House Bill 121 amends section 464.019 of the Florida Statutes to enhance the accountability and performance standards of nursing education programs. The bill requires educational institutions to provide detailed information about program directors, including any disciplinary actions taken against them in other jurisdictions. It grants the Board of Nursing the authority to deny applications under certain conditions, such as if a program has been terminated by another regulatory body. Key changes include the deletion of provisions that allowed for the extension of probationary status for programs failing to meet graduate passage rate requirements, and the introduction of stricter accountability measures, including mandatory annual reports from program directors that document graduate passage rates and remediation plans for underperforming programs.

Additionally, the bill mandates that programs with a graduate passage rate below 30 percent must reimburse tuition for students who fail the licensing examination as first-time test takers. Nursing programs on probation are required to disclose their status to students and provide remediation at no extra cost for those who do not pass exit examinations. The Department of Health is empowered to conduct onsite evaluations to ensure compliance with the new regulations, and the Florida Center for Nursing will evaluate program data and accreditation compliance. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2026, with a timeline established for the board to adopt related rules by December 31, 2026.