Florida Bright Future Scholarship Bill Passes State Senate Committee

This past week the Florida Senate’s education committee approved Senate Bill 86 which makes numerous changes to the way Bright Future Scholarships work. The bill proposes that certain majors found to “not lead anywhere” have reduced  monetary scholarships through the Bright Future scholarship program. This has created an uproar in the state as many students in Florida rely on these scholarships to attend college. Some students feel they are being pressured into choosing select majors that may not be what they want to study. Another reason for dislike is the partisanship of the bill. Passing on a strict 5-4 party line vote the senate bill has the Florida Senate divided. Aspects of the bill do have partisan support including a section that creates a new program helping adults without high school diplomas to enroll in colleges. While the bill has passed in a senate committee a companion bill must be drafted and signed in the house. After that the bill will fall to the desk of the governor before being signed or vetoed. If signed the bill’s changes would go into effect in 2023. The list of majors that would lose monetary scholarships would be defined by the State Board of Education and two other groups.

https://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/education-on-6/major-changes-to-bright-futures-program-pass-florida-senate-committee/2407148/ NBC Miami article on the bill’s senate committee passage.