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H 5601

Florida House•Passed

Summary

H 5601, “Higher Education”, was introduced in the House on May 5, 2026 by Rep. Demi Busatta Cabrera (R). It last saw action on Jul 1, 2026: Chapter No. 2026-237; Companion bill(s) passed, see HB 5001E (Ch. 2026-232).

Record

Text

H 5601 has 4 roll calls.

h5601/enrolled.txt
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    ENROLLED
    HB 5601E, Engrossed 1  2026E Legislature
An act relating to higher education; amending s.
1001.92, F.S.; revising certain state university
performance-based metrics; defining the term "co-op
program"; creating s. 1004.342, F.S.; providing
definitions; transferring specified assets and
liabilities from the University of South Florida
Sarasota/Manatee to New College of Florida by
specified dates; requiring New College of Florida to
provide a specified monthly payment to the University
of South Florida until such transfer is complete;
requiring such transfer to be in a written joint
transfer agreement; providing requirements for such
agreement and the transfer of such assets and
liabilities; requiring a facility use agreement
between the University of South Florida
Sarasota/Manatee and New College of Florida; providing
requirements for such agreement; providing
construction; providing applicability; providing
specified immunity from liability; providing for
future repeal; amending s. 1004.344, F.S.; removing
the requirement for the Florida Center for the
Partnerships for Arts Integrated Teaching to be
physically housed at the University of South Florida
Sarasota/Manatee; creating s. 1004.64992, F.S.;
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 ENROLLED
 HB 5601E, Engrossed 1  2026E Legislature
establishing the Disaster Preparedness Center at the
Florida International University; providing the
purposes of the center; providing that the center
operates in partnership with the Division of Emergency
Management; requiring and authorizing the center to
perform specified functions and duties; authorizing
certain entities to cooperate and share information
with the center under certain circumstances; providing
funding for the center; reenacting s. 1004.89, F.S.,
relating to the Institute for Freedom in the Americas;
amending s. 1007.55, F.S.; providing that the State
Board of Education and the Board of Governors may
amend the list of general education courses for
certain institutions and universities; amending s.
1009.24, F.S.; revising programs for which the Board
of Governors may establish tuition; authorizing state
university boards of trustees to establish out-of-
state fees for nonresident students; removing a
provision requiring that adjustments to certain out-
of-state fees not exceed a certain amount; requiring
the Board of Governors to adopt a specified regulation
relating to nonresident undergraduate degree-seeking
student enrollment; providing state university
requirements relating to the enrollment of such
students; reenacting s. 1009.26(18), F.S., relating to
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 ENROLLED
 HB 5601E, Engrossed 1  2026E Legislature
fee waivers; reenacting and amending s. 1011.45, F.S.,
relating to end of year balance of funds; removing an
obsolete date; amending s. 1013.01, F.S.; revising the
definition of the term "educational facilities";
providing an effective date.
    Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
Section 1.  Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section
    1001.92, Florida Statutes, as amended by chapter 2026-59, Laws
    of Florida, is amended to read:
1001.92       State University System Performance-Based
    Incentive.—
(1)     A State University System Performance-Based Incentive
    shall be awarded to state universities using performance-based
    metrics adopted by the Board of Governors of the State
    University System. Beginning with the Board of Governors'
    determination of each university's performance improvement and
    achievement ratings, and the related distribution of annual
    fiscal year appropriation, the performance-based metrics must
    include:
(a)     The 4-year graduation rate and adjusted cohort
    graduation rate for engineering programs and co-op programs for
    first-time-in-college students. For purposes of this paragraph,
    a "co-op program" is a program identified by a state university,
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  ENROLLED
  HB 5601E, Engrossed 1  2026E Legislature
     subject to approval by the Board of Governors, that combines
     academic study with up to four semesters of related paid work
     experience prior to graduation;
     The Board of Governors may approve other metrics in a publicly
     noticed meeting. The board shall adopt benchmarks to evaluate
     each state university's performance on the metrics to measure
     the state university's achievement of institutional excellence
     or need for improvement and minimum requirements for eligibility
     to receive performance funding. Benchmarks and metrics may not
     be adjusted after university performance data has been received
     by the Board of Governors.
Section 2.  Section 1004.342, Florida Statutes, is created
     to read:
1004.342  Efficient use of state university system assets
     in Manatee and Sarasota Counties.—
(1)      DEFINITIONS.—As used in this section and in its
