Students won’t be required to learn financial literacy as Democrats’ bills stall
Examination room, rows of exam seat important competition concept day

Examination room, rows of exam seat important competition concept day
Rep. Campbell and Sen. Arrington's bills are one of several pieces of legislation that haven't moved forward this Session.

A bill requiring students to learn more about financial literacy and career readiness at public school doesn’t seem destined to pass this Legislative Session.

Under current law, students are required to learn about nutrition, personal health, Internet safety, substance abuse and other life skills. A pair of Democrats sought to amend the law to add financial literacy, home economics and career readiness to the list. 

However, SB 816/HB 737 hasn’t been called to a vote in committee with an important deadline looming ahead.

With the Regular Session ending May 2, Tuesday marks the 50th day of Session. 

Senate rules say, “Unless approved by the President, no committee shall meet after the fiftieth day of a regular session except the Rules Committee.”

In schools, students are currently required to earn 1/2 course credit in financial literacy in order to earn a standard high school diploma under the Dorothy L. Hukill Financial Literacy Act which had been an initiative pushed by the late Sen. Dorothy Hukill who passed away in office in 2018.

Sen. Kristen Arrington, a Kissimmee Democrat, sponsored SB 816 while Rep. Daryl Campbell, a Fort Lauderdale Democrat, sponsored HB 737.

Neither bill had been called to a vote at the committee level yet.

The Senate version of the bill was referred to three committees: the Education Pre-K-12; Appropriations Committee on Pre-K -12 Education; and Rules.

Meanwhile the House bill appears to have died in the Careers & Workforce Subcommittee without getting a vote so far. The bill was also referred to the Pre-K-12 Budget Subcommittee and Education & Employment Committee.

Campbell and Arrington’s bills are one of several pieces of legislation that haven’t moved forward this Session.

Other proposals that don’t seem likely to get passed include a bill to make it easier to pay for public records and a bill to require the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to set up a “quality certification” program so Floridians know their fish and shrimp isn’t foreign or farmed fish.

Sen. Clay Yarborough confirmed Saturday his bill to allow photographs to be taken in polling places under select circumstances doesn’t have a path forward either.

His bill would have allowed “members of the public to photograph in a polling room or early voting area before the polls open and after the polls close when voting has ended,” while banning “the mounting of any camera or recording device that remains inside a polling room or early voting area during the time any voter is voting.”

Gabrielle Russon

Gabrielle Russon is an award-winning journalist based in Orlando. She covered the business of theme parks for the Orlando Sentinel. Her previous newspaper stops include the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, Toledo Blade, Kalamazoo Gazette and Elkhart Truth as well as an internship covering the nation’s capital for the Chicago Tribune. For fun, she runs marathons. She gets her training from chasing a toddler around. Contact her at [email protected] or on Twitter @GabrielleRusson .


6 comments

  • Elnora Braun

    April 19, 2025 at 4:20 pm

    I’ve gotten 2 checks for a total of $9,200…this is the best decision I made in a long time! This extra cash has changed my life in so many ways, thank you!”

    For details Go ON my ProFILE

  • Michael K

    April 19, 2025 at 4:40 pm

    How are predatory lenders supposed to operate if the populace learns financial literacy? Priorities, people!
    /s

  • Fu

    April 20, 2025 at 9:39 am

    People like incomm talking all that diversity..while draining cards. Or better yet get a prepaid. Have them freeze your account call India and get extorted for sensitive information. .then have your card compromised…no one gets blamed..

    • Fu

      April 20, 2025 at 9:48 am

      What is that flavor of the month stand for

  • Suzanne Costanza

    April 21, 2025 at 10:16 am

    Hello, there is already a required course on the books for high school students on Financial Literacy. It was passed in 2022 and requires one half credit of instruction prior to graduation (https://www.fldoe.org/newsroom/latest-news/icymi-governor-ron-desantis-signs-financial-literacy-bill-to-support-floridas-students.stml). It also covers topics on career readiness and entrepreneurship. Additionally, students in 4th and 8th grade have a set of standards they must be instructed on. Please feel free to reach out to my organization if you have questions about this requirement already in place.

  • Fun fact

    April 21, 2025 at 1:25 pm

    Financial literacy. While Maintaining a budget.with inflation that doesn’t do the math of the average salary.. good- luck. You make an average of 70,090 annually. But your mortgage rate tripled ..your medical expenses are now way above what you are making..and let’s not forget food.. and transportation that’s an average of 1,700 a month..

Comments are closed.


#FlaPol

Florida Politics is a statewide, new media platform covering campaigns, elections, government, policy, and lobbying in Florida. This platform and all of its content are owned by Extensive Enterprises Media.

Publisher: Peter Schorsch @PeterSchorschFL

Contributors & reporters: Phil Ammann, Drew Dixon, Roseanne Dunkelberger, Liam Fineout, A.G. Gancarski, Ryan Nicol, Jacob Ogles, Cole Pepper, Andrew Powell, Jesse Scheckner, Janelle Taylor, Drew Wilson, and Mike Wright.

Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @PeterSchorschFL
Phone: (727) 642-3162
Address: 204 37th Avenue North #182
St. Petersburg, Florida 33704