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FL H1253

FL H1253
Athletics in Public K-12 Schools


summary

Introduced
01/08/2026
In Committee
02/25/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead

Introduced Session

2026 Regular Session

Bill Summary

An act relating to athletics in public K-12 schools; amending s. 1006.20, F.S.; requiring the Florida High School Athletic Association to adopt bylaws authorizing certain coaches to support the welfare of a student by using personal funds to provide certain effects to the student; providing requirements for such bylaws; requiring the coach to report such use of personal funds to the association; providing that such use of personal funds is presumed not to be an impermissible benefit; providing exceptions; providing a limitation on the annual amount of personal funds a coach may use per athletic team per year, beginning on a specified date; authorizing other athletic associations to adopt similar bylaws; amending ss. 768.135, 1002.20, 1006.165, and 1012.468, F.S.; conforming cross-references; providing an effective date.

AI Summary

This bill requires the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA), the governing body for high school sports in Florida, to create rules allowing coaches to use their own money to help students with essential needs like food, transportation, and medical services, provided parents give written permission. These rules will clarify what constitutes an "athletic team" and limit one coach per team to provide such support. Coaches must report their spending, and this spending is generally considered acceptable unless it's not reported, not done in good faith, or used for recruiting. Starting July 1, 2026, coaches will be limited to spending $15,000 per athletic team annually on these student welfare provisions, and other athletic associations can adopt similar policies. The bill also makes conforming changes to other Florida Statutes related to volunteer physicians, student and parent rights, and background checks for certain contractors.

Committee Categories

Education

Sponsors (6)

Other Sponsors (2)

Education & Employment Committee (House), Student Academic Success Subcommittee (House)

Last Action

Added to Second Reading Calendar (on 02/25/2026)

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