     applicability in contracts, leases, and other written
     instruments involved in implementing this section:
(a)      The following terms have the same meaning and should
     be interpreted and used interchangeably:
1.      "University of South Florida Sarasota/Manatee."
2.      "University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee."
3.      "USF Sarasota/Manatee."
4.      "USF Sarasota-Manatee."
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  HB 5601E, Engrossed 1  2026E Legislature
(b)     The term "New College" means New College of Florida.
(c)     The term "USF" means the University of South Florida.
(2)     TRANSFER OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES BETWEEN STATE
    UNIVERSITY INSTITUTIONS AND CAMPUSES.—
(a)     The board of trustees of New College of Florida shall,
    as soon as reasonably practical, but no later than December 31,
    2026, complete all steps necessary or appropriate to assume,
    legally and financially, the full liability for any outstanding
    debt for any facilities constructed upon the properties that
    encompass the University of South Florida Sarasota/Manatee
    campus, including, but not limited to, any fees and costs
    associated with transferring, satisfying, retiring, defeasing,
    or repaying such debt obligations. The facilities contemplated
    in this paragraph include, but are not limited to, any
    dormitories or other campus facilities that were financed in
    whole or in part with debt payable by the board of trustees of
    the University of South Florida or the University of South
    Florida Financing Corporation and for which a balance of that
    debt remains outstanding on July 1, 2026.
(b)     Until such time as New College of Florida completes
    the obligations listed in paragraph (a), New College of Florida
    shall transfer to the University of South Florida monthly a
    payment equal to the outstanding debt service on the facilities
    contemplated in this section, which shall be $166,617 per month.
    All payments described in this section shall be paid from
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    sources available to New College of Florida and may not be paid
    or funded from the University of South Florida or the University
    of South Florida Sarasota/Manatee sources. The failure of New
    College of Florida to transfer the amounts described in this
    section shall invalidate the transfer of facilities, and such
    facilities shall revert to the University of South Florida.
(c)     Subject to the requirements of paragraphs (b) and (d),
    all real property encompassing the University of South Florida
    Sarasota/Manatee campus, and any existing contracts, leases,
    obligations, responsibilities, and liabilities of the board of
    trustees of the University of South Florida which are
    principally associated with such real property or any facilities
    constructed upon those parcels, must be transferred to the board
    of trustees of New College of Florida by July 1, 2026. New
    College of Florida shall be solely responsible for all costs of
    operating, repairing, replacing, renovating, and maintaining the
    facilities contemplated in this section as of the date of
    transfer.
(d)1.       The determination of the specific assets and
    liabilities to be transferred under this section must be made in
    a written joint transfer agreement, including the facility use
    agreement required by subsection (3), between the board of
    trustees of the University of South Florida and the board of
    trustees of New College of Florida by July 1, 2026. The boards
    of trustees must jointly submit the signed agreements to the
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  ENROLLED
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    Board of Governors. When determining the specific assets and
    liabilities to be transferred between institutions, the board of
    trustees of each institution must adhere to the following
    guiding principles:
a.      Any academic, administrative, or residential buildings
    and other assets that are reasonably considered permanent and
    immovable from the existing University of South Florida
    Sarasota/Manatee campus parcels, including general educational
    and classroom furnishings and fixtures located therein, shall be
    transferred to the board of trustees of New College of Florida
    for the future use of New College of Florida students and
    faculty.
b.      Any intellectual property, intangible property,
    educational and research equipment that is not permanently
    affixed to the facilities, computers and other equipment
    previously assigned to personnel remaining in employment with
    the University of South Florida, records, and any institutional
    insignia or items that have historical significance to the
    University of South Florida which are not specifically
    associated with the parcels of land or facilities that will be
    transferred shall remain the property of the board of trustees
    of the University of South Florida.
c.      Contracts for the lease of a temporary residence on the
    University of South Florida Sarasota/Manatee campus between the
    University of South Florida and a student, or an individual
