summary
Introduced
10/20/2025
10/20/2025
In Committee
11/03/2025
11/03/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
2026 Regular Session
Bill Summary
An act relating to nursing education programs; amending s. 464.008, F.S.; requiring applicants for nurse licensure seeking to take the licensing examination more than 6 months after graduation to first complete a remedial course approved or developed by the Board of Nursing; requiring the board to develop the course in consultation with the Florida Center for Nursing and make it available on its website for free to applicants experiencing hardship; requiring the Department of Health to issue temporary provisional licenses to graduate professional nurses and graduate practical nurses meeting certain criteria; specifying requirements for the temporary provisional license; providing that temporary provisional licensees may practice only under direct supervision and subject to a written protocol with a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse, as applicable; requiring the board to adopt rules; amending s. 464.019, F.S.; revising application requirements for nursing education program approval; specifying preceptorship requirements; requiring the Florida Center for Nursing to develop graduate nursing preceptorship standards by a specified date; requiring the board to incorporate the standards into rule; authorizing the board to consider certain adverse actions in determining program approval; requiring program directors to notify the board of certain adverse actions within a specified timeframe; requiring the board to deny a program’s application under certain circumstances; authorizing the board to investigate the nature of a certain adverse action and take specified actions; clarifying that an approved program’s director is responsible for submitting certain annual reports to the board; requiring the board to terminate a program under certain circumstances; providing penalties for program directors found to be in violation of specified provisions; revising remediation procedures for approved programs with graduate passage rates that do not meet specified requirements; subjecting program directors of approved programs to specified disciplinary action under certain circumstances; deleting a provision authorizing the board to extend a program’s probationary status; authorizing agents or employees of the department to conduct onsite evaluations and inspections of approved and accredited nursing education programs; authorizing the department to collect evidence as part of such evaluations and inspections; deeming the failure or refusal of a program to allow such evaluation or inspection a violation of a legal obligation; requiring program directors to ensure that graduate passage rates are conspicuously posted on their program’s website; revising rulemaking authority of the board; deleting a provision authorizing approved nursing education programs to request an extension to meet the board’s accreditation requirements; amending s. 464.022, F.S.; providing construction; providing an effective date.
AI Summary
This bill makes several changes to nursing education and licensure requirements in Florida, including requiring applicants for nurse licensure who haven't taken the exam within six months of graduation to complete a remedial course approved by the Board of Nursing, which will also develop a free online version for those facing hardship, and allows the Department of Health to issue temporary provisional licenses to recent graduates who can practice under direct supervision with a written protocol. It also revises the approval process for nursing education programs, introducing new requirements for program directors, faculty, curriculum, and student support, including standardized admission criteria and exit examinations to assess readiness for the NCLEX (National Council of Licensure Examination), and mandates that programs with lower-than-average graduate passage rates offer a graduate nursing preceptorship, a mentorship program designed to provide practical experience, with the Florida Center for Nursing developing standards for these programs. Furthermore, the bill strengthens oversight of nursing programs by allowing the Department of Health to conduct onsite evaluations, requires programs to post their graduate passage rates online, and clarifies that program directors are responsible for annual reports and face penalties for violations, while also revising remediation procedures for programs with low passage rates and allowing the board to consider adverse actions taken against programs by other states when determining approval.
Committee Categories
Budget and Finance
Sponsors (1)
Other Sponsors (1)
Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services (Senate)
Last Action
Pending reference review under Rule 4.7(2) - (Committee Substitute) (on 02/27/2026)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/254 |
| BillText | https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/254/BillText/c1/HTML |
| Analysis - Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services (Post-Meeting) | https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/254/Analyses/2026s00254.ahs.PDF |
| https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/254/Amendment/639802/HTML | |
| Analysis - Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services (Pre-Meeting) | https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/254/Analyses/2026s00254.pre.ahs.PDF |
| Analysis - Health Policy (Post-Meeting) | https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/254/Analyses/2026s00254.hp.PDF |
| Analysis - Health Policy (Pre-Meeting) | https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/254/Analyses/2026s00254.pre.hp.PDF |
| BillText | https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/254/BillText/Filed/HTML |
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