The Florida Senate
BILL ANALYSIS AND FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT
(This document is based on the provisions contained in the legislation as of the latest date listed below.)
Prepared By: The Professional Staff of the Appropriations Committee on Higher Education
BILL: CS/CS/SB 270
INTRODUCER: Appropriations Committee on Higher Education; Education Postsecondary Committee;
and Senator Burgess
SUBJECT: Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program
DATE: March 20, 2025
ANALYST STAFF DIRECTOR REFERENCE ACTION
1. Palazesi Bouck HE Fav/CS
2. Gray Elwell AHE Fav/CS
3. FP
Please see Section IX. for Additional Information:
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE - Substantial Changes
I. Summary:
CS/CS/SB 270 expands the eligibility criteria for the Bright Futures Scholarship Program to
include a student who graduated from a non-Florida school if the parent retired from military
service within 12 months prior to the student’s graduation.
The bill also expands eligibility for the Florida Academic Scholar (FAS) award requirements to
include the Advanced Placement (AP) Capstone designation with eligible diploma options. The
bill specifies the course composition of the AP Capstone designation.
The bill is expected to have a significant negative fiscal impact on the Bright Futures Scholarship
Program. See Section V., Fiscal Impact Statement.
The bill is effective on July 1, 2025.
II. Present Situation:
Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program
The Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program is a lottery-funded scholarship program for
Florida high school graduates who merit high academic achievement and enroll in a degree,
certificate, or applied technology program at an eligible Florida public or private postsecondary
REVISED: BILL: CS/CS/SB 270 Page 2
education institution.
1
Since the 1997-1998 academic year, the Florida Bright Futures
Scholarship Program has disbursed approximately $9.2 billion for over 3.3 million students to
attend an eligible postsecondary institution in this state.
2
General Eligibility Requirements
Florida high school students who wish to qualify for a Florida Bright Futures Scholarship
Program award must meet the following initial eligibility requirements:
• Be a Florida resident for at least one year preceding an award.
• Earn a standard Florida high school diploma or a high school equivalency diploma unless:
o The student completes a home education program.
o The student earns a high school diploma from a non-Florida school while living with a
parent or guardian who is on military or public service assignment away from Florida; or
o The student earns a high school diploma from an eligible Florida private school.
• Be accepted by and enroll in an eligible Florida public or independent postsecondary
education institution.
• Be enrolled for at least six semester credit hours or the equivalent in quarter hours or clock
hours.
• Not have been found guilty of, or entered a plea of nolo contendere to, a felony charge,
unless the student has been granted clemency.
• Apply for a scholarship by high school graduation, or by December 31 for mid-year
graduates.
3
Academic Eligibility Requirements
There are four awards through the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship program, including the
Florida Academic Scholars award, the Florida Medallion Scholars award, the Florida Gold Seal
CAPE Scholars award, and the Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholars award.
4
In the 2023-2024
academic year, 35,111 students received an initial disbursement for one of the four awards
offered through the Bright Futures Scholarship Program.
5
Florida Academic Scholar (FAS) Award
In the 2023-2024 academic year, 20,093 students received an initial disbursement for the FAS
award.
6
Florida high school students who wish to qualify for the FAS award must meet the
following academic requirements:
1
Section 1009.53(1), F.S.
2
Florida Department of Education, Florida Bright Futures Student Counts and Total Costs (2024), available at
https://www.floridastudentfinancialaidsg.org/PDF/PSI/BFReportsA.pdf. (last visited Mar. 11, 2025)
3
Section 1009.531(1), F.S.
4
Section 1009.53(2), F.S.
5
Florida Department of Education, Florida Bright Futures End-of-Year Report (2024), available at
https://www.floridastudentfinancialaidsg.org/PDF/PSI/BF_2023_2024.pdf (last visited Mar. 11, 2025)
6
Florida Department of Education, Office of Student Financial Assistance End-Of-Year Report, Florida Academic
Scholarship, available at https://www.floridastudentfinancialaidsg.org/PDF/PSI/BFFAS_2023_2024.pdf. (last visited Mar.
11, 2025) BILL: CS/CS/SB 270 Page 3
• Graduate from a Florida public high school with a standard diploma, from a registered
private high school, earn a GED, complete a home education program, or graduate from a
non-Florida high school if specific eligibility requirements are met.
• Complete the required high school coursework.
• Achieve the required minimum high school grade point average (GPA) of 3.5.
7
• Achieve the required minimum score on either the ACT, CLT, or SAT college entrance
exam.
8
• Complete 100 total hours of volunteer service, paid work hours, or combination of both.
• Submit a Florida Financial Aid Application no later than August 31 after high school
graduation.
9
A student is exempt from the required ACT, CLT, or SAT college entrance exam scores if he or
she is:
• Awarded an International Baccalaureate Diploma from the International Baccalaureate
Office or an Advanced International Certificate of Education Diploma from the University of
Cambridge International Examinations Office;
• Recognized by the merit or achievement programs of the National Merit Scholarship
Corporation as a scholar or finalist; or
• Recognized by the National Hispanic Recognition Program as a scholar recipient.
