SB 7030 Florida Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Educational Scholarship Programs

Summary

Educational Scholarship Programs; Creating an operating categorical fund for implementing the Family Empowerment Scholarship Program; creating the educational enrollment stabilization program to provide supplemental state funds to address changes in full-time equivalent student enrollment; requiring that specified data include a verification that certain full-time equivalent student membership survey data has been cross-checked by the department; renaming the Hope Scholarship Program as the Hope Program; requiring the Department of Education to work with eligible nonprofit scholarship-funding organizations to resolve discrepancies in certain student funding, etc.

Bill status died 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Apr 2025

Committee Review

Jun 2025

Senate Passage

Apr 2025

House Passage

Apr 2025

Governor

Introduced Apr 2, 2025 Last action Jun 16, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

S 7030 e1 → S 7030 pb · 10 edits

MAJOR

This bill updates Florida's educational scholarship programs by renaming the Hope Scholarship Program to the Hope Program, creating new funding mechanisms for the Family Empowerment Scholarship Program, and establishing an Educational Enrollment Stabilization Program to protect school district funding. The bill also introduces stricter background screening requirements for private school owners and employees, expands scholarship fund usage to include digital devices and career organization fees, and adds provisions for personalized education programs.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of scholarship programs to include personalized education programs and adds new eligibility criteria for students with disabilities. It also extends the applicability of background screening requirements to private school employees and contractors.

FISCAL

Created an Educational Enrollment Stabilization Program to provide supplemental state funds to school districts experiencing enrollment declines or funding shortfalls.

Expanded authorized uses of scholarship funds to include digital devices, membership dues for Career and Technical Student Organizations, and specialized services for students with disabilities.

DEFINITION

Renamed the Hope Scholarship Program to the Hope Program and updated related terminology throughout the statute.

REQUIREMENT

Added pre-payment verification requirements where organizations must verify continued student eligibility before disbursing scholarship payments.

Introduced stricter background screening requirements for private school owners, operators, and employees, including fingerprinting and FBI checks.

Required private schools to publish information about their programs and provide quarterly progress reports to parents.

ELIGIBILITY

Expanded scholarship eligibility to include personalized education programs and added specific provisions for students with disabilities.

Removed provisions allowing public school students to receive scholarships for transportation.

TIMELINE

Updated application deadlines and payment schedules, with specific dates for the 2025-2026 school year and subsequent years.

ENFORCEMENT

Added provisions for the Department of Education to investigate complaints and suspend payments to non-compliant private schools.

S 7030 c1 → S 7030 e1 · 10 edits

MAJOR

This bill updates Florida's educational scholarship programs by renaming the Hope Scholarship Program to the Hope Program, creating a new educational enrollment stabilization program to protect school district funding, and implementing stricter verification and background screening requirements for scholarship providers and private schools. The changes also establish new application windows, modify scholarship eligibility criteria, and add provisions for digital device usage and specialized services for students with disabilities.

Scope change

The bill expands oversight and accountability requirements for scholarship programs while maintaining the core structure of educational scholarship funding. It adds new stabilization funding mechanisms and modifies eligibility verification processes.

DEFINITION

Renamed the Hope Scholarship Program to the Hope Program

FISCAL

Created a new educational enrollment stabilization program to provide supplemental state funds when student enrollment changes affect school district funding

REQUIREMENT

Established two annual application approval windows (fall and spring) with specific deadlines for scholarship applications

Added mandatory background screening requirements for owners, operators, and employees of private schools participating in scholarship programs

Required private schools to undergo annual audits and submit compliance reports when receiving over $250,000 in scholarship funds

Required parents to verify continued eligibility and provide documentation before each scholarship payment

ELIGIBILITY

Modified scholarship eligibility criteria and priority ordering for students based on household income levels and special circumstances

SCOPE

Expanded authorized uses of scholarship funds to include digital devices, membership dues for Career and Technical Student Organizations, and specialized services for students with disabilities

TIMELINE

Set specific deadlines for scholarship application windows, payment schedules, and verification processes

ENFORCEMENT

Added provisions for suspending or revoking scholarship program participation for schools that fail to comply with requirements

S 7030 Filed → S 7030 c1 · 10 edits

MAJOR

This bill significantly updates Florida's educational scholarship programs, including renaming the Hope Scholarship Program to the Hope Program, creating new funding mechanisms for the Family Empowerment Scholarship Program, and establishing an educational enrollment stabilization program to address funding fluctuations. The legislation also introduces stricter background screening requirements for private school owners and employees, expands scholarship eligibility for certain students, and adds new compliance and reporting obligations for scholarship organizations and private schools.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of scholarship programs by adding new eligibility categories, increasing funding mechanisms, and extending certain provisions to include additional student populations while maintaining core scholarship structure.

