2026 Florida Legislature: Homeschool and Scholarship Changes

The 2026 Florida Legislature enacted a few bills that touch scholarship and homeschool families. Most take effect July 1, 2026. On June 29, 2026, the Governor signed the 2026-27 budget, with line-item vetoes, and approved its implementing bill and a tax package.

This roundup covers bills with a chapter law number on the Florida Senate's bill pages, plus the scholarship-related parts of the budget package. None of the bills covered here changes the core home education rules in section 1002.41, Florida Statutes: the notice of intent, the portfolio and the annual evaluation.

Why was the 2026 session timeline unusual?

The 60-day regular session ran from January 13 to March 13, 2026, and ended without a budget. Lawmakers returned for a special session in May. On May 29, 2026, they passed the 2026-27 General Appropriations Act (HB 5001-E), the bill that implements it (HB 5003-E) and a tax package (HB 7031-E).

All three bills were presented to the Governor on June 23, 2026, and approved on June 29, 2026. The Governor vetoed specific line items in the General Appropriations Act. The new state fiscal year begins July 1.

Which enacted bills affect scholarship families?

SB 182: unused tax credit scholarship funds now go back to the scholarship organization

SB 182 became Chapter 2026-33 when the Governor approved it on April 20, 2026. It takes effect July 1, 2026. It changes the Florida Tax Credit (FTC) Scholarship law, section 1002.395. That law also covers the Personalized Education Program (PEP).

When an FTC scholarship account is closed, any remaining money now reverts to the scholarship-funding organization (for example, Step Up For Students). Before, it went back to the state.
Accounts still close for the same reasons as before: eligibility revoked for fraud or abuse, two consecutive fiscal years with no account activity, or 30 days without enrollment in an eligible private school for a scholarship that requires full-time enrollment.
The organization must account for returned money separately and use it for scholarships in the same year. It can carry any leftover forward only one year. It must also report closed accounts and reverted amounts to the Department of Education by July 1 each year.

SB 182: zoning and building rules for small private schools

The same bill amends the private school law, section 1002.42. A private school with 150 or fewer students is now a permitted use in commercial and mixed-use zoning districts, without rezoning. A private school located in an unincorporated area of a county also qualifies, regardless of enrollment. Local governments may still require limited traffic and pedestrian safety measures.

Schools with 150 or fewer students may also operate in existing assembly, day care, retail (mercantile) or business buildings if they meet the fire code standards for existing educational buildings. This applies to small private schools, which can include some hybrid and microschool programs that homeschool families use.

HB 1279: two-day schedule option for Unique Abilities students

HB 1279 became Chapter 2026-59 when it was approved on May 1, 2026, and takes effect July 1, 2026. Private schools that accept state scholarships must give students "regular and direct contact" with teachers at a physical location in Florida.

Since 2024, PEP students could meet that requirement by attending at least two school days a week, with their student learning plan covering the rest of their instruction. HB 1279 extends the same option to students on the Family Empowerment Scholarship for Students with Unique Abilities (FES-UA).

The bill also states that only students in Florida are eligible for dual enrollment. It names the eligible colleges as Florida public postsecondary institutions and eligible nonprofit independent colleges and universities. It requires a statewide uniform weighted grading system for honors and accelerated courses, including dual enrollment. And school district notices about virtual instruction must now list both public and private virtual options, not only Florida Virtual School.

SB 124: Florida Virtual School changes

SB 124 became Chapter 2026-67 when it was approved on May 11, 2026, and takes effect July 1, 2026. It removes the enrollment priority categories in the FLVS statute. According to the Senate bill summary, that reflects FLVS's capacity to serve all students. It also requires school districts to provide a test administrator when an FLVS student takes required statewide or other listed assessments at their assigned school.

HB 1471: terrorist-organization rules for scholarship schools

HB 1471, "Systems of Law and Terrorist Organizations," became Chapter 2026-28 when the Governor approved it on April 6, 2026. It takes effect July 1, 2026. Among other changes, it amends section 1002.421, the accountability law for private schools that take state scholarships.

As amended, that law bars a participating private school from employing or contracting with, being owned or operated by, or accepting funds from people or groups affiliated with designated foreign or domestic terrorist organizations and certain other listed groups. If a school knowingly fails to comply, the Department of Education must suspend its scholarship payments and bar it from enrolling new scholarship students for one fiscal year or until it complies.

SB 538

SB 538 (Chapter 2026-93), on extracurricular activities and sports eligibility, was approved May 22, 2026, and is covered in a separate post.

What scholarship provisions are in the budget package?

These provisions became law when the Governor approved HB 5003-E and HB 7031-E on June 29, 2026. This post does not cover the specific budget line items, including which were vetoed.

A data platform for Family Empowerment Scholarship payments (HB 5003-E, Section 7). By September 1, 2026, the Department of Education must issue a request for information about a statewide platform that cross-checks scholarship payment files against public school attendance records. The aim is to flag students who are being reported both for a scholarship and by a public school. The department must report its results to legislative leaders by November 2, 2026. This section expires July 1, 2027.
School funding formula (HB 5003-E, Sections 4 and 5). For 2026-27 only, the bill amends parts of section 1011.62, including the educational enrollment stabilization program. That program sends extra state money to school districts when, for example, more Family Empowerment Scholarship students are counted in a district than the budget projected, or district enrollment comes in below projections.
Back-to-school sales tax holiday (HB 7031-E). The bill moves the permanent annual holiday, created in 2025, so that it runs from July 20 through August 20 each year.
Tax credit scholarship donations (HB 7031-E). The bill lets buyers of certain heavy trucks direct up to $105 of the sales tax they pay to a scholarship-funding organization under the FTC program.

What did not pass?

SB 318 passed the Senate 38-0 but died in the House on March 13, 2026. It would have created a separate funding category for the Family Empowerment Scholarship, renamed the Hope Scholarship Program, and required one combined application for all scholarship programs. A November 2025 Auditor General report on 2024-25 education funding (Report No. 2026-046) had recommended a separate funding category. Other scholarship bills, including SB 690, SB 1318 and HB 6025, also died.

If you are comparing schools, tutors or co-ops for the year ahead, you can browse Florida homeschool providers in our directory.

FAQ

Did the 2026 Florida Legislature change homeschool law?

The enacted bills reviewed here do not amend section 1002.41, the home education statute. The notice of intent, portfolio and annual evaluation requirements are the same.

When do the 2026 Florida education laws take effect?

SB 182, HB 1279, SB 124, HB 1471 and SB 538 all take effect July 1, 2026, as do the budget, implementing bill and tax package.

Has the 2026-27 Florida budget been signed?

Yes. The Governor signed the budget, with line-item vetoes, and approved the implementing bill and the tax package on June 29, 2026. They take effect July 1, 2026.

What happens to unused money when a Florida tax credit scholarship account closes?

Starting July 1, 2026, under SB 182, it reverts to the scholarship-funding organization, which must use it for scholarships. Before, it reverted to the state.

Where to follow updates

Florida Senate bill pages, which show the Governor's action and chapter numbers
Florida Department of Education and Step Up For Students announcements for 2026-27 program details

Sources

Last checked: June 2026