10
Florida Medallion Scholar (FMS) Award
In the 2023-2024 academic year, 14,442 students received an initial disbursement for the FMS
award.
11
Florida high school students who wish to qualify for the FMS award must meet the
following academic requirements:
• Graduate from a Florida public high school with a standard diploma, from a registered
private high school, earn a GED, complete a home education program, or graduate from a
non-Florida high school if specific eligibility requirements are met.
• Complete the required high school coursework.
• Achieve the required minimum high school grade point average (GPA) of 3.0.
• Achieve the required minimum score on either the ACT, CLT, or SAT college entrance
exam.
12
• Complete 75 hours of volunteer service, 100 hours of paid work, or 100 hours of a
combination of both.
7
Florida Department of Education, Bright Futures Student Handbook, available at
https://www.floridastudentfinancialaidsg.org/pdf/bfhandbookchapter1.pdf, at 3. (last visited Mar. 11, 2025)
8
Section 1009.531(6), F.S. The SAT score requirement for the FAS must be set no lower than the 89th national percentile.
The corresponding ACT and CLT scores must be concordant with the applicable SAT scores.
9
Florida Department of Education, Bright Futures Student Handbook, available at
https://www.floridastudentfinancialaidsg.org/pdf/bfhandbookchapter1.pdf, at 3. (last visited Mar. 11, 2025)
10
Section 1009.534(1), F.S.
11
Florida Department of Education, Office of Student Financial Assistance End-Of-Year Report, Florida Medallion
Scholarship available at https://www.floridastudentfinancialaidsg.org/PDF/PSI/BFFMS_2023_2024.pdf (last visited Mar.
11, 2025).
12
Section 1009.531(6), F.S. The SAT score requirement for the FAS must be set no lower than the 75
th
national percentile.
The corresponding ACT and CLT scores must be concordant with the applicable SAT scores. BILL: CS/CS/SB 270 Page 4
• Submit a Florida Financial Aid Application no later than August 31 after high school
graduation.
13
A student is exempt from the required ACT, CLT, or SAT college entrance exam scores if he or
she is:
• Awarded an International Baccalaureate Diploma from the International Baccalaureate
Office or an Advanced International Certificate of Education Diploma from the University of
Cambridge International Examinations Office;
• Recognized by the merit or achievement programs of the National Merit Scholarship
Corporation as a scholar or finalist; or
• Recognized by the National Hispanic Recognition Program as a scholar recipient.
14
Florida Gold Seal CAPE (GSC) Award
In the 2023-2024 academic year, 284 students received an initial disbursement for the Florida
GSC award.
15
Florida high school students who wish to qualify for the Florida GSC award must
meet the following initial eligibility requirements:
• Earn a minimum of five postsecondary credit hours through CAPE industry certifications that
articulate for college credit.
• Complete 30 volunteer service hours, 100 paid work hours, or the combination of 100 total
hours.
16
Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholars (GSVS) Award
In the 2023-2024 academic year, 292 students received an initial disbursement for the Florida
GSVS award.
17
Florida high school students who wish to qualify for a Florida GSVS award must
meet the following initial eligibility requirements:
• Achieve the required weighted minimum 3.0 GPA in non-elective high school courses.
• Take at least three full credits in a single career and technical education program.
• Achieve the required minimum 3.5 unweighted GPA in career education courses.
• Achieve the required minimum score on the ACT, SAT, or Florida Postsecondary Education
Readiness Test (PERT).
• Complete 30 volunteer service hours, 100 paid work hours, or the combination of 100 total
hours.
18
13
Florida Department of Education, Bright Futures Student Handbook, available at
https://www.floridastudentfinancialaidsg.org/pdf/bfhandbookchapter1.pdf, at 3. (last visited Mar. 12, 2025)
14
Florida Department of Education, Bright Futures Student Handbook, available at
https://www.floridastudentfinancialaidsg.org/pdf/bfhandbookchapter1.pdf, at 5 (last visited Mar. 12, 2025).
15
Florida Department of Education, Office of Student Financial Assistance End-Of-Year Report Florida Gold Seal CAPE
Scholarship, available at https://www.floridastudentfinancialaidsg.org/PDF/PSI/BFGSC_2023_2024.pdf.
16
Florida Department of Education, Bright Futures Student Handbook, available at
https://www.floridastudentfinancialaidsg.org/pdf/bfhandbookchapter1.pdf, at 8 (last visited Mar. 12, 2025).
17
Florida Department of Education, Office of Student Financial Assistance End-Of-Year Report Florida Gold Seal
Vocational Scholarship, available at https://www.floridastudentfinancialaidsg.org/PDF/PSI/BFGSV_2023_2024.pdf (last
visited Mar. 12, 2025).
