SESSION WATCH
Became law HOUSE · SESSION 2026 · CHAPTER 2026-109

No. CS/HB 851

Professional Learning for Instructional and School Administrative Personnel
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SPONSOR
Student Academic Success Subcommittee; Long
FILED BY
Rob Long — District 90, Democrat [search donations]
EFFECTIVE
7/1/2026

Filed under Education.

PROVIDED SUMMARY

Professional Learning for Instructional and School Administrative Personnel; Requires certain professional learning systems to provide at least one autism-specific professional learning opportunity.

Full bill text →

Plain English Summary

AI-GENERATED
Mandates annual autism-specific training for teachers and administrators.

Districts must now offer at least one autism-specific professional learning opportunity each year to instructional staff and school-based administrators.

The training must be developed in consultation with the district's assigned Center for Autism and Related Disabilities.

It must include evidence-based practices for supporting students with autism spectrum disorder across all levels of need.

The bill also corrects a spelling error in existing law, changing "followup" to "follow-up".

KEY PROVISIONS
§ 1 Mandatory Annual Autism Training majors. 1012.98(5)(b)

AICreates a new legal requirement for school districts to provide specific professional development.

“Provide at least one autism-specific professional learning opportunity annually for instructional personnel and school-based administrators.” bill text, line 5 →
§ 2 Required Consultation with State Centers majors. 1012.98(5)(b)

AIMandates that districts collaborate with specific state-designated centers to design the training.

“must be developed in consultation with the district's assigned Center for Autism and Related Disabilities” bill text, line 154 →
§ 3 Required Curriculum Content moderates. 1012.98(5)(b)

AISpecifies the exact topics and evidence-based practices that must be included in the training.

“must include evidence- based practices for supporting students with autism spectrum disorder across all levels of need” bill text, line 156 →
§ 4 Spelling Correction technicals. 1012.98(5)(b)

AIUpdates the spelling of a word in the existing statute without changing its meaning.

“follow-up support appropriate to accomplish district-level and school-level improvement goals”
TIMELINE
5/26/2026
Chapter No. 2026-109
5/22/2026
Approved by Governor
5/21/2026
Signed by Officers and presented to Governor
3/12/2026
Ordered enrolled
3/12/2026
In Messages
3/12/2026
CS passed; YEAS 38 NAYS 0 -SJ 855
3/12/2026
Receded from 1 amendment(s) (354086) -SJ 855
3/12/2026
In returning messages
3/12/2026
Refused to concur, requested Senate to recede
3/12/2026
Amendment 354086 Refuse to Concur
3/12/2026
Added to Senate Message List
3/5/2026
In Messages
3/5/2026
CS passed as amended; YEAS 35 NAYS 0 -SJ 587
3/5/2026
Read 3rd time -SJ 587
3/5/2026
Amendment(s) adopted (354086) -SJ 584
3/5/2026
Read 2nd time -SJ 584
3/5/2026
Substituted for CS/SB 206 -SJ 584
3/5/2026
Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading
3/5/2026
Withdrawn from Rules -SJ 584
3/3/2026
Received
3/3/2026
Referred to Rules
3/3/2026
In Messages
3/3/2026
CS passed; YEAS 108, NAYS 0
3/3/2026
Read 3rd time
3/3/2026
Added to Third Reading Calendar
3/3/2026
Read 2nd time
2/26/2026
Bill added to Special Order Calendar (3/3/2026)
2/17/2026
Added to Second Reading Calendar
2/17/2026
Bill released to House Calendar
2/17/2026
Reported out of Education & Employment Committee
2/17/2026
Favorable by Education & Employment Committee
2/13/2026
Added to Education & Employment Committee agenda
2/12/2026
Now in Education & Employment Committee
2/12/2026
Referred to Education & Employment Committee
2/11/2026
1st Reading (Committee Substitute 1)
2/11/2026
CS Filed
2/11/2026
Laid on Table under Rule 7.18(a)
2/11/2026
Reported out of Student Academic Success Subcommittee
2/11/2026
Favorable with CS by Student Academic Success Subcommittee
2/9/2026
PCS added to Student Academic Success Subcommittee agenda
1/13/2026
1st Reading (Original Filed Version)
1/5/2026
Now in Student Academic Success Subcommittee
1/5/2026
Referred to Education & Employment Committee
1/5/2026
Referred to Student Academic Success Subcommittee
12/19/2025
Filed
39 EARLIER →
STATUTES IT CHANGES
s. 1012.98
+63 / −1
STAFF ANALYSES