[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6126022,"mediaKeyId","2674045-5e55e5397b195333308c37c7253b158b","parentId",2674045,"title","Senate panel advances bill extending Bright Futures eligibility for students overseas","audioSeconds",474,"startMs",1184000,"endMs",1658000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2674045-5e55e5397b195333308c37c7253b158b&start=1184&end=1658","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2674045-5e55e5397b195333308c37c7253b158b/thumbnail_1184000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6126022/Florida/Senate-panel-advances-bill-extending-Bright-Futures-eligibility-for-students-overseas","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6126022-5bb1c4b91be2150b5a9dd6954cdfef13/orig.mp4?Expires=1771026637&Signature=VOmyZLkx1vRlvzxuZnUso5fAfXTMrGL45Y2wHSoKABrHK~D~no1MxxcAMtTpSVgVaPZNEAuwm1wXUYdzJHQd1GtntGdByPGjLENDuH781c0ZayV~ZOzmTVr8~0w89udxioXPxFQ2mf-oj5BSKEQp4nIpVqA1LOsjk~ZIfxXkSiCeRHGYR45~QALvS-dTdUq1ofV8uyOZneN~dAOfyYTPXRrFhddTTiYvVhGuG3KI8pMHnGw4MAgz018lTQ4CgjCBIIg5Z7MNtbhVYI2aohHENPei-P5kOFi3gxqE9R917DiTbpR9lyfpwvxzmhZzDS3C7cMorU5AqvdUBvnDK-Ae8w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Florida State Legislature","date","2025-03-18T00:00:00Z","article","CS for SB 270 — Bright Futures eligibility extension and AP Capstone addition

The Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee on [date not specified] voted to report CS for SB 270 favorably after approving an amendment that extends Bright Futures scholarship eligibility by 12 months for students who lose eligibility because they were attending school abroad while a parent was assigned to overseas public service, such as military or diplomatic posts. The bill’s sponsor, Senator Burgess, introduced the bill and a late-filed amendment (barcode 123000) that sets the bill’s effective implementation in the 2025–26 school year.

Why it matters: Bright Futures is a statewide scholarship program that many Florida students rely on to help pay for college. Supporters said the change would give military and other public‑service families extra time to return to the state and preserve scholarship eligibility for students who otherwise meet program requirements but are studying overseas because of a parent’s assignment.

Senator Burgess, the bill’s sponsor, told the committee the change is intended to give “military families a little more runway” so children finishing schooling overseas do not lose the scholarship for reasons tied to a parent’s public service. Burgess also said an amendment by Senator Fine — adopted at a previous stop and incorporated here — adds the AP Capstone designation to eligible options for the Florida Academic Scholars Award.

A witness listed on the appearance roster, Logan Brandon Bragdon of the Foundation for Florida’s Future, waived in support of the bill. Senator Smith described Bright Futures as important to her own education and expressed support for expanding the program and the proposed changes.

On procedural points, the committee first asked for and accepted the late-filed amendment (barcode 123000) to set the bill’s start in the 2025–26 school year, reasoning the session is already into 2024–25 and an implementation date should be explicit. After brief debate and no recorded opposition during discussion, the committee called the roll and reported CS for SB 270 favorably.

Votes at a glance: CS for SB 270 — reported favorably by the Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee; roll-call votes recorded in the hearing transcript list Senators Burgess, Kalatiued, Davis, Leake, Smith, Trumbull, Vice Chair Bradley, and Chair Harrell voting yes; committee action forwarded the bill to the next committee in the process.

Next steps: The committee reported the bill favorably and it will move forward in the Senate process. The transcript does not record floor action timing or any subsequent committee referrals.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Appropriations Committee on Higher Education 3/18/2025","oneSentenceSummary","CS for SB 270 — Bright Futures eligibility extension and AP Capstone addition","taxTitle","Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee, House, Legislative, Florida","taxId",25416,"location","Florida","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6126017,"Senate subcommittee interviews and recommends slate of state college trustee nominees to ethics committee",5333,1460000,6793000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2674045-5e55e5397b195333308c37c7253b158b&start=1460&end=6793","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2674045-5e55e5397b195333308c37c7253b158b/thumbnail_1460000.jpg","/articles/6126017/Florida/Senate-subcommittee-interviews-and-recommends-slate-of-state-college-trustee-nominees-to-ethics-committee","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6126017-bceb48e27b2de086e6f87c334657a1a3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771026637&Signature=S-4O9~qB1ZEmpzH-d3iEeCMeCfdQyWRid6fCTCbIuI8OrySJZwdy~mQZjI6YlYSVJQtNWfbr7lGV6lxw65pBFGXZRrGtfYSGc~TzNrdTX5qjG1bU9ChDPTCz3zMLGI-1EoNW7DICldSFQyQLGebhJnMLzpfwOpiNFXkJ1QFAPBZkXExcRDnHy-DsuFwtQuP~gmMP1Qlh1lpdYE7plzB2MgySNrkUalT69Fh1q7KgorN~9VZ5YVjh6I4b0yPmKipRqyiTwnSCZ98-bUrZKsIsDrZs-akhRCdRrR1cHxUzSmjZHEScCFK5s3LitCeDNMOJmxRmb0lrrEJdBX8CdkSEpQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senate subcommittee hears brief interviews, then recommends 20 trustee nominees

The Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee used a modified confirmation format of three‑minute in‑person and Zoom interviews for nominees to the boards of trustees of Florida’s state colleges. After hearing from nominees in person and by video, the committee took a block vote to recommend for confirmation the slate of nominees on tabs 2 through 22, except tab 8 (a nominee who was unable to appear). The nominations were forwarded to the Committee on Ethics and Elections for further consideration.

Why it matters: Appointed trustees set college strategy, oversee budgets and hire presidents; the nominees emphasized workforce training, nursing programs, fiscal responsibility and partnerships with local employers. The confirmations shape governance for multiple state colleges across Florida and influence workforce pipelines for nursing, cybersecurity, trades and other high‑demand fields.

Format and topics covered: Chair Harrell told nominees they would be given three minutes each to summarize who they are, their connection to the college, and goals for the institution. Nominees spoke about priorities including expanding nursing and health‑care programs, workforce and vocational training, dual‑enrollment and transfer pathways, fiscal stewardship and closer ties to local employers.

Who spoke and what they emphasized: Several nominees identified workforce development and nursing as priorities. Monte Stevens and Jonathan Kilpatrick spoke about Tallahassee State College’s workforce and nursing pipeline; Michael Couschett and other nominees highlighted NCLEX pass rates and nursing program growth; nominees from State College of Florida, Manatee‑Sarasota (Jaime Domenico, Britney Rainer) emphasized enrollment, strategic planning and a planned Parrish campus; nominees to South Florida State College (Terry Archley, Denise Grimsley, John Eason, Lisonbee Hancock, Belinda Kirkegaard, John Eason and others) stressed rural workforce and vocational training; nominees to Valencia College (Belinda Kirkegaard, Sean Hindle and others) and Palm Beach State College (Daniel Epstein, John Harrison) described partnerships with industry, new facilities and dual‑enrollment efforts.

Block vote and logistics: After the interviews, a motion to recommend confirmation of the slate (tabs 2–22, excluding tab 8) was moved and seconded, and the committee called the roll. Senators Burgess, Kalatiued, Davis, Leake, Smith, Trumbull, Vice Chair Bradley and Chair Harrell recorded affirmative votes; the nominations were moved forward to the Committee on Ethics and Elections. The transcript records that the nominee at tab 8 (John Aloco) was unable to appear due to a scheduling conflict and will be heard at a future meeting.

Votes at a glance: Confirmation slate (tabs 2–22 minus tab 8) — motion to recommend confirmation carried by roll call; recorded yes votes include Senators Burgess, Kalatiued, Davis, Leake, Smith, Trumbull, Vice Chair Bradley and Chair Harrell; nominees will advance to Ethics and Elections for final confirmation steps.

What the nominees pledged: Across interviews nominees pledged to maintain fiscal responsibility, expand high‑demand programs (notably nursing and allied health), strengthen workforce training and employer partnerships, increase dual‑enrollment and transfer opportunities, and support new campus expansions where applicable. Several nominees referenced recent hires of new college presidents and strategic planning efforts at their colleges.

Next steps: The slate will be considered by the Committee on Ethics and Elections; one nominee who did not appear will return to the subcommittee at a later date.","The Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee held individual three‑minute confirmation interviews for nominees to multiple state college boards and voted to recommend a block of nominees (tabs 2–22, except tab 8) to the Committee on Ethics and Elections. The committee emphasized workforce training, nursing programs, fiscal responsibility and—","actionData","errors"]

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Senate panel advances bill extending Bright Futures eligibility for students overseas

Senate subcommittee interviews and recommends slate of state college trustee nominees to ethics committee