Florida 2025 Regular Session Status: In Committee Bipartisan · 22 R · 10 D · 1 I cosponsors

SB 540 — Disability History and Awareness Instruction

Last action — Laid on Table, companion bill(s) passed, see CS/HB 447 (Ch. 2025-49)

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

This bill died with 2025 Regular Session. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there is no live prognosis. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Summary

Disability History and Awareness Instruction; Citing this act as the "Evin B. Hartsell Act"; requiring the Department of Education to develop specified curricula; authorizing the department to consult with the Evin B. Hartsell Foundation to further develop such curricula, etc.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

41 added · 70 removed

41 line(s) added, 70 removed.

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Florida Senate - 2025 SB 540 By Senator Collins 14-00597B-25 2025540__ A bill to be entitled An act relating to disability history and awareness instruction;
Florida Senate - 2025 CS for SB 540 By the Committee on Education Pre-K - 12;
and Senators Collins and Burgess 581-03086-25 2025540c1 A bill to be entitled An act relating to disability history and awareness instruction;
requiring, rather than authorizing, disability history and awareness instruction;
requiring the Department of Education to develop specified curricula;
requiring that disability history and awareness instruction include specified material;
authorizing the department to consult with the Evin B.
authorizing a district school board to consult with the Evin B.
Hartsell Foundation to further develop such curricula;
Hartsell Foundation to further develop material;
1003.4205 Disability history and awareness instruction.— (2)(a) During this 2-week period, students must may be provided intensive instruction to expand their knowledge, understanding, and awareness of individuals with disabilities, the history of disability, and the disability rights movement.
1003.4205 Disability history and awareness instruction.— (2)(a) During this 2-week period, students may be provided intensive instruction to expand their knowledge, understanding, and awareness of individuals with disabilities, the history of disability, and the disability rights movement.
Instruction must include the following material:
The Department of Education shall develop the following curricula for the grade levels specified:
Page 1 of 3 CODING:
a.
For kindergarten through grade 3, an introduction to Page 1 of 2 CODING:
Florida Senate - 2025 SB 540 14-00597B-25 2025540__ a.
Florida Senate - 2025 CS for SB 540 581-03086-25 2025540c1 physical disabilities and bullying.
For grades K-3:
(I) Conversations on bullying.
Such conversations may address what students should do if they are being bullied, what they should do if they see someone being bullied, why bullying is not the victim’s fault, what different types of bullying look like, the possibility that a friend could be a bully, or the school’s antibullying policy.
(II) Activities to teach about physical disabilities.
Such activities may include having students take turns using a wheelchair, having students try to complete tasks using only one hand, or having students try to complete tasks with a blindfold while other students act as guides.
For grades 4-6:
For grades 4 through 6, autism spectrum disorder.
(I) Information about autism spectrum disorder.
(II) Activities that demonstrate what life with an autism spectrum disorder is like.
Such activities may include requiring students to attempt to communicate with one another without speaking.
For grades 7-9:
For grades 7 through 9, hearing impairments.
(I) Information about hearing impairments.
(II) Activities that demonstrate what life with hearing impairment is like.
Such activities may include requiring students to wear ear plugs and attempt to listen as the teacher reads aloud while noise plays in the background or requiring students to attempt to read one another’s lips.
For grades 10-12:
For grades 10 through 12, learning styles and intellectual disabilities.
(I) Information on different types of learning and intellectual disabilities.
(II) Activities that demonstrate what life with a learning Page 2 of 3 CODING:
Words stricken are deletions;
words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 2025 SB 540 14-00597B-25 2025540__ or intellectual disability is like.
Such activities may include requiring students to read sentences written backwards.
A district school board may consult with the Evin B.
The department may consult with the Evin B.
Page 3 of 3 CODING:
Page 2 of 2 CODING:
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How this bill changes current law

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AI-generated reading aid from the bill's amendatory text — verify against the official bill.

The bill requires the Florida Department of Education to develop specific curricula related to disability history and awareness and allows consultation with the Evin B. Hartsell Foundation for curriculum development.

  • 1003.4205

    The Department of Education shall develop the following curricula for the grade levels specified: a. For kindergarten through grade 3, an introduction to physical disabilities and bullying. b. For grades 4 through 6, autism spectrum disorder. c. For grades 7 through 9, hearing impairments. d. For grades 10 through 12, learning styles and intellectual disabilities.

    This addition establishes specific educational curricula related to disability awareness for various grade levels.

  • 1003.4205

    The department may consult with the Evin B. Hartsell Foundation to further develop the curricula in subparagraph 1.

    This allows the Department of Education to seek expertise from the Evin B. Hartsell Foundation in developing the curricula.

