Florida 2025 Regular Session Status: Enacted Bipartisan · 2 R · 1 D cosponsors

SB 296 — Middle School and High School Start Times

Last action — Chapter No. 2025-53

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. ✓
    Passed Senate
  4. ✓
    Passed House
  5. ✓
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 17, 2025. Enacted.

Signed by Governor Ron DeSantis (Republican) on May 21, 2025.

Odds of enactment

High chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a high chance of becoming law.

Upgrade to see the exact probability and what's driving it.

A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Likely to advance 96% · high confidence

  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 5 sponsors

    3 primary, 2 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (2 R · 1 D) — cross-party backing.

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 5 recorded votes so far.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

Summary

Middle School and High School Start Times; Providing that district school boards and charter schools, respectively, are in compliance with certain provisions relating to middle school and high school start times upon submission of a specified report to the Department of Education, etc.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

20 added · 82 removed

20 line(s) added, 82 removed.

→
Previous
Latest
Florida Senate - 2025 CS for CS for SB 296 By the Committees on Fiscal Policy;
Florida Senate - 2025 CS for SB 296 By the Committee on Education Pre-K - 12;
and Education Pre-K - 12;
and Senators Bradley, Yarborough, and Davis 581-02107-25 2025296c1 A bill to be entitled An act relating to middle school and high school start times;
and Senators Bradley, Yarborough, and Davis 594-02640-25 2025296c2 A bill to be entitled An act relating to middle school and high school start times;
amending s.
amending ss.
1001.42, F.S.;
1001.42 and 1002.33, F.S.;
deleting a requirement that middle schools and high schools start by specified times beginning in a certain year;
providing that district school boards and charter schools, respectively, are in compliance with certain provisions relating to middle school and high school start times upon submission of a specified report to the Department of Education;
requiring district school boards to consider certain benefits relating to school start times when adopting middle school and high school start times;
and the instructional Page 1 of 4 CODING:
and the instructional Page 1 of 2 CODING:
Florida Senate - 2025 CS for CS for SB 296 594-02640-25 2025296c2 day for high schools may not begin earlier than 8:30 a.m.
Florida Senate - 2025 CS for SB 296 581-02107-25 2025296c1 day for high schools may not begin earlier than 8:30 a.m.
Each district school board must inform its community, including parents, students, teachers, school administrators, athletic coaches, and other stakeholders, about the health, safety, and academic impacts of sleep deprivation on middle school and high school students and the benefits of a later school start time and discuss local strategies to successfully implement the later school start times.
Each district school board must inform its community, including parents, students, teachers, school administrators, athletic coaches, and other stakeholders, about the health, safety, and academic impacts of sleep deprivation on middle school and high school students and consider the benefits of a later school start time when adopting middle school and high and discuss local strategies to successfully implement the later school start times.
3.
A district school board shall be deemed in compliance with the requirements of subparagraph 2.
if the district school board submits to the department, by June 1, 2026, a report, in a format prescribed by the department, that includes, at a minimum, all of the following:
a.
The start times of elementary, middle, and high schools in the school district.
b.
Documentation of strategies considered to implement a later school start time for middle schools and high schools within the school district, including the number of board meetings, public hearings, and opportunities for parent input to discuss the strategies.
c.
A description of the impact of implementing the school start time requirements in subparagraph 2., including the financial impact for the school district.
d.
Identified unintended consequences to the school district, students, and the community by implementing the school start time requirements in subparagraph 2.
Paragraph (b) of subsection (16) of section 1002.33, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
1002.33 Charter schools.— Page 2 of 4 CODING:
Words stricken are deletions;
words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 2025 CS for CS for SB 296 594-02640-25 2025296c2 (16) EXEMPTION FROM STATUTES.— (b) Additionally, a charter school shall be in compliance with the following statutes:
1.
Section 286.011, relating to public meetings and records, public inspection, and criminal and civil penalties.
2.
Chapter 119, relating to public records.
3.
Section 1003.03, relating to the maximum class size, except that the calculation for compliance pursuant to s.
1003.03 shall be the average at the school level.
4.
Section 1012.22(1)(c), relating to compensation and salary schedules.
5.
Section 1012.33(5), relating to workforce reductions.
6.
Section 1012.335, relating to contracts with instructional personnel hired on or after July 1, 2011.
7.
Section 1012.34, relating to the substantive requirements for performance evaluations for instructional personnel and school administrators.
Show all 65 changed rows (25 more)
Previous
Latest
8.
Section 1006.12, relating to safe-school officers.
9.
Section 1006.07(7), relating to threat management teams.
10.
Section 1006.07(9), relating to School Environmental Safety Incident Reporting.
11.
Section 1006.07(10), relating to reporting of involuntary examinations.
12.
Section 1006.1493, relating to the Florida Safe Schools Assessment Tool.
13.
Section 1006.07(6)(d), relating to adopting an active assailant response plan.
14.
Section 943.082(4)(b), relating to the mobile suspicious activity reporting tool.
Page 3 of 4 CODING:
Words stricken are deletions;
words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 2025 CS for CS for SB 296 594-02640-25 2025296c2 15.
Section 1012.584, relating to youth mental health awareness and assistance training.
16.
Section 1001.42(4)(f)2., relating to middle school and high school start times, unless the governing board has submitted a report to the department pursuant to s.
1001.42(4)(f)3.
A charter school-in-the-workplace is exempt from this requirement.
Section 3.
Page 4 of 4 CODING:
Page 2 of 2 CODING:
⬇ Download PDF
View plain text versions (4)

