HB 1059 Florida House · 2026 Regular Session

Speech and Debate Education

Summary

Speech and Debate Education; Designates Florida Speech & Debate Week annually in February; subject to legislative appropriation, establishing Florida Debate Initiative, Inc., (FDI) as statewide speech & debate organization that performs certain functions in support of Florida Civics & Debate Initiative (FCDI) in DOE; provides duties of FDI & FCDI.

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 6, 2026 Last action Mar 11, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

H 1059 c1 → H 1059 c2 · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was significantly expanded from a simple observance of 'Florida Speech and Debate Week' in November to a comprehensive education initiative. It now establishes the 'Florida Debate Initiative, Inc.' (FDI) as a nonprofit organization to manage and expand civics and debate programs statewide, moving beyond just designating a week to actively funding and operating a program. The observance period was also changed from the first week of November to February 1-7.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from a symbolic designation of a week to the creation of a funded statewide program and a new nonprofit organization responsible for managing and expanding speech and debate activities.

SCOPE

Created a new nonprofit organization, the Florida Debate Initiative, Inc. (FDI), to manage statewide speech and debate programs.

Expanded the bill to include the creation of a new statute (s. 1000.09) detailing the duties, partnerships, and authorized uses of funds for the new initiative.

FISCAL

Authorized the establishment of the FDI subject to legislative appropriation, introducing a new funding mechanism for the initiative.

TIMELINE

Changed the designated 'Florida Speech and Debate Week' from the first week of November to February 1 through February 7.

REQUIREMENT

Added requirements for the FDI to publish annual reports online and submit data to the Department of Education.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 2, 2026

Committee

Bill referred to House Calendar

lower

Feb 26, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported out of Education & Employment Committee

lower

Feb 26, 2026

Lower · Passed

Favorable with CS by Education & Employment Committee

lower

Feb 24, 2026

Lower · Passed

PCS added to Education & Employment Committee agenda

lower

Feb 12, 2026

Lower · Passed

Now in Education & Employment Committee

lower

Feb 12, 2026

Committee

Referred to Education & Employment Committee

lower

Feb 11, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported out of Student Academic Success Subcommittee

lower

Feb 11, 2026

Lower · Passed

Favorable with CS by Student Academic Success Subcommittee

lower

Feb 9, 2026

Lower · Passed

PCS added to Student Academic Success Subcommittee agenda

lower

Jan 12, 2026

Lower · Passed

Now in Student Academic Success Subcommittee

lower

Jan 12, 2026

Committee

Referred to Education & Employment Committee

lower

Jan 12, 2026

Committee

Referred to PreK-12 Budget Subcommittee

lower

Jan 12, 2026

Committee

Referred to Student Academic Success Subcommittee

lower

1 primary · 20 co-sponsors