HB 261 Florida House · 2025 Regular Session

Middle School and High School Start Times

Summary

Middle School and High School Start Times; Provides that schools districts & charter schools are in compliance with certain provisions relating to middle school & high school start times upon submission of specified report to DOE.

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 27, 2025 Last action Apr 29, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

H 261 Filed → H 261 c1 · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill amends Florida statutes to extend middle and high school start time requirements to charter schools and adds a compliance reporting mechanism. The changes ensure charter schools must follow the same start time rules as district schools unless they submit a specified report by June 1, 2026, detailing their implementation strategies and impacts.

Scope change

The bill now applies to charter schools in addition to district school boards, requiring them to comply with middle and high school start time requirements unless they submit a compliance report to the Department of Education.

ELIGIBILITY

Charter schools are now included in the start time requirements that previously applied only to district school boards.

REQUIREMENT

A new reporting requirement mandates that district school boards and charter schools submit a detailed report to the Department of Education by June 1, 2026, including start times, implementation strategies, and impact assessments.

The report must include specific details such as start times for all school levels, documentation of strategies considered, meeting records, parent input, and financial impact analysis.

TIMELINE

The effective date for compliance remains July 1, 2025, but charter schools gain a compliance pathway through the June 1, 2026 reporting deadline.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 26, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reported out of Education & Employment Committee

lower

Mar 26, 2025

Lower · Passed

Favorable by Education & Employment Committee

lower

Mar 24, 2025

Lower · Passed

Added to Education & Employment Committee agenda

lower

Mar 20, 2025

Lower · Passed

Now in Education & Employment Committee

lower

Mar 20, 2025

Committee

Referred to Education & Employment Committee

lower

Mar 19, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reported out of Education Administration Subcommittee

lower

Mar 19, 2025

Lower · Passed

Favorable with CS by Education Administration Subcommittee

lower

Mar 17, 2025

Lower · Passed

PCS added to Education Administration Subcommittee agenda

lower

Feb 6, 2025

Lower · Passed

Now in Education Administration Subcommittee

lower

Feb 6, 2025

Committee

Referred to Education & Employment Committee

lower

Feb 6, 2025

Committee

Referred to Education Administration Subcommittee

lower

1 primary · 5 co-sponsors