SESSION WATCH
Superseded — its companion passed HOUSE · SESSION 2026

No. HB 85

Swimming Lesson Voucher Program
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SPONSOR
Kendall; Eskamani
FILED BY
Kim Kendall — District 18, Republican [search donations]
Anna Eskamani — District 42, Democrat [search donations]
EFFECTIVE
7/1/2026
COMPANION
SB 428 — HB 85 was set aside and its companion carried the policy
PROVIDED SUMMARY

Swimming Lesson Voucher Program; Revises age requirements for children receiving voucher through Swimming Lesson Voucher Program.

Full bill text →

Plain English Summary

AI-GENERATED
Expands swim voucher eligibility to age 7, drops children under 1.

The Swimming Lesson Voucher Program currently serves children age 4 and younger from families earning up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level. This bill redefines eligibility as children between 1 and 7 years old.

That change raises the upper age limit from 4 to 7, letting more school-age children qualify. It also sets a floor of age 1, so infants younger than that no longer qualify for a voucher.

The income limit and residency requirement are unchanged. The program still caps eligibility at 200 percent of the federal poverty level for a family living in Florida.

KEY PROVISIONS
§ 1 Raises the voucher program's upper age limit to 7 moderates. 514.073(1)

AIEligibility currently stops at a child '4 years of age or younger.' The bill raises that ceiling so a child qualifies through age 7, adding several more years of eligibility for school-age children.

“one or more children between 1 and 7 years of age”
§ 2 Sets a new age floor of 1, excluding infants moderates. 514.073(2)(b)

AIThe old rule covered any child '4 years of age or younger,' including infants from birth. The new range starts at age 1, so a family whose only child is younger than 1 no longer qualifies for a voucher.

“must be between 1 and 7 years of age”
TIMELINE
3/9/2026
Laid on Table; Companion bill(s) passed, see SB 428 (Ch. 2026-38 )
1/21/2026
Added to Second Reading Calendar
1/21/2026
Bill released to House Calendar
1/21/2026
Reported out of Health & Human Services Committee
1/21/2026
Favorable by Health & Human Services Committee
1/16/2026
Added to Health & Human Services Committee agenda
1/14/2026
Now in Health & Human Services Committee
1/14/2026
Reported out of Health Care Budget Subcommittee
1/14/2026
Favorable by Health Care Budget Subcommittee
1/13/2026
1st Reading (Original Filed Version)
1/12/2026
Added to Health Care Budget Subcommittee agenda
12/9/2025
Now in Health Care Budget Subcommittee
12/9/2025
Reported out of Health Professions & Programs Subcommittee
12/9/2025
Favorable by Health Professions & Programs Subcommittee
12/2/2025
Added to Health Professions & Programs Subcommittee agenda
10/14/2025
Now in Health Professions & Programs Subcommittee
10/14/2025
Referred to Health & Human Services Committee
10/14/2025
Referred to Health Care Budget Subcommittee
10/14/2025
Referred to Health Professions & Programs Subcommittee
10/6/2025
Filed
14 EARLIER →
STATUTES IT CHANGES
s. 514.073
+10 / −9
STAFF ANALYSES