Action History

  1. Chapter No. 2025-53

  2. Approved by Governor

  3. Signed by Officers and presented to Governor

  4. Ordered enrolled

  5. CS passed; YEAS 116, NAYS 0

  6. Read 3rd time

  7. Added to Third Reading Calendar

  8. Placed on 3rd reading

  9. Read 2nd time

  10. 1st Reading (Committee Substitute 2)

  11. Bill added to Special Order Calendar (4/29/2025)

  12. Bill referred to House Calendar

  13. In Messages

  14. Immediately certified

  15. CS passed; YEAS 38 NAYS 0

  16. Read 3rd time

  17. Read 2nd time

  18. CS/CS by Fiscal Policy read 1st time

  19. Placed on Special Order Calendar, 03/27/25

  20. Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading

  21. Pending reference review -under Rule 4.7(2) - (Committee Substitute)

  22. CS/CS by- Fiscal Policy; YEAS 19 NAYS 0

  23. On Committee agenda-- Fiscal Policy, 03/20/25, 9:00 am, 412 Knott Building

  24. Now in Fiscal Policy

  25. Favorable by Appropriations Committee on Pre-K - 12 Education; YEAS 8 NAYS 1

  26. CS by Education Pre-K - 12 read 1st time

  27. On Committee agenda-- Appropriations Committee on Pre-K - 12 Education, 03/11/25, 8:30 am, 37 Senate Building

  28. Now in Appropriations Committee on Pre-K - 12 Education

  29. Pending reference review under Rule 4.7(2) - (Committee Substitute)

  30. Introduced

  31. CS by Education Pre-K - 12; YEAS 6 NAYS 1

  32. On Committee agenda-- Education Pre-K - 12, 03/03/25, 3:30 pm, 412 Knott Building

  33. Referred to Education Pre-K - 12; Appropriations Committee on Pre-K - 12 Education; Fiscal Policy

  34. Filed

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

Export CSV (upgrade) →

3 sponsors · 2 co-sponsors · 159 not signed on · 1 voted No

Sponsors (3)

Co-sponsors (2)

Not signed on (159)

159 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 159 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