DEFINITION

Renamed the Hope Scholarship Program to the Hope Program and updated related statutory references throughout the code.

FISCAL

Created a new operating categorical fund for the Family Empowerment Scholarship Program and established an educational enrollment stabilization program to provide supplemental state funds when student enrollment changes affect district funding.

ELIGIBILITY

Updated scholarship eligibility criteria and priority ordering, with specific provisions for students with disabilities and those affected by incidents at public schools.

Deleted provisions allowing public school students to receive scholarships for transportation purposes.

REQUIREMENT

Added new verification requirements for continued eligibility before each scholarship payment, including parent attestations about school enrollment status.

Established two application approval windows each school year (fall and spring) with specific deadlines, replacing previous single application periods.

Added new provisions requiring private schools to provide independent certified public accountant reports if they receive more than $250,000 in scholarship funds annually.

ENFORCEMENT

Implemented enhanced background screening requirements for private school owners, operators, and employees, including fingerprinting and FBI checks every five years.

TIMELINE

Updated scholarship payment schedules and application deadlines, with specific provisions for the 2025-2026 school year transitioning to new requirements.

SCOPE

Expanded authorized uses of scholarship funds to include membership dues for Career and Technical Student Organizations and specialized summer and after-school education programs.

Floor votes · Senate Apr 9, 2025 · House Apr 9, 2025

How they voted

35–2

Passed · 1 other

Total votes 38

Apr 9, 2025

D Democratic10

8 Yea 2 Nay

80% Yea

I Independent1

1 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican27

26 Yea 1

96% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Jun 2, 2025

Upper · Passed

Conference Committee appointed: Appropriations Conference Committee/Budget: Hooper (Chair), Berman (At Large), Boyd (At Large), Brodeur (At Large), Gruters (At Large), Passidomo (At Large), Rouson (At Large); Appropriations Conference Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government/Agriculture and Natural Resources: Brodeur (Chair), Arrington, Berman, Burton, Collins, DiCeglie, Grall, McClain, Pizzo, Rodriguez, Sharief, Truenow, Boyd (At Large), Gruters (At Large), Passidomo (At La

upper

Jun 2, 2025

Lower · Passed

Conference Committee appointed

lower

Jun 2, 2025

Lower · Passed

Bill placed in Conference (Appropriations Conference Committee/Budget)

lower

Apr 9, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed the Senate bill as amended by House and we accede to conference

lower

Apr 9, 2025

Lower · Passed

CS passed as amended; YEAS 80, NAYS 27

lower

Apr 9, 2025

Lower · Passed

Amendment 225079 adopted

lower

Apr 9, 2025

Committee

Bill referred to House Calendar

lower

Apr 9, 2025

Upper · Passed

The Senate requests that the House pass the bill as passed by the Senate or agree to include the bill in the Budget Conference

upper

Apr 9, 2025

Upper · Passed

CS passed as amended; YEAS 35 NAYS 2

upper

Apr 9, 2025

Upper · Passed

Amendment(s) adopted (247708, 548044)

upper

Apr 4, 2025

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Apr 2, 2025

Introduced

upper

Mar 31, 2025

Upper · Passed

On Committee agenda-- Appropriations, 04/03/25, 9:00 am, 412 Knott Building --Meeting cancelled

upper

Mar 28, 2025

Upper · Passed

On Committee agenda-- Appropriations, 04/02/25, 9:00 am, 412 Knott Building

upper

Mar 28, 2025

Committee

Referred to Appropriations

upper

Mar 26, 2025

Upper · Passed

Submitted as Committee Bill and Reported Favorably by Appropriations Committee on Pre-K - 12 Education; YEAS 8 NAYS 1

upper

Mar 21, 2025

Upper · Passed

On Committee agenda-- Appropriations Committee on Pre-K - 12 Education, 03/26/25, 1:00 pm, 37 Senate Building

upper

Mar 21, 2025

Upper · Passed

Submitted for consideration by Appropriations Committee on Pre-K - 12 Education

upper

0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

What changed between versions

How they voted

Actions timeline

Sponsors