SESSION WATCH
Died SENATE · SESSION 2026

No. CS/SB 176

Public Postsecondary Education Safety Policies and Procedures
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SPONSOR
Appropriations Committee on Higher Education; Polsky
FILED BY
Tina Scott Polsky — District 30, Democrat [search donations]
EFFECTIVE
7/1/2026
DIED IN
Messages

Filed under Education.

PROVIDED SUMMARY

Public Postsecondary Education Safety Policies and Procedures; Requiring state universities and Florida College System institutions to adopt and implement specified policies and procedures relating to safety; providing requirements for such policies and procedures; requiring state universities and Florida College System institutions to annually review and update the policies and procedures, etc.

Full bill text →

Plain English Summary

AI-GENERATED
Mandates written safety policies for all public colleges.

State universities and Florida College System institutions must adopt written safety policies covering violence and credible threats. This creates a new legal duty for every public postsecondary campus in the state.

Each institution must designate a specific person responsible for coordinating the response to violent acts and implementing all safety measures. This ensures a clear chain of command for handling campus safety incidents.

Institutions must establish clear reporting protocols and provide timely updates to affected persons regarding the status of any incident. This requires active communication with victims and those impacted by campus violence.

The Board of Governors and State Board of Education may adopt regulations and rules to administer these new safety requirements. This allows state agencies to create specific operational standards for compliance.

KEY PROVISIONS
§ 1 Mandatory Safety Policies majors. 1004.0983(1)

AICreates a legal duty for all state universities and Florida College System institutions to adopt and implement written safety policies and procedures.

“Each state university and Florida College System institution shall adopt and implement written safety policies and procedures applicable to campus facilities, classrooms, and other” bill text, line 21 →
§ 2 Scope of Covered Incidents majors. 1004.0983(1)(a)

AIRequires the policies to specifically address the prevention, reporting, and response to acts of violence and credible threats.

“to prevent, report, and respond to: (a) An act of violence or attempted violence against a person. (b) A credible threat as defined in s. 784.048(1)(c).” bill text, line 24 →
§ 3 Designated Coordinator majors. 1004.0983(2)(a)

AIRequires each institution to identify a specific person responsible for coordinating the response to violence and threats and implementing safety measures.

“Identify a person responsible for: 1. Coordinating the state university or Florida College System institution's response to actions listed in paragraphs (1)(a) and (b).” bill text, line 29 →
§ 4 Reporting and Notification Protocols majors. 1004.0983(2)(b)

AIMandates the establishment of clear internal and external reporting protocols, including notification of campus security or local law enforcement when appropriate.

“Establish clear internal and external reporting protocols, including notification of campus security or a local law enforcement agency when appropriate.” bill text, line 35 →
§ 5 Protective Measures for Affected Persons moderates. 1004.0983(2)(c)

AIRequires institutions to outline protective measures available to affected persons, which may include work or class relocation, security escorts, and access restrictions.

“Outline the protective measures available to affected persons, which may include work or class relocation, security escorts, and restricting access to certain areas” bill text, line 38 →
§ 6 Timely Updates to Affected Persons moderates. 1004.0983(2)(d)

AIRequires institutions to provide timely updates to an affected person regarding the status of an incident and any action taken.

“Provide timely updates to an affected person regarding the status of an incident and any action taken.” bill text, line 43 →
§ 7 Public Availability of Policies moderates. 1004.0983(2)(e)

AIRequires safety policies to be prominently posted on the institution's website and available to students, faculty, staff, and visitors upon request.

“Ensure the policies and procedures are prominently posted on the state university's or Florida College System institution's website and available to students, faculty, staff, and” bill text, line 45 →
§ 8 Annual Review and Update moderates. 1004.0983(3)

AIRequires each institution to annually review and update its safety policies and procedures to incorporate best practices in threat assessment, campus security, and safety.

“Each state university and Florida College System institution shall annually review and update the policies and procedures to incorporate the best practices in threat assessment, c” bill text, line 21 →
TIMELINE
3/13/2026
Died in Messages
2/19/2026
In Messages
2/19/2026
Immediately certified -SJ 356
2/19/2026
CS passed; YEAS 37 NAYS 0 -SJ 346
2/19/2026
Read 3rd time -SJ 346
2/19/2026
Read 2nd time -SJ 346
2/17/2026
Placed on Special Order Calendar, 02/19/26
2/10/2026
Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading
2/10/2026
Favorable by- Rules; YEAS 24 NAYS 0
2/5/2026
On Committee agenda-- Rules, 02/10/26, 9:00 am, 412 Knott Building
2/4/2026
CS by Appropriations Committee on Higher Education read 1st time
1/30/2026
Now in Rules
1/30/2026
Pending reference review under Rule 4.7(2) - (Committee Substitute)
1/28/2026
CS by Appropriations Committee on Higher Education; YEAS 5 NAYS 0
1/23/2026
On Committee agenda-- Appropriations Committee on Higher...
1/14/2026
Now in Appropriations Committee on Higher Education
1/13/2026
Introduced
1/13/2026
Favorable by Education Postsecondary; YEAS 6 NAYS 0
1/8/2026
On Committee agenda-- Education Postsecondary, 01/13/26, 4:00 pm,...
11/3/2025
Referred to Education Postsecondary; Appropriations Committee on...
10/14/2025
Filed
15 EARLIER →
STATUTES IT CHANGES
s. 1004.0983
+261 / −0
STAFF ANALYSES
2 MORE →