Passage, Third Reading

Passed 116 Yea · 0 Nay · 3 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 79002
Democrat 32001
Unaffiliated 5000
Total 116003
% of votes cast 97%0%0%3%
How each member voted (119)
Member Party Vote
Caruso — Yea
Casello — Yea
Temple — Yea
Tomkow — Yea
Lopez, V. — Yea
Alvarez, Jose Democrat Yea
Antone, Bruce Hadley Democrat Yea
Aristide, Wallace Democrat Yea
Bartleman, Robin Democrat Yea
Bracy Davis, LaVon Democrat Yea
Campbell, Daryl Democrat Yea
Chambliss, Kevin D. Democrat Yea
Cross, Lindsay Democrat Yea
Daley, Dan Democrat Yea
Daniels, Kimberly Democrat Yea
Driskell, Fentrice Democrat Yea
Dunkley, Lisa Democrat Not Voting
Edmonds, Jervonte "Tae" Democrat Yea
Eskamani, Dr. Anna V. Democrat Yea
Franklin II, Gallop Democrat Yea
Gantt, Ashley Viola Democrat Yea
Gottlieb, Michael "Mike" Democrat Yea
Harris, Jennifer "Rita" Democrat Yea
Hart-Lowman, Dianne "Ms Dee" Democrat Yea
Hinson, Yvonne Hayes Democrat Yea
Hunschofsky, Christine Democrat Yea
Joseph, Dotie Democrat Yea
López, Johanna Democrat Yea
Nixon, Angela "Angie" Democrat Yea
Rayner, Michele K. Democrat Yea
Robinson, Felicia Simone Democrat Yea
Rosenwald, Mitch Democrat Yea
Skidmore, Kelly Democrat Yea
Smith, Carlos Guillermo Democrat Yea
Spencer, Leonard Democrat Yea
Tant, Allison Democrat Yea
Tendrich, Debra Democrat Yea
Woodson, Marie Paule Democrat Yea
Abbott, Shane G. Republican Yea
Albert, Jon Republican Yea
Alvarez, Daniel Antonio "Danny" Republican Yea
Anderson, Adam Republican Yea
Andrade, Robert Alexander "Alex" Republican Yea
Baker, Jessica Republican Yea
Bankson, Douglas Michael "Doug" Republican Yea
Barnaby, Webster Republican Yea
Basabe, Fabián Republican Yea
Benarroch, Yvette Republican Yea
Berfield, Kimberly Republican Yea
Black, Dean Republican Yea
Blanco, Omar Republican Yea
Booth, Erika Republican Yea
Borrero, David Republican Yea
Botana, Adam Republican Yea
Brackett, Robert A. "Robbie" Republican Yea
Brannan III, Robert Charles "Chuck" Republican Yea
Buchanan, James Republican Yea
Busatta, Demi Republican Yea
Canady, Jennifer Republican Yea
Cassel, Hillary Republican Yea
Chamberlin, Ryan Republican Yea
Chaney, Linda Republican Yea
Cobb, Nan Republican Yea
Conerly, William "Bill" Republican Yea
Duggan, Wyman Republican Yea
Esposito, Tiffany Republican Yea
Fabricio, Tom Republican Yea
Garrison, Sam Republican Yea
Gentry, Richard Republican Yea
Gerwig, Anne Republican Yea
Giallombardo, Mike Republican Yea
Gonzalez Pittman, Karen Republican Yea
Gossett-Seidman, Peggy Republican Yea
Greco, Sam Republican Yea
Griffitts Jr., Philip Wayne "Griff" Republican Yea
Grow, J.J. Republican Yea
Holcomb, Jeff Republican Yea
Jacques, Berny Republican Yea
Johnson, Chad Republican Yea
Kendall, Kim Republican Yea
Kincart Jonsson, Jennifer Republican Yea
Koster, Traci Republican Yea
LaMarca, Chip Republican Yea
Maggard, Randall Scott "Randy" Republican Yea
Maney, Patt Republican Yea
Mayfield, Debbie Republican Yea
McClure, Lawrence Republican Yea
McFarland, Fiona Republican Yea
Melo, Lauren Republican Yea
Michael, Kiyan Republican Not Voting
Miller, Monique Republican Yea
Mooney Jr., James Vernon "Jim" Republican Yea
Nix Jr., Danny Republican Yea
Oliver, Vanessa Republican Yea
Overdorf, Tobin Rogers "Toby" Republican Yea
Owen, Michael Republican Yea
Partington, Bill Republican Yea
Perez, Daniel Republican Yea
Persons-Mulicka, Jenna Republican Yea
Plakon, Rachel Saunders Republican Yea
Plasencia, Susan Republican Not Voting
Porras, Juan Carlos Republican Yea
Redondo, Mike Republican Yea
Rizo, Alex Republican Yea
Robinson Jr., William Cloud "Will" Republican Yea
Salzman, Michelle Republican Yea
Sapp, Judson Republican Yea
Shoaf, Jason Republican Yea
Sirois, Tyler I. Republican Yea
Snyder, John Republican Yea
Stark, Paula A. Republican Yea
Steele, Kevin M. Republican Yea
Trabulsy, Dana Republican Yea
Tramont, Chase Republican Yea
Tuck, Kaylee Republican Yea
Valdés, Susan L. Republican Yea
Weinberger, Meg Republican Yea
Yarkosky, Taylor Michael Republican Yea
Yeager, Bradford Troy "Brad" Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Third Reading