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    acting on the student's behalf, which are in place before the
    transfer of ownership of a residential facility on that campus
    must be:
I.      Transferred from the University of South Florida to New
    College of Florida.
II.      Fully honored in terms, duration, and price by the
    board of trustees of New College of Florida until at least
    August 15, 2027, unless the student or lessee voluntarily opts
    to vacate the residential contact before its expiration date, in
    which case New College of Florida must allow the lessee to go
    free of any cancellation fee or remaining rental charge.
2.      In the event of a dispute on the transfer of any
    specific assets and liabilities required by this section before
    July 1, 2026, the boards must jointly notify the Board of
    Governors of the remaining points of disagreement. The Board of
    Governors, by majority vote, must resolve any remaining disputed
    issues and terms and order the specific transfers no later than
    September 30, 2026. When determining and ordering any disputed
    transfers, the Board of Governors must adhere to the guiding
    principles in subparagraph 1.
(3)      FACILITY USE AGREEMENT.—
(a)      A University of South Florida student who was admitted
    to the university before July 1, 2026, and who remains
    continuously enrolled must receive the highest priority for the
    use of space for classroom instruction and associated
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  ENROLLED
  HB 5601E, Engrossed 1  2026E Legislature
    educational needs in any transferred property or facility until
    the student has been provided the opportunity to graduate from
    the University of South Florida within a reasonable period of
    time, not to exceed 4 full academic years after the date of the
    student's initial enrollment, as determined by the board of
    trustees of the University of South Florida.
(b)     The board of trustees of New College of Florida must
    enter into a facility use agreement with the board of trustees
    of the University of South Florida which makes available, free
    of any charge to the University of South Florida, sufficient
    academic and student support space in the transferred properties
    or facilities so that a University of South Florida student who
    was admitted to the university before July 1, 2026, has the
    reasonable opportunity to complete his or her University of
    South Florida degree programs on his or her local campus and to
    ensure that New College of Florida students, faculty, and staff
    have access to the educational and administrative space, when
    feasible, during and throughout the University of South Florida
    teach-out process.
(c)     The University of South Florida may not allow a newly
    enrolled student whose initial offer of admission to the
    university came after July 1, 2026, to designate the University
    of South Florida Sarasota/Manatee campus as the student's home
    campus of the University of South Florida.
(d)     This subsection does not prohibit the University of
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  ENROLLED
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    South Florida and New College of Florida from jointly entering
    into any other mutual agreement to share or use space in any of
    the transferred properties or facilities when it is in the best
    interest of both institutions or the students thereof.
(4)     IMMUNITY FROM LIABILITY.—The board of trustees of the
    University of South Florida and the board of trustees of New
    College of Florida, and their respective officers, trustees,
    employees, attorneys, and agents, are immune from any and all
    civil liability pertaining to or arising from compliance with
    this section, including the transfers required by, or those made
    as a direct result of, this section.
(5)     REPEAL.—This section is repealed July 1, 2028, but
    after that date the asset transfers required by this section
    shall not be impacted solely by the repeal of this section.
Section 3.  Subsection (1) of section 1004.344, Florida
    Statutes, is amended to read:
1004.344 The Florida Center for the Partnerships for Arts
    Integrated Teaching.—
(1)     The Florida Center for the Partnerships for Arts
    Integrated Teaching is created within the University of South
    Florida and shall be physically headquartered at the University
    of South Florida Sarasota/Manatee.
Section 4.  Section 1004.64992, Florida Statutes, is
    created to read:
1004.64992  Disaster Preparedness Center.—
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  HB 5601E, Engrossed 1  2026E Legislature
(1)     The Disaster Preparedness Center is established at the
    Florida International University as the statewide center of
    excellence for disaster preparedness, response, recovery, and
    resilience training. The purpose of the center is to serve as a
    statewide hub for disaster simulation, training, interagency
    collaboration, applied research, and education. The center shall
    be operated in partnership with the Division of Emergency
    Management.
(2)     The center shall:
(a)     Develop and conduct rigorous, evidence-based, and
    scenario-based training programs on disaster preparedness,
    mitigation, response, and recovery.
