The bill introduces significant amendments to Florida's higher education governance, establishing new residency requirements for appointed members of the Board of Governors and state university boards of trustees, mandating that they be U.S. citizens and either state residents or graduates of a state university, effective January 6, 2027. It also revises term limits for members of the State Board of Education and Florida College System institution boards of trustees, allowing a maximum of two consecutive terms and specifying that chairs serve a single two-year term. Additionally, certain members of the Board of Governors will be required to comply with financial disclosure requirements starting January 1, 2026. The appointment process for university presidents is modified to remove the requirement for Board of Governors' confirmation, allowing boards of trustees to appoint presidents based on recommendations from search committees.

Moreover, the bill enhances operational transparency by mandating state universities to post their admission criteria online and requiring periodic reviews by the Board of Governors. It prohibits certain graduation requirements by Florida College System institutions and allows university boards of trustees to approve the transfer of unreserved cash between auxiliary enterprises. The bill also establishes a presidential succession plan for state universities and Florida College System institutions, ensuring clarity in leadership during vacancies, and creates the Institute for Freedom in the Americas at Miami Dade College to promote democracy. Lastly, it enhances requirements for posting information about textbooks and instructional materials, ensuring comprehensive disclosure of details such as ISBNs and retail costs.

Statutes affected:
H 1321 Filed: 1001.64, 1001.70, 1001.706, 1001.71
H 1321 c1: 1001.64, 1001.70, 1001.71, 1004.098, 1004.89, 1011.47