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.