(b)     Evaluate coastal and urban resilience to hurricanes,
    flooding, storm surge, wildfires, and other natural or human-
    caused hazards.
(c)     Develop and operate simulation and training
    environments to prepare first responders, emergency managers,
    engineers, health professionals, and students for urban search
    and rescue, including collapsed structure and mass-casualty
    training.
(d)     Construct and maintain realistic disaster simulation
    environments, including, but not limited to, hurricanes,
    flooding, storm surge, wildfires, collapsed structures, urban
    search-and-rescue, hazardous material areas, and emergency
    operations center replicas.
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(e)     Serve as a statewide venue for multiagency disaster
    exercises, emergency management certification, and continuing
    education.
(f)     Develop best practices, resources, and training
    modules to support public and private sector preparedness.
(g)     Support applied research in disaster preparedness and
    mitigation, infrastructure hardening, and recovery.
(h)     Provide technical assistance to the Legislature, state
    agencies, local governments, and the Federal Government in
    evaluating and improving policies relating to resilience,
    emergency management, and disaster response.
(i)     Collaborate with the relevant federal and state
    agencies and private sector entities to improve disaster
    readiness.
(j)     Serve as a resource to assist local, state, and
    federal emergency operations during declared disasters.
(k)     Plan and host events, workshops, and exercises to
    strengthen the capacity of local, state, federal, and
    international partners.
(3)     The center may:
(a)     Hire faculty, staff, and technical experts and develop
    courses relating to resilience and rescue activities.
(b)     Hold events, including symposiums, exercises,
    demonstrations, and conferences.
(c)     Conduct, aid, and sponsor research and publish, or
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    otherwise make available to residents and stakeholders,
    articles, reports, analyses, and resources.
(d)     Provide training and continuing education to first
    responders, government officials, private sector partners, and
    students.
(e)     Assist the Legislature and governmental entities with
    reports, policy analyses, testimony, and technical support.
(f)     Provide scholarships, research assistantships, and
    fellowships for students pursuing careers in disaster response,
    resilience, and emergency management.
(g)     Partner with other state universities, agencies,
    institutes, and associations to advance the center's goals.
(h)     Provide training opportunities for students, first
    responders, and professionals in disaster management,
    environmental resilience, and infrastructure testing.
(i)     Facilitate commercialization of resilience
    technologies through partnerships with Florida businesses,
    start-ups, and industries.
(4)     The Division of Emergency Management, state and local
    emergency response agencies, and other governmental entities may
    cooperate and share information with the center as needed,
    subject to applicable confidentiality and security requirements.
(5)     The center shall be funded by appropriations provided
    in the General Appropriations Act, charitable grants and
    donations, contracts, and institutional resources.
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Section 5.  Notwithstanding the expiration date in section
    9 of chapter 2025-199, Laws of Florida, section 1004.89, Florida
    Statutes, is reenacted to read:
1004.89       Institute for Freedom in the Americas.—The
    Institute for Freedom in the Americas is hereby created at Miami
    Dade College to preserve the ideals of a free society and
    promote democracy in the Americas. The institute shall be
    located at the Freedom Tower and shall:
(1)     Hold workshops, symposiums, and conferences that
    provide networking opportunities for leaders throughout the
    region to gain new insights and ideas for promoting democracy,
    including knowledge of and insight into the intellectual,
    political, and economic freedoms that are foundational to a
    democratic society.
(2)     Enter into an agreement with the Adam Smith Center for
    Economic Freedom to provide participants with academic
    coursework and programs that advance democratic practices and
    economic and legal reforms.
(3)     Provide educational and experiential opportunities for
    regional leaders committed to careers in democracy and
    governance.
Section 6.  Subsection (4) of section 1007.55, Florida
    Statutes, is amended to read:
1007.55       General education course principles, standards,
    and content.—
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(4)     In performing its duties under ss. 1007.24 and
    1007.25, by December 1, 2024, and each December 1 thereafter,
    the Articulation Coordinating Committee shall submit to the
    State Board of Education and the Board of Governors courses that
    have been approved by public postsecondary educational
    institutions as meeting general education requirements. The
    listing of general education courses must include the
