SESSION WATCH
Vetoed by the Governor HOUSE · SESSION 2026

No. CS/CS/HB 325

Education and Workforce Development for Inmates
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SPONSOR
Education & Employment Committee; Careers & Workforce Subcommittee; Kendall
FILED BY
Kim Kendall — District 18, Republican [search donations]
EFFECTIVE
7/1/2026

Filed under Criminal Justice.

PROVIDED SUMMARY

Education and Workforce Development for Inmates; Authorizes DOT to expend certain funds for all workforce development programs, rather than only construction workforce development programs; authorizes department to provide grants to private educational providers to use for certain certification & training opportunities; requires certification & training opportunities to include training for specified commercial driver licenses to certain inmates; provides eligibility; authorizes department to use workforce development funds for certain certification & training opportunities; requires Correctional Education Program under DOC to annually submit report to Secretary of Corrections with specified information; authorizes Correctional Education Program to implement career & technical education program in which certain inmates can earn specified commercial driver licenses; provides eligibility; authorizes inmate to be transported in or to operate state-owned vehicle under certain circumstances; requires certified correctional officer to be present during such transport or operation.

Full bill text →

Plain English Summary

AI-GENERATED
Allows inmates to drive state vehicles for CDL training.

The Department of Transportation may now spend up to $5 million annually on grants to private educational providers, not just state colleges and school districts, for transportation workforce development.

Inmates convicted of nonviolent crimes with two years or less remaining on their sentence may enroll in commercial driver license training programs.

Inmates enrolled in or who have completed a commercial driver license program may operate state-owned vehicles under specific conditions.

The Department of Corrections must report annually on the number of inmates who completed career and technical education training and were employed within six months of release.

KEY PROVISIONS
§ 1 DOT workforce funds expanded to private providers majors. 334.044(35)

AIAllows the Department of Transportation to use State Transportation Trust Fund money to pay private educational providers, not just state colleges and school districts, for transportation training.

“grants to state colleges, school districts, and private educational providers, with priority given to state colleges and school districts in counties that are rural communities”
§ 2 Mandatory CDL training for eligible inmates majors. 334.044(35)

AIRequires the Department of Transportation to offer Class A and Class B commercial driver license training to nonviolent inmates with two years or less remaining on their sentence.

“at a minimum, include training for Class A and Class B commercial driver licenses” bill text, line 79 →
§ 3 Inmate driving of state vehicles permitted majors. 945.091(1)(b)

AIAllows inmates enrolled in or who have completed a CDL program to drive state-owned vehicles for training purposes, provided a certified correctional officer is present.

“An inmate may be transported in or may operate a state-owned vehicle if the inmate is appropriately licensed and enrolled in or has completed a department-operated or contracted” bill text, line 267 →
§ 4 Exception to inmate driving prohibition majors. 945.0913(2)

AICreates an exception to the general ban on inmates driving state-owned vehicles, allowing licensed and trained inmates to operate them on designated state property for CDL training.

“An inmate appropriately licensed and trained may operate a state-owned vehicle if he or she is enrolled in or has completed a department-operated or contracted commercial driver” bill text, line 302 →
§ 5 Annual CTE reporting requirements moderates. 944.801(3)(h)

AIRequires the Correctional Education Program to report annually on the number of inmates completing CTE training, their credentials, and their employment status six months after release.

“The number of inmates who completed career and technical education training through the Correctional Education Program and were employed within 6 months after being released” bill text, line 136 →
§ 6 English proficiency requirement for CDL training moderates. 334.044(35)

AIRequires inmates to demonstrate English proficiency to enroll in Class A or Class B commercial driver license training programs.

“an inmate must be proficient in English. Such proficiency may be demonstrated in a manner specified by the department or the department's designee” bill text, line 82 →
TIMELINE
6/26/2026
Vetoed by Governor
6/15/2026
Signed by Officers and presented to Governor
3/9/2026
Ordered enrolled
3/9/2026
In Messages
3/9/2026
CS passed; YEAS 36 NAYS 0 -SJ 692
3/9/2026
Read 3rd time -SJ 692
3/9/2026
Read 2nd time -SJ 692
3/9/2026
Substituted for SB 1300 -SJ 692
3/9/2026
Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading
3/9/2026
Withdrawn from Rules -SJ 692
2/26/2026
Received
2/26/2026
Referred to Rules
2/25/2026
In Messages
2/25/2026
CS passed; YEAS 112, NAYS 0
2/25/2026
Read 3rd time
2/25/2026
Added to Third Reading Calendar
2/25/2026
Read 2nd time
2/19/2026
Bill added to Special Order Calendar (2/25/2026)
2/4/2026
Added to Second Reading Calendar
2/4/2026
1st Reading (Committee Substitute 2)
2/4/2026
Bill referred to House Calendar
2/3/2026
CS Filed
2/3/2026
Laid on Table under Rule 7.18(a)
2/3/2026
Reported out of Education & Employment Committee
2/3/2026
Favorable with CS by Education & Employment Committee
1/30/2026
Added to Education & Employment Committee agenda
1/23/2026
Now in Education & Employment Committee
1/23/2026
Referred to Education & Employment Committee
1/22/2026
1st Reading (Committee Substitute 1)
1/22/2026
CS Filed
1/22/2026
Laid on Table under Rule 7.18(a)
1/21/2026
Reported out of Careers & Workforce Subcommittee
1/20/2026
Favorable with CS by Careers & Workforce Subcommittee
1/15/2026
PCS added to Careers & Workforce Subcommittee agenda
1/13/2026
1st Reading (Original Filed Version)
11/12/2025
Now in Careers & Workforce Subcommittee
11/12/2025
Referred to Education & Employment Committee
11/12/2025
Referred to Budget Committee
11/12/2025
Referred to Careers & Workforce Subcommittee
11/4/2025
Filed
34 EARLIER →
STATUTES IT CHANGES
s. 334.044
+14 / −2
s. 334.62
+109 / −0
s. 944.801
+262 / −21
s. 945.091
+65 / −0
s. 945.0913
+75 / −0
s. 944.801
+0 / −0
STAFF ANALYSES