The committee reported CS for CS/SB 296 favorably after debate and adoption of an amendment that replaces the statewide mandate with a local-review-and-report requirement.

Senator Bradley described the bill as a response to district implementation challenges following the 2023 law that mandated later start times beginning in 2026. He said districts have reported that complying statewide would require new buses, additional drivers and would disrupt extracurricular activities, student employment, and family logistics; he also cited safety concerns for very young students waiting early at bus stops.

The adopted amendment requires districts to document their local consideration of the health, safety and academic impacts of sleep-deprivation and to submit a report to the Department of Education. If a district submits the required documentation (describing their community engagement, strategies considered, impacts and unintended consequences), the district is treated as in compliance with the law even if it does not adopt the earlier mandated start times.

Supporters included small-district coalitions, school-board members and the Florida Education Association; witnesses and senators said the reporting requirement would not be onerous because districts have already examined the issue. Committee debate highlighted trade-offs between child sleep health and practical transportation, extracurricular, and family-work constraints.

By roll call the committee reported the amended CS for CS/SB 296 favorably; sponsors said the change aims to preserve the health benefits of later starts while giving districts flexibility and requiring accountability through reporting.