED
Raises the minimum share of funds boards must spend on unsafe conditions.

School boards must now prioritize at least one-tenth of their annual allocation to correct unsafe, unhealthy, or unsanitary conditions in their educational facilities.

The bill allows a board to use less than one-tenth of its allocation if that smaller amount satisfies all cited deficiencies.

This change shifts the requirement from a fixed spending floor to a priority-based minimum that can be reduced if all safety issues are resolved.

The formula for calculating these funds is updated to use the most current sum of the digits report.

KEY PROVISIONS
§ 1 Mandatory Prioritization of Funds for Safety Deficiencies moderates. 1013.64(1)(f)

AIBoards must spend at least 10% of their annual allocation on unsafe conditions, but may spend less if that smaller amount fixes all cited deficiencies.

“A board shall prioritize a minimum of one tenth of its annual allocation provided under this section to correct unsafe, unhealthy, or unsanitary conditions”
§ 2 Department Authority to Override Architect Selection majors. 1013.64(2)(a)

AIThe Department of Education may override a school board's selection of an architect or construction manager and make a new selection itself.

“The department shall collect and review all selection documentation and may provide feedback or take action in the selection process, up to and including overriding the board's” bill text, line 233 →
§ 3 Authorization for Contingency Construction Contracts moderates. 1013.64(2)(a)

AIDistricts may sign contracts for the full construction amount, provided the contract includes a clause making subsequent years contingent on funding.

“District school boards may enter into a contingency construction contract for the full construction amount initially requested at the Special Facilities Construction Account” bill text, line 237 →
§ 4 Extension of Unfinished Project Exemption moderates. 1013.64(6)(e)

AIProjects started on or before July 1, 2030, are exempt from cost-per-student-station limits, extending the previous 2028 deadline.

“an unfinished construction project for new construction of educational plant space which was started on or before July 1, 2030, is exempt from the total cost per” bill text, line 307 →
TIMELINE
2/19/2026
Withdrawn from further consideration -SJ 356
2/19/2026
Withdrawn from Education Pre-K - 12; Appropriations Committee on...
2/12/2026
Pending withdrawal
1/27/2026
Now in Appropriations Committee on Pre-K - 12 Education
1/27/2026
Favorable by Education Pre-K - 12; YEAS 6 NAYS 0
1/22/2026
Introduced
1/22/2026
On Committee agenda-- Education Pre-K - 12, 01/27/26, 3:30 pm, 412...
1/16/2026
Referred to Education Pre-K - 12; Appropriations Committee on...
1/9/2026
Filed
3 EARLIER →
STATUTES IT CHANGES
s. 1013.64
+456 / −228
s. 1013.62
+2 / −2
STAFF ANALYSES