    information in paragraphs (2)(a), (b), and (c). The State Board
    of Education and the Board of Governors must approve, or reject,
    or amend the list of general education courses for each Florida
    College System institution and state university, respectively.
Section 7.  Paragraph (b) of subsection (4) of section
    1009.24, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
1009.24       State university student fees.—
(4)
(b)1.       Subject to approval by the Board of Governors, each
    university board of trustees may establish tuition for graduate
    and professional programs and out-of-state fees for nonresident
    students. The Board of Governors' approval authority for out-of-
    state fees for nonresident students pursuant to this
    subparagraph is ministerial only and may not be withheld unless
    the State University System is out of compliance with the
    systemwide limitation on enrollment of nonresident undergraduate
    degree-seeking students established by regulation of the Board
    of Governors all programs. Except as otherwise provided in this
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    section, the sum of tuition and out-of-state fees assessed to
    nonresident students must be sufficient to offset the full
    instructional cost of serving such students. However,
    Adjustments to out-of-state fees or tuition for graduate
    programs and professional programs may not exceed 15 percent in
    any year.
2.      Notwithstanding subparagraph 1., in carrying out its
    duties to ensure the systemwide limitation on nonresident
    undergraduate degree-seeking student enrollment is not exceeded,
    the Board of Governors shall adopt a regulation requiring each
    university to include in its accountability plan year-to-year
    enrollment projections on the percentage of nonresident
    undergraduate degree-seeking students for the upcoming 4
    academic years. The regulation shall also require each
    university to annually update its accountability plan with the
    actual percentage of nonresident undergraduate degree-seeking
    students enrolled during the prior year. If, in any given year,
    the Board of Governors determines a university enrolled a
    greater percentage of such students than projected, the Board of
    Governors shall require corrective action, which may include:
a.      A revision to the university's accountability plan;
b.      An enrollment reduction plan; or
c.      Reduction of such university's undergraduate out-of-
    state fee.
Section 8.  Notwithstanding the expiration date in section
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    7 of chapter 2025-199, Laws of Florida, subsection (18) of
    section 1009.26, Florida Statutes, is reenacted to read:
1009.26       Fee waivers.—
(18)(a)       For every course in a Program of Strategic
    Emphasis, or in a state-approved teacher preparation program
    identified by the Board of Governors, as identified in
    subparagraph 3., in which a student is enrolled and has out-of-
    pocket expenses for tuition and fees after all other federal,
    state, and institutional gift aid is applied, a state university
    shall waive 100 percent of the tuition and fees of the student's
    out-of-pocket expenses for an equivalent course in such program
    for a student who:
1.      Is a resident for tuition purposes under s. 1009.21.
2.      Has earned at least 60 semester credit hours towards a
    baccalaureate degree within 2 academic years after initial
    enrollment at a Florida public postsecondary institution.
3.      Enrolls in one of 10 Programs of Strategic Emphasis as
    adopted by the Board of Governors or a state-approved teacher
    preparation program. The Board of Governors shall adopt eight
    Programs of Strategic Emphasis in science, technology,
    engineering, or math; beginning with the 2022-2023 academic
    year, two Programs of Strategic Emphasis in the critical
    workforce gap analysis category; and beginning with the 2023-
    2024 academic year, two state-approved teacher preparation
    programs for which a student may be eligible to receive the
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    tuition and fee waiver authorized by this subsection. The
    programs identified by the board must reflect the priorities of
    the state and be offered at a majority of state universities at
    the time the Board of Governors approves the list.
(b)     A waiver granted under this subsection is applicable
    only for upper-level courses and up to 110 percent of the number
    of required credit hours of the baccalaureate degree program for
    which the student is enrolled. A student granted a waiver under
    this subsection shall continue receiving the waiver until the
    student graduates, exceeds the number of allowable credit hours,
    or withdraws from an eligible program, regardless of whether the
    program is removed from the approved list of eligible programs
    subsequent to the student's enrollment.
(c)     Each state university shall report to the Board of
    Governors the number and value of all waivers granted annually
    under this subsection. A state university in compliance with
    this subsection may earn incentive funding, subject to
    appropriation, in addition to the funding provided under s.
    1001.92.
(d)     The Board of Governors shall adopt regulations to