Passed 38 Yea · 0 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democrat 10000
Republican 25000
Unaffiliated 2001
No Party Affiliation 1000
Total 38001
% of votes cast 97%0%0%3%
How each member voted (39)
Member Party Vote
Ingoglia — Yea
Collins — Yea
Fine — Not Voting
Arrington, Kristen Aston Democrat Yea
Berman, Lori Democrat Yea
Bernard, Mack Democrat Yea
Davis, Tracie Democrat Yea
Jones, Shevrin D. "Shev" Democrat Yea
Osgood, Rosalind Democrat Yea
Polsky, Tina Scott Democrat Yea
Rouson, Darryl Ervin Democrat Yea
Sharief, Barbara Democrat Yea
Smith, Carlos Guillermo Democrat Yea
Pizzo, Jason W. B. No Party Affiliation Yea
Albritton, Ben Republican Yea
Boyd, Jim Republican Yea
Bradley, Jennifer Republican Yea
Brodeur, Jason Republican Yea
Burgess, Danny Republican Yea
Burton, Colleen Republican Yea
Calatayud, Alexis Republican Yea
DiCeglie, Nick Republican Yea
Gaetz, Don Republican Yea
Garcia, Ileana Republican Yea
Grall, Erin Republican Yea
Gruters, Joe Republican Yea
Harrell, Gayle Republican Yea
Hooper, Ed Republican Yea
Leek, Thomas J. "Tom" Republican Yea
Martin, Jonathan Republican Yea
McClain, Stan Republican Yea
Passidomo, Kathleen Republican Yea
Rodriguez, Ana Maria Republican Yea
Simon, Corey Republican Yea
Truenow, Keith L. Republican Yea
Trumbull, Jay Republican Yea
Vacant Republican Yea
Wright, Tom A. Republican Yea
Yarborough, Clay Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Favorable with Committee Substitute

Passed 19 Yea · 0 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democrat 5000
Republican 13000
Unaffiliated 1000
Total 19000
% of votes cast 100%0%0%0%
How each member voted (19)
Member Party Vote
Ingoglia — Yea
Arrington, Kristen Aston Democrat Yea
Bernard, Mack Democrat Yea
Davis, Tracie Democrat Yea
Jones, Shevrin D. "Shev" Democrat Yea
Osgood, Rosalind Democrat Yea
Boyd, Jim Republican Yea
Bradley, Jennifer Republican Yea
Burton, Colleen Republican Yea
Calatayud, Alexis Republican Yea
Gaetz, Don Republican Yea
Gruters, Joe Republican Yea
Leek, Thomas J. "Tom" Republican Yea
Passidomo, Kathleen Republican Yea
Rodriguez, Ana Maria Republican Yea
Simon, Corey Republican Yea
Truenow, Keith L. Republican Yea
Vacant Republican Yea
Yarborough, Clay Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Favorable

Passed 8 Yea · 1 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 5100
Democrat 2000
No Party Affiliation 1000
Unaffiliated 0001
Total 8101
% of votes cast 80%10%0%10%
How each member voted (10)
Member Party Vote
Fine — Not Voting
Jones, Shevrin D. "Shev" Democrat Yea
Osgood, Rosalind Democrat Yea
Pizzo, Jason W. B. No Party Affiliation Yea
Bradley, Jennifer Republican Yea
Burgess, Danny Republican Yea
Calatayud, Alexis Republican Yea
Gaetz, Don Republican Nay
Simon, Corey Republican Yea
Yarborough, Clay Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Favorable with Committee Substitute

Passed 6 Yea · 1 Nay · 2 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democrat 2001
Republican 4100
Unaffiliated 0001
Total 6102
% of votes cast 67%11%0%22%
How each member voted (9)
Member Party Vote
Collins — Not Voting
Berman, Lori Democrat Yea
Davis, Tracie Democrat Not Voting
Osgood, Rosalind Democrat Yea
Burgess, Danny Republican Yea
Calatayud, Alexis Republican Yea
Gaetz, Don Republican Nay
Simon, Corey Republican Yea
Yarborough, Clay Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

education
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

What does SB 296 do?
Middle School and High School Start Times; Providing that district school boards and charter schools, respectively, are in compliance with certain provisions relating to middle school and high school start times upon submission of a specified report to the Department of Education, etc.
Who sponsors SB 296?
SB 296 is sponsored by Davis, Tracie (Democrat), Yarborough, Clay (Republican), Bradley, Jennifer (Republican), Education Pre-K - 12, and Fiscal Policy.
What is the current status of SB 296?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 17, 2025. Enacted.
Where can I track SB 296?
Track SB 296 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

Make your voice heard on SB 296

Find the representatives who decide this bill and tell them where you stand — for yourself, or mobilize your whole list in one click with One Click Politics advocacy software.

Find my representatives → Run a campaign

Stay ahead of SB 296

Last checked for changes 2 months ago · updated continuously

One Click Politics tracks every bill in Congress and all 50 states.

Track this bill →