SB 1062 Florida Senate · 2026 Regular Session

Speech and Debate Education

Summary

Speech and Debate Education; Creating the Florida Speech and Debate Hall of Fame; designating Florida Speech and Debate Week annually in February; establishing the Florida Debate Initiative, Inc., (FDI) as a statewide speech and debate organization that performs certain functions in support of the Florida Civics and Debate Initiative (FCDI) in the Department of Education; requiring the Board of Governors of the State University System and the State Board of Education to develop specified undergraduate and graduate coursework, certificates, and micro-credentials, etc. APPROPRIATION: $2,400,000

Issues: ✓ Education

Bill status died 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

House Passage

Mar 2026

Governor

Introduced Jan 13, 2026 Last action Mar 13, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

S 1062 c2 → S 1062 e1 · 8 edits

MODERATE

The bill was significantly expanded from a focus on creating a debate organization and observance week to include a new Hall of Fame, teacher endorsements, and specific funding for rural student travel. The most critical change is the addition of a $2.4 million recurring appropriation to fund the debate initiative, whereas the previous version lacked specific funding language. Additionally, new requirements now mandate that school districts report on debate programs and that the state establish traveling debate teams to ensure access for Title I and rural schools.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from general organizational support to include specific mandates for teacher professional development, a physical Hall of Fame within the Capitol, and guaranteed transportation for students from under-resourced areas.

FISCAL

Added a $2.4 million recurring annual appropriation from the General Revenue Fund to support the Florida Debate Initiative's operations.

REQUIREMENT

Created a new Florida Speech and Debate Hall of Fame within the Capitol Building to honor distinguished contributors to the field.

Mandated that school districts annually report online on team numbers, participation rates, and resources needed to expand their debate programs.

Authorized school districts to use school buses to transport students to speech and debate competitions.

Added legislative findings and intent sections to Section 1000.09 to formally recognize the academic and civic value of debate.

Created a new statute (1004.0983) requiring the State University System and State Board of Education to develop undergraduate and graduate coursework in speech and debate.

ELIGIBILITY

Established a new teacher endorsement in speech and debate, allowing certified educators to gain specialized credentials in the subject.

SCOPE

Required the Department of Education to collaborate with the debate initiative to create regional traveling teams specifically for Title I and rural schools.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 4, 2026 · House Mar 11, 2026

How they voted

38–0

Passed · 2 other

Total votes 40

Mar 4, 2026

D Democratic11

10 Yea 1

90% Yea

I Independent1

1 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican28

27 Yea 1

96% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 12, 2026

Upper · Passed

CS passed as amended; YEAS 39 NAYS 0

upper

Mar 12, 2026

Upper · Passed

Concurred in House amendment(s) as amended (240687)

upper

Mar 12, 2026

Upper · Passed

Amendment(s) to House amendment(s) adopted (483934)

upper

Mar 11, 2026

Lower · Passed

CS passed as amended; YEAS 112, NAYS 0

lower

Mar 11, 2026

Lower · Passed

Amendment 240687 adopted

lower

Mar 10, 2026

Committee

Bill referred to House Calendar

lower

Mar 4, 2026

Upper · Passed

CS passed as amended; YEAS 37 NAYS 0

upper

Mar 4, 2026

Upper · Passed

Amendment(s) adopted (634444)

upper

Feb 24, 2026

Upper · Passed

Favorable by- Fiscal Policy; YEAS 19 NAYS 0

upper

Feb 19, 2026

Upper · Passed

On Committee agenda-- Fiscal Policy, 02/24/26, 9:00 am, 412 Knott Building

upper

Feb 19, 2026

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Feb 18, 2026

Upper · Passed

CS/CS by Appropriations Committee on Pre-K - 12 Education; YEAS 9 NAYS 0

upper

Feb 13, 2026

Upper · Passed

On Committee agenda-- Appropriations Committee on Pre-K - 12 Education, 02/18/26, 8:30 am, 37 Senate Building

upper

Jan 29, 2026

Upper · Passed

Now in Appropriations Committee on Pre-K - 12 Education

upper

Jan 29, 2026

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Jan 22, 2026

Upper · Passed

On Committee agenda-- Education Pre-K - 12, 01/27/26, 3:30 pm, 412 Knott Building

upper

Jan 13, 2026

Introduced

upper

Jan 12, 2026

Committee

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

upper

1 primary · 36 co-sponsors