Gabrielle Russon
Rise and shine.
The Senate has passed the committee version of legislation (SB 296) that would overturn a 2023 law requiring high schools and middle schools to start later.
The 2023 law didn’t take effect immediately and gave schools until 2026 to comply. With the deadline closing in, school leaders realized the mandate meant elementary students might wait for the bus in the dark, while districts faced bus and bus driver shortages, plus more problems.
The 2023 law mandated that middle schools could not start before 8 a.m. and high schools could start at 8:30 a.m. at the earliest.
“This very well-intentioned law sought to ensure that our students were rested,” said Sen. Jennifer Bradley, a Fleming Island Republican who sponsored this year’s measure. “School districts have begun their analysis of the impact on these required start times for the 2026 school year, and the feedback is overwhelming. The mandate would present incredible challenges, financially and otherwise.”
To comply with the new legislation, schools would be required to remind the public about the importance of sleep and at least consider starting later. The schools must document their efforts in a report to the Florida Department of Education.
“Everybody’s wondering, how does the guy that sponsored this bill originally, two years ago, feel about its untimely repeal?” said Sen. Danny Burgess, the Republican who sponsored the 2023 bill.
“Without more resources, without maybe even more time to figure out how we actually implement this in real time, with bus driver shortages and the like, we are possibly walking into a minefield that we shouldn’t venture into. I think this is responsible (to repeal). It’s bittersweet. It was one heck of a pain in the butt that bill was. And so this makes me wonder what it was really all for.”
Lawmakers, including Burgess, found some lighthearted moments during the debate.
“Uncle J thinks that you should be able to start school later, but all these adults are saying, ‘No,’” joked Sen. Jason Pizzo, a Democrat, adding that he would still vote for it.
In closing, Bradley said, “Uncle J says you can sleep in late. Well, mean Aunt Jen says, ‘Put your phone down. Go to bed at night. Get your sleep.'”
The House companion bill (HB 261) is also ready for the floor.