    administer this subsection.
Section 9.  Notwithstanding the expiration date in section
    5 of chapter 2025-199, Laws of Florida, subsection (3) of
    section 1011.45, Florida Statutes, is amended, and subsection
    (5) of that section is reenacted, to read:
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1011.45       End of year balance of funds.—Unexpended amounts
    in any fund in a university current year operating budget shall
    be carried forward and included as the balance forward for that
    fund in the approved operating budget for the following year.
(3)     A university's carry forward spending plan must
    include the estimated cost per planned expenditure and a
    timeline for completion of the expenditure. A carry forward
    spending plan may include retention of the carry forward balance
    as a reserve fund to be used for authorized expenses in
    subsequent years. For any annual reserve balance in excess of
    the 7 percent minimum carry forward balance pursuant to
    subsection (1), the authorized expenditures in a carry forward
    spending plan must include a commitment of 12 percent of the
    university's prior 2025-2026 fiscal year state operating fund
    carry forward balance to fund a public education capital outlay
    project for which an appropriation has previously been provided
    which requires additional funds for completion and which is
    included in the list required by s. 1001.706(12)(d) or for
    deferred building maintenance expenses. The carry forward
    spending plan must identify the specific public education
    capital outlay project and the amount the university will
    contribute toward the fixed capital outlay project pursuant to
    s. 1001.706(12)(d) or specific deferred maintenance project.
    Authorized expenditures in a carry forward spending plan may
    include:
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(a)     Commitment of funds to a public education capital
    outlay project for which an appropriation has previously been
    provided that requires additional funds for completion and which
    is included in the list required by s. 1001.706(12)(d);
(b)     Completion of a renovation, repair, or maintenance
    project that is consistent with s. 1013.64(1) or replacement of
    a minor facility;
(c)     Completion of a remodeling or infrastructure project,
    including a project for a developmental research school, if such
    project is survey recommended pursuant to s. 1013.31;
(d)     Completion of a repair or replacement project
    necessary due to damage caused by a natural disaster for
    buildings included in the inventory required pursuant to s.
    1013.31;
(e)     Operating expenditures that support the university's
    mission;
(f)     Any purpose specified by the board or in the General
    Appropriations Act, including the requirements in s.
    1001.706(12)(c) or similar requirements pursuant to Board of
    Governors regulations;
(g)     A commitment of funds to a contingency reserve for
    expenses incurred as a result of a state of emergency declared
    by the Governor pursuant to s. 252.36; and
(h)     Deferred building maintenance expenses for the
    maintenance, repair, and renovation of projects to improve the
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    health and safety of such facilities.
(5)     A university's carry forward spending plan pursuant to
    subsection (1) must provide detailed documentation of
    expenditures that the university applied toward the prior year
    carry forward spending plan.
Section 10.  Subsection (6) of section 1013.01, Florida
    Statutes, is amended to read:
1013.01       Definitions.—The following terms shall be defined
    as follows for the purpose of this chapter:
(6)     "Educational facilities" means the buildings and
    equipment, structures, and special educational and research use
    areas that are built, installed, or established to serve
    primarily the educational purposes and secondarily the social
    and recreational purposes of the community and which may
    lawfully be used as authorized by the Florida Statutes and
    approved by boards.
Section 11.  This act shall take effect upon becoming a
    law.
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Transfers specified assets & liabilities between USF Sarasota/Manatee & New College of Florida; revises provisions relating to Title IX, tuition rates for certain postsecondary students; & removes future repeal of specified amendments to Florida Statutes.

Sponsors

Rep. Demi Busatta Cabrera (R) sponsors H 5601 alone.

History

H 5601 has taken 35 actions since May 5, 2026, the latest on Jul 1, 2026.

ChamberAction
Jul 1, 2026
—
Chapter No. 2026-237; Companion bill(s) passed, see HB 5001E (Ch. 2026-232)
Jun 29, 2026
—
Approved by Governor
Jun 23, 2026
—
Signed by Officers and presented to Governor
May 29, 2026
House
Conference Committee Report considered
May 29, 2026
House
Amendment 932327 adopted

Votes

H 5601 went to 4 roll calls across both chambers, the latest on May 29, 2026 at 76–28.

ChamberQuestion
Yea
Nay
May 29, 2026
House
House: Third Reading RCS#890
76
28
May 29, 2026
Senate
Senate: Third Reading RCS#12
32
2
May 12, 2026
House
House: Third Reading RCS#876
80
26
May 12, 2026
Senate
Senate: Third Reading RCS#16
32
0

Source: flsenate.gov · legiscan.com