The PreK-12 Appropriations Subcommittee met and reported favorably on a series of education bills, advancing measures that range from requiring automated external defibrillators and training in schools to changes in teacher-preparation standards and modifications to the state school readiness program.

The package included bills on international baccalaureate teacher bonuses (CS for SB 754), Florida Virtual School updates (CS for SB 1122), mandatory cardiac-emergency plans and an AED in every public school (CS for SB 430), teacher-preparation reforms and new certification pathways (CS for SB 1590), a broader education bill that includes a wireless-device pilot and charter monitoring tools (CS for SB 1702), required human-trafficking awareness training for school staff (CS for SB 444), an expansion of hazardous-walking-condition definitions that can trigger student transportation (CS for SB 650), supports for military-connected students (CS for SB 1528), moving the Council on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys to Florida Memorial University (CS for SB 364), and changes to the school readiness program and eligibility tiers for economically disadvantaged families (SB 1102; CS for SB 1382).

Why it matters: several of the bills set statewide operational mandates for school districts (for example, AED access and human-trafficking training) or adjust eligibility and program rules affecting early-learning funding and teacher preparation. Lawmakers and witnesses debated costs, implementation timelines and the scope of curriculum language in teacher-preparation standards.

Most significant discussion and testimony

Cardiac emergencies and AEDs (CS for SB 430): Senator Rosalind Osgood explained the bill’s requirements for a cardiac emergency response plan in every public school, coordination with local emergency providers, and training for students and staff in CPR and AED use. Tiffany McCaskill (American Heart Association) described the evidence behind AED programs, saying, "This can triple the chances of survival," and urged support. The bill requires one operational AED in addition to existing requirements in Florida Statute 1006.165 for FHSAA member schools; it also specifies publicized placement and maintenance per manufacturer recommendations. Committee discussion noted that many districts reported existing AED coverage, and the committee chair signaled a willingness to consider funding support for gaps identified by districts.

Teacher preparation and academic-content language (CS for SB 1590): Senator Daniel Burgess offered an amendment that moves the bill from a task force to concrete steps: the Department of Education (DOE) must convene a work group to update the Florida Educator Accomplished Practices (FEAPs), revise uniform core curricula for teacher-prep programs, update the Florida Teacher Excellence Examination, and implement an on-the-job alternative pathway (the Coaching for Educator Readiness and Teaching Certification program). Aureli(e) Colon La Raurie (Southern Poverty Law Center) spoke in opposition to a provision (lines 62–67 in the strike-all amendment) she described as restricting how faculty may teach systemic racism, sexism and oppression; she said the language could prohibit accurate teaching of U.S. history. Senator Burgess said the lines referenced already in statute were cross-references to prior teacher-prep law. The committee adopted the amendment and then reported the bill favorably.

Human-trafficking awareness training (CS for SB 444): Senator Avila presented a delete-all amendment that retained a requirement for public-school faculty, administrators and staff to receive human-trafficking awareness training, and directed DOE to identify a no-cost curriculum and require districts (and charter schools) to ensure instructional personnel who come in contact with students receive the training. Lauren Evans and Tazara Fields, student advocates from the FSU College of Law’s Human Trafficking and Exploitation Law Project, gave testimony describing Florida’s high rates of commercial sexual exploitation of minors and urged passage. The committee adopted the amendment and reported the bill favorably.

School readiness and economically disadvantaged definitions (SB 1102; CS for SB 1382): Senator Claudia (Kalata) Yud explained revisions to how the program defines "economically disadvantaged," moving from a federal poverty threshold to tiers tied to state median income (two tiers: at or below 55% of state median income, and 55%–65%). The bill also requires uniform waitlist tracking and asks the Early Learning Estimating Conference to consider population and full-time equivalents in forecasting. An amendment ensured the first priority tier includes families at and below 55 percent. Supporting organizations (for example, United Way of Florida and the Florida Chamber of Commerce) waived in support; the bills were reported favorably.

Other notable items

- CS for SB 1702 was amended to incorporate a pilot on wireless communication device use in schools and includes a provision authorizing two years of marching band to count toward a high-school graduation performing-arts/PE requirement (with exceptions for personal fitness/adaptive PE where an IEP is required). Ken Kneetman (Florida Charter School Alliance) supported the bill’s provision for a DOE-developed standardized charter monitoring tool to reduce inconsistent district oversight.
- CS for SB 650 clarified that limited-access facilities (roads where abutting landowners lack easement access) qualify as hazardous walking conditions that can trigger transportation; committee members asked how districts would fund new transportation obligations and the sponsor said the bill contains no dedicated funding.

Votes at a glance (committee action)

- CS for SB 754 (International Baccalaureate teacher bonuses, theory-of-knowledge exam): reported favorably.
- CS for SB 1122 (Florida Virtual School updates): reported favorably.
- CS for SB 430 (Cardiac-emergency plans, AEDs in public schools): reported favorably.
- CS for SB 1590 (Educator preparation reform; updated FEAPs; alternative certification): reported favorably (amendment adopted).
- CS for SB 1702 (Education omnibus: wireless-device pilot, charter monitoring tools, marching-band credit): reported favorably (amendment adopted).
- CS for SB 444 (Human-trafficking awareness training for school staff, DOE to identify no-cost curriculum): reported favorably (delete-all amendment adopted).
- CS for SB 650 (Hazardous walking conditions / limited-access facilities): reported favorably (delete-all amendment adopted).
- CS for SB 1528 (Educational opportunities for military children, Interstate Compact implementation): reported favorably.
- CS for SB 364 (Council on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys moved to Florida Memorial University): reported favorably.
- SB 1102 (School readiness program adjustments for early identification and special-needs services): reported favorably.
- CS for SB 1382 (Access to school readiness programs for economically disadvantaged households; income tiers): reported favorably (technical amendment adopted).

Committee disposition: All listed bills were reported favorably by the committee during the session; roll-call yes/no breakdowns were recorded at the time of each vote on the transcript but the committee minutes summarized each as "reported favorably." The transcript does not provide a single consolidated numeric tally for each bill in plain text; formal roll-call entries are contained in the meeting record.

What’s next: Bills reported favorably by the PreK-12 Appropriations Subcommittee will proceed through the legislative process to subsequent committees or chamber action per regular procedure.

Sources: Transcript of the PreK-12 Appropriations Subcommittee hearing; witness testimony included in the hearing record.