FL H5601

Bill

FL H5601

Higher Education

Introduced
02/16/2026

In Committee
02/19/2026

Crossed Over
02/19/2026

Passed

Dead

Introduced Session

2026 Regular Session

Bill Summary

An act relating to higher education; amending s. 1001.706, F.S.; revising requirements for certain funds held in an escrow account relating to certain capital outlay projects; creating s. 1004.342, F.S.; providing definitions; transferring specified assets and liabilities from the University of South Florida Sarasota/Manatee to New College of Florida by specified dates; requiring New College of Florida to provide a specified monthly payment to the University of South Florida until such transfer is complete; requiring such transfer to be in a written joint transfer agreement; providing requirements for such agreement and the transfer of such assets and liabilities; requiring a facility use agreement between the University of South Florida Sarasota/Manatee and New College of Florida; providing requirements for such agreement; providing construction; providing applicability; providing specified immunity from liability; providing for future repeal; amending s. 1004.344, F.S.; removing the requirement for the Florida Center for the Partnerships for Arts Integrated Teaching to be physically housed at the University of South Florida Sarasota/Manatee; amending s. 1009.24, F.S.; revising programs for which the Board of Governors may establish tuition; authorizing state university boards of trustees to establish out-of-state fees for nonresident students; removing a provision requiring that adjustments to certain out-of-state fees not exceed a certain amount; removing a provision requiring certain actions to be taken by a state university in accordance with Board of Governors regulations; removing a requirement for a block tuition policy for nonresident undergraduate students; repealing sections 5, 7, and 9 of chapter 2025-199, Laws of Florida, relating to the future repeal of amendments to ss. 1011.45, 1009.26, and 1004.89, F.S.; amending s. 1011.45, F.S.; removing an obsolete date; amending s. 1011.90, F.S.; authorizing state funds to be used to support specified requirements in state and federal law; amending s. 1013.01, F.S.; revising the definition of the term "educational facilities"; providing an effective date.

AI Summary

This bill makes several changes to Florida's higher education system, including revising requirements for funds held in escrow for capital outlay projects, transferring assets and liabilities from the University of South Florida Sarasota/Manatee (USFSM) to New College of Florida (New College) by specified dates, with New College making monthly payments to USF until the transfer is complete and requiring a joint written transfer agreement and a facility use agreement between the two institutions, while also removing the requirement for the Florida Center for the Partnerships for Arts Integrated Teaching to be physically housed at USFSM. Additionally, the bill revises tuition and fee structures for state universities, allowing university boards of trustees to establish out-of-state fees for nonresident students without certain previous limitations, and repeals specific sections of a prior law related to future repeals of amendments. It also removes an obsolete date from a section on end-of-year fund balances, authorizes state funds to support requirements of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and related state law, and revises the definition of "educational facilities" to include research use areas.

Sponsors (1)

Demi Busatta Cabrera (R)*,

Other Sponsors (1)

Higher Education Budget Subcommittee (House)

Last Action

Conference Committee appointed (on 02/20/2026)

Official Document

https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/5601

(2 Companion Bills)

Version:

Document Type	Source Location
State Bill Page	https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/5601
BillText	https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/5601/BillText/Filed/PDF
Analysis - Higher Education Budget Subcommittee (Post-Meeting)	https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/5601/Analyses/h5601.HEB.PDF

Bill	Bill Name	Last Action	Type
H5001	General Appropriations Act	Conference Committee appointed: Appropriations Conference Committee/Budget: Senator Hooper, Chair; Senators Berman, Boyd, Brodeur, Gruters, Passidomo, and Rouson, At Large; Appropriations Conference Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government/Agriculture & Natural Resources: Senator Brodeur, Chair; Senators Arrington, Berman, DiCeglie, Grall, Massullo, McClain, Pizzo, Rodriguez, Sharief, and Truenow; Appropriations Conference Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government/State Administration: Senator Brodeur, Chair; Senators Arrington, Berman, DiCeglie, Grall, Massullo, McClain, Pizzo, Rodriguez, Sharief, and Truenow; Appropriations Conference Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice/Justice: Senator Garcia, Chair; Senators Martin, Osgood, Polsky, Simon, Smith, Wright, and Yarborough; Appropriations Conference Committee on Health and Human Services/Health Care: Senator Trumbull, Chair; Senators Brodeur, Burton, Davis, Garcia, Harrell, Rodriguez, Rouson, and Sharief; Appropriations Conference Committee on Higher Education/Higher Education: Senator Harrell, Chair; Senators Bracy Davis, Bradley, Burgess, Calatayud, Davis, and Leek; Appropriations Conference Committee on Pre-K – 12 Education/Pre-K – 12: Senator Burgess, Chair; Senators Bradley, Calatayud, Gaetz, Jones, Massullo, Osgood, Pizzo, Simon, and Yarborough; Appropriations Conference Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development/Transportation & Economic Development: Senator DiCeglie, Chair; Senators Arrington, Avila, Bernard, Bracy Davis, Grall, Leek, Martin, Mayfield, McClain, Polsky, Smith, Truenow, and Wright.	Similar To
S2500	Appropriations	Laid on Table, refer to HB 5001	Similar To

Bill > H5601

summary

Introduced Session

Bill Summary

AI Summary

Sponsors (1)

Other Sponsors (1)

Last Action

Official Document

bill text

bill summary

bill summary

bill summary