Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program Bill Analysis and Fiscal Impact Statement - CS/CS/SB 270

Sep 4, 2026

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Bill CS/CS/SB 270 analyzes and evaluates changes to the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program and related academic award criteria. The bill expands eligibility for Bright Futures to certain students graduating from non-Florida schools when a parent retired from military service within 12 months prior to graduation. It also broadens Florida Academic Scholar requirements to include the AP Capstone designation with eligible diploma options, specifies AP Capstone course composition, and is expected to create a significant negative fiscal impact. Effective date is July 1, 2025.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages7

Reading Time18 min

AccessFree to download

Summary

Eligibility expansions

Florida Academic Scholar (FAS) and AP Capstone

Expected fiscal impact

Present Situation

Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program overview

General eligibility requirements

Academic eligibility requirements

Florida Academic Scholar (FAS) award

Required academic criteria

Exemptions from test scores

The Florida Senate BILL ANALYSIS AND FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT (This document is based on the provisions contained in the legislation as of the latest date listed below.) Prepared By: The Professional Staff of the Committee on Appropriations BILL: CS/CS/SB 270 INTRODUCER: Appropriations Committee on Higher Education; Education Postsecondary Committee; and Senator Burgess SUBJECT: Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program DATE: April 1, 2025 REVISED: 3/24/25 ANALYST STAFF DIRECTOR REFERENCE ACTION 1. Palazesi Bouck HE Fav/CS 2. Gray Elwell AHE Fav/CS 3. Gray Sadberry AP Pre-meeting Please see Section IX. for Additional Information: COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE-Substantial Changes I. Summary: CS/CS/SB 270 expands the eligibility criteria for the Bright Futures Scholarship Program to include a student who graduated from a non-Florida school if the parent retired from military service within 12 months prior to the student’s graduation. The bill also expands eligibility for the Florida Academic Scholar (FAS) award requirements to include the Advanced Placement (AP) Capstone designation with eligible diploma options. The bill specifies the course composition ofthe AP Capstone designation. The bill is expected to have a significant negative fiscal impact on the Bright Futures Scholarship Program. See Section V., Fiscal Impact Statement. The bill is effective on July 1, 2025. II. Present Situation: Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program The Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program is a lottery-funded scholarship program for Florida high school graduates who merit high academic achievement and enroll in a degree, certificate, or applied technology program at an eligible Florida public or private postsecondary education institution.1 Since the 1997-1998 academic year, the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program has disbursed approximately $9.2 billion for over 3.3 million students to attend an eligible postsecondary institution in this state.2 General Eligibility Requirements Florida high school students who wish to qualify for a Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program award must meet the following initial eligibility requirements: • Be a Florida resident for at least one year preceding an award. • Earn a standard Florida high school diploma or a high school equivalency diploma unless: o The student completes a home education program. o The student earns a high school diploma from a non-Florida school while living with a parent or guardian who is on military or public service assignment away from Florida; or o The student earns a high school diploma from an eligible Florida private school. • Be accepted by and enroll in an eligible Florida public or independent postsecondary education institution. • Be enrolled for at least six semester credit hours or the equivalent in quarter hours or clock hours. • Not have been found guilty of, or entered a plea of nolo contendere to, a felony charge, unless the student has been granted clemency. • Apply for a scholarship by high school graduation, or by December 31 for mid-year graduates.3 Academic Eligibility Requirements There are four awards through the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship program, including the Florida Academic Scholars award, the Florida Medallion Scholars award, the Florida Gold Seal CAPE Scholars award, and the Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholars award.4 In the 2023-2024 academic year, 35,111 students received an initial disbursement for one of the four awards offered through the Bright Futures Scholarship Program.5 Florida Academic Scholar (FAS) Award In the 2023-2024 academic year, 20,093 students received an initial disbursement for the FAS award.6 Florida high school students who wish to qualify for the FAS award must meet the following academic requirements: • Graduate from a Florida public high school with a standard diploma, from a registered private high sch

FAQs

How does CS/CS/SB 270 expand Florida Bright Futures eligibility?

It expands eligibility to include a student who graduated from a non-Florida school if the parent retired from military service within 12 months before the student’s graduation.

What changes does the bill make to the Florida Academic Scholar (FAS) award requirements?

It expands FAS eligibility to include the Advanced Placement (AP) Capstone designation with eligible diploma options, and it specifies the course composition for AP Capstone.

When does the bill take effect and what fiscal impact is expected?

The bill is effective July 1, 2025, and it is expected to have a significant negative fiscal impact on the Bright Futures Scholarship Program.

Sep 4, 2026

Upload by James