Action History

  1. Laid on Table, companion bill(s) passed, see CS/HB 447 (Ch. 2025-49)

  2. Substituted CS/HB 447

  3. Read 2nd time

  4. Placed on Special Order Calendar, 04/28/25

  5. Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading

  6. Favorable by- Rules; YEAS 23 NAYS 0

  7. On Committee agenda-- Rules, 04/16/25, 8:30 am, 412 Knott Building

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

  9. Now in Rules

  10. Remaining references corrected to Rules

  11. Original reference(s) removed: Appropriations Committee on Pre-K - 12 Education

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

  13. CS by Education Pre-K - 12; YEAS 9 NAYS 0

  14. On Committee agenda-- Education Pre-K - 12, 03/31/25, 4:00 pm, 412 Knott Building

  15. Introduced

  16. Referred to Education Pre-K - 12; Appropriations Committee on Pre-K - 12 Education; Rules

  17. Filed

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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2 sponsors · 34 co-sponsors · 128 not signed on

Sponsors (2)

  • Collins
  • Education Pre-K - 12

Co-sponsors (34)

Not signed on (128)

128 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 128 →

"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

Motion to Co-Introduce, Second Reading

Passed 35 Yea · 0 Nay · 3 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democrat 10000
Republican 22003
Unaffiliated 2000
No Party Affiliation 1000
Total 35003
% of votes cast 92%0%0%8%
How each member voted (38)
Member Party Vote
Ingoglia — Yea
Collins — Yea
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 Not Voting
Gruters, Joe Republican Not Voting
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 Not Voting

Official roll call →

Favorable

Passed 23 Yea · 0 Nay · 2 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democrat 4001
Republican 17001
Unaffiliated 1000
No Party Affiliation 1000
Total 23002
% of votes cast 92%0%0%8%
How each member voted (25)
Member Party Vote
Ingoglia — Yea
Berman, Lori Democrat Yea
Davis, Tracie Democrat Yea
Jones, Shevrin D. "Shev" Democrat Not Voting
Osgood, Rosalind Democrat Yea
Rouson, Darryl Ervin Democrat Yea
Pizzo, Jason W. B. No Party Affiliation Yea
Boyd, Jim Republican Yea
Bradley, Jennifer Republican Yea
Brodeur, Jason Republican Yea
Burgess, Danny Republican Yea
Burton, Colleen Republican Yea
DiCeglie, Nick Republican Yea
Gaetz, Don Republican Yea
Garcia, Ileana Republican Yea
Gruters, Joe Republican Yea
Harrell, Gayle Republican Yea
Hooper, Ed Republican Yea
Martin, Jonathan Republican Yea
Passidomo, Kathleen Republican Yea
Rodriguez, Ana Maria Republican Yea
Simon, Corey Republican Yea
Trumbull, Jay Republican Yea
Vacant Republican Not Voting
Wright, Tom A. Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Favorable with Committee Substitute

Passed 9 Yea · 0 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democrat 3000
Republican 5000
Unaffiliated 1000
Total 9000
% of votes cast 100%0%0%0%
How each member voted (9)
Member Party Vote
Collins — Yea
Berman, Lori Democrat Yea
Davis, Tracie Democrat Yea
Osgood, Rosalind Democrat Yea
Burgess, Danny Republican Yea
Calatayud, Alexis Republican Yea
Gaetz, Don Republican Yea
Simon, Corey Republican Yea
Yarborough, Clay Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

education
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Frequently asked questions

What does SB 540 do?
Disability History and Awareness Instruction; Citing this act as the "Evin B. Hartsell Act"; requiring the Department of Education to develop specified curricula; authorizing the department to consult with the Evin B. Hartsell Foundation to further develop such curricula, etc.
Who sponsors SB 540?
SB 540 is sponsored by Trumbull, Jay (Republican), Truenow, Keith L. (Republican), Simon, Corey (Republican), Sharief, Barbara (Democrat), Rouson, Darryl Ervin (Democrat), Rodriguez, Ana Maria (Republican), Polsky, Tina Scott (Democrat), Pizzo, Jason W. B. (No Party Affiliation), Passidomo, Kathleen (Republican), Osgood, Rosalind (Democrat), McClain, Stan (Republican), Martin, Jonathan (Republican), Leek, Thomas J. "Tom" (Republican), Jones, Shevrin D. "Shev" (Democrat), Ingoglia, Hooper, Ed (Republican), Garcia, Ileana (Republican), DiCeglie, Nick (Republican), Davis, Tracie (Democrat), Calatayud, Alexis (Republican), Burton, Colleen (Republican), Brodeur, Jason (Republican), Bradley, Jennifer (Republican), Boyd, Jim (Republican), Bernard, Mack (Democrat), Berman, Lori (Democrat), Arrington, Kristen Aston (Democrat), Albritton, Ben (Republican), Gaetz, Don (Republican), Wright, Tom A. (Republican), Harrell, Gayle (Republican), Burgess, Danny (Republican), Collins, Education Pre-K - 12, Vacant (Republican), and Smith, Carlos Guillermo (Democrat).
What is the current status of SB 540?
This bill died with 2025 Regular Session. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track SB 540?
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