summary
Introduced
12/10/2025
12/10/2025
In Committee
12/16/2025
12/16/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
2026 Regular Session
Bill Summary
An act relating to rural counties; amending s. 212.08, F.S.; providing an exemption from the sales and use tax for industrial machinery and equipment used by wholesalers in fiscally constrained counties; amending s. 215.971, F.S.; clarifying a provision relating to agreements funded with federal or state assistance; requiring a state agency to expedite certain payment requests; amending s. 216.0153, F.S.; prohibiting the state from purchasing certain land in a fiscally constrained county; providing exceptions; requiring the Department of Environmental Protection to provide a certain explanation to a fiscally constrained county within a specified timeframe; amending s. 339.2816, F.S.; increasing the amount of an annual appropriation to the Small County Road Assistance Program beginning in a specified fiscal year; amending s. 339.2818, F.S.; authorizing a specified amount from the State Transportation Trust Fund to be used to fund the Small County Outreach Program beginning in a specified fiscal year; amending s. 409.975, F.S.; requiring the Agency for Health Care Administration to determine which providers in hospitals located in rural areas are essential Medicaid providers; creating s. 1011.79, F.S.; creating the Rural District Graduate Placement hb723-00 Incentive Pilot program within the Department of Education for a specified purpose; subject to legislative appropriation, requiring the department to provide a certain bonus to a school district or charter school located in a fiscally constrained county for specified purposes; requiring the amount of the bonus to be specified in the General Appropriations Act; providing for proration of funds; requiring a graduate's employment to be verified using certain data; requiring certain entities to assist rural school districts and charter schools with increasing the employment of certain students; requiring rural school districts and charter schools that earn a bonus to use such funds for specified purposes; providing for expiration; requiring the State Board of Education to adopt rules; providing an effective date.
AI Summary
This bill addresses multiple provisions aimed at supporting rural and fiscally constrained counties in Florida. It creates tax exemptions for industrial machinery and equipment used by food wholesalers in fiscally constrained counties, clarifies payment provisions for agreements with rural communities, and restricts state land purchases in counties with significant federal and state land ownership. The bill increases funding for the Small County Road Assistance Program and Small County Outreach Program, beginning in fiscal year 2026-2027, by raising annual allocations to $50 million. Additionally, it establishes the Rural District Graduate Placement Incentive Pilot Program within the Department of Education, which provides financial bonuses to rural school districts and charter schools in fiscally constrained counties for preparing and employing graduates with industry certifications. The program incentivizes schools to help students earn certifications, find local employment, and remain employed in their field, with the goal of supporting workforce development in rural areas. The bill also requires the Agency for Health Care Administration to identify essential Medicaid providers in rural hospitals and mandates that various local workforce and educational organizations assist rural school districts in increasing student employment. The provisions are set to take effect on July 1, 2026, and include an expiration date of July 1, 2029, for the graduate placement program.
Committee Categories
Budget and Finance
Sponsors (1)
Last Action
1st Reading (Original Filed Version) (on 01/13/2026)
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/2026/723 |
| BillText | https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/723/BillText/Filed/PDF |
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