SB 206 Florida Senate · 2026 Regular Session

Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Summary

Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder; Requiring certain program participants at educator preparation institutes to complete the autism micro-credential; requiring each educator preparation institute to offer training on teaching students with certain disabilities; creating the Autism Educator Loan Forgiveness Program; providing requirements for teachers to receive an annual payment; revising core curricula for teacher preparation programs, etc.

Issues: ✓ Education

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 13, 2026 Last action Mar 5, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

S 206 Filed → S 206 c1 · 7 edits

MODERATE

The bill was significantly expanded from a simple authorization for the State Board of Education to create rules, into a comprehensive mandate requiring specific training, micro-credentials, and loan forgiveness for educators. The new version adds a dedicated loan forgiveness program, mandates autism training in all teacher preparation programs, and establishes financial incentives for teachers who obtain specialized autism endorsements.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from a general requirement for the State Board of Education to adopt rules, to specific mandates for educator preparation institutes, individual teachers, and the creation of a new state program. It now applies to all educator preparation programs and creates a new statutory section for loan forgiveness.

FISCAL

Created a new 'Autism Educator Loan Forgiveness Program' that provides up to $17,500 in student loan repayment assistance to teachers who serve as primary instructors for students with autism.

REQUIREMENT

Mandated that all educator preparation institutes must offer training on evidence-based practices for teaching students with autism, Down syndrome, and other developmental disabilities.

Required all teacher preparation programs to include an 'autism micro-credential' as part of their core curriculum.

Changed the requirement for K-12 teachers from 'may adopt rules' (authorization) to 'shall adopt rules' (mandate), ensuring specific autism training requirements are implemented.

Added salary supplements for teachers who complete the Autism Spectrum Disorder Endorsement and serve as primary teachers in classrooms with a majority of students having autism.

ELIGIBILITY

Established specific eligibility criteria for the loan forgiveness program, requiring a master's degree in special education or an existing autism endorsement.

TIMELINE

Extended the deadline for educator preparation institutes to begin offering autism training from an unspecified date to August 1, 2027.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 2, 2026

Upper · Passed

Favorable by- Appropriations; YEAS 17 NAYS 0

upper

Feb 25, 2026

Upper · Passed

On Committee agenda-- Appropriations, 03/02/26, 12:00 pm, 110 Senate Building

upper

Jan 28, 2026

Upper · Passed

Favorable by Appropriations Committee on Pre-K - 12 Education; YEAS 10 NAYS 0

upper

Jan 23, 2026

Upper · Passed

On Committee agenda-- Appropriations Committee on Pre-K - 12 Education, 01/28/26, 1:00 pm, 37 Senate Building

upper

Jan 14, 2026

Upper · Passed

Now in Appropriations Committee on Pre-K - 12 Education

upper

Jan 14, 2026

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Jan 13, 2026

Introduced

upper

Jan 8, 2026

Upper · Passed

On Committee agenda-- Education Pre-K - 12, 01/13/26, 1:30 pm, 412 Knott Building

upper

Nov 3, 2025

Committee

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

upper

1 primary · 1 co-sponsor