18
Florida Department of Education, Bright Futures Student Handbook, available at
https://www.floridastudentfinancialaidsg.org/pdf/bfhandbookchapter1.pdf, at 6. BILL: CS/CS/SB 270 Page 5
Advanced Placement (AP) Capstone Designation
The AP Capstone is a diploma program based on two yearlong AP courses: AP Seminar and AP
Research. These courses are designed to complement other AP courses that the AP Capstone
student may take. The AP Seminar course is an introductory AP class for grades 10 and 11, and
serves as a prerequisite for AP Research, which is typically offered in grades 11 or 12. The AP
scores for both courses are based on teacher assessment of student presentation components and
College Board scoring of student-written components plus an end-of-course exam (for AP
Seminar only). To earn an AP Capstone designation, students must earn scores of three or higher
in the AP Seminar and AP Research courses, and on four additional AP Exams of their choosing.
Students who earn scores of three or higher in the AP Seminar and AP Research courses, but not
on four additional AP Exams, receive the AP Seminar and Research Certificate.
19
III. Effect of Proposed Changes:
This bill amends s. 1009.531, F.S., to expand eligibility requirements for the Florida Bright
Futures Scholarship program to students who earned a high school diploma from a non-Florida
school while living with a parent or guardian who, within 12 months before the student’s high
school graduation, retired from military or public service assignment away from Florida.
Currently, a student who earns a high school diploma from a non-Florida school may only
qualify for the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program if that student is living with a parent
or guardian who is on military or public service away from Florida.
The bill amends s. 1009.531, F.S., to expand eligibility for the Florida Academic Scholar (FAS)
award requirements to include the Advanced Placement (AP) Capstone designation on the same
basis as the International Baccalaureate or Advanced International Certificate of Education
diplomas beginning with the high school students graduating in 2025-2026. The amendment
requires that the AP Capstone designation may only be used for the FAS award if the student
completes six AP courses, including:
• AP Seminar;
• AP Research;
• One AP course in mathematics or science;
• One AP course in English;
• One AP course in art, history, or social sciences; and
• One AP course in a subject of the student’s choice.
The bill also specifies that earning an AP Capstone designation does not satisfy the requirements
for a standard high school diploma.
The bill is effective on July 1, 2025.
19
College Board, How AP Capstone Works, https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/courses/ap-capstone/how-ap-capstone-
works#:~:text=Students%20who%20earn%20scores%20of,Seminar%20and%20Research%20Certificate%E2%84%A2.,
(Last visited Mar. 12, 2025). BILL: CS/CS/SB 270 Page 6
IV. Constitutional Issues:
A. Municipality/County Mandates Restrictions:
None.
B. Public Records/Open Meetings Issues:
None.
C. Trust Funds Restrictions:
None.
D. State Tax or Fee Increases:
None.
E. Other Constitutional Issues:
None.
V. Fiscal Impact Statement:
A. Tax/Fee Issues:
None.
B. Private Sector Impact:
None.
C. Government Sector Impact:
The bill would increase the number of students who are eligible for the Bright Futures
Scholarship Program. The fiscal impact for expanding the Bright Futures Scholarship
Program to include those students earning an Advanced Placement (AP) Capstone
designation would grant initial eligibility to an additional 660 students for the 2026-2027
academic year, resulting in approximately a $3.8 million fiscal impact. Based on the
current forecast growth, the total cost for initial eligibility and students meeting the
renewal requirements would result in a cost of $7.6 million for 2027-2028, $9.8 million
for 2028-2029, and $11.2 million for 2029-2030.
20
The fiscal impact for expanding the Bright Futures Scholarship Program eligibility
requirements for students who earn a high school diploma from a non-Florida school
while living with a parent or guardian who, within 12 months before the student’s
20
Email from Amelia Johnson, Deputy Chief of Staff, Florida Department of Education, (Feb. 27, 2025) (on file with Senate
Appropriation Committee on Higher Education). Numbers were updated based on deferring the effective day to 2026. BILL: CS/CS/SB 270 Page 7
graduation, retired from military or public service assignment away from Florida, has an
indeterminate fiscal impact.
VI. Technical Deficiencies:
None.
VII. Related Issues:
None.
VIII. Statutes Affected:
This bill substantially amends the following section of the Florida Statutes: 1009.26, 1009.531,
and 1009.534.
IX. Additional Information:
A. Committee Substitute – Statement of Substantial Changes:
(Summarizing differences between the Committee Substitute and the prior version of the bill.)
CS/CS by Appropriations Committee on Higher Education on March 18, 2025:
The committee substitute provides that the Bright Futures Scholarship Program eligibility
for the Advanced Placement Capstone designation is to begin with the high school
students graduating in the 2025-2026 school year.
CS by Education Postsecondary on February 18, 2025:
The committee substitute expands eligibility for the Florida Academic Scholar award
requirements to include the Advanced Placement (AP) Capstone designation with eligible
diploma options but specifies that the AP Capstone is not a standard high school diploma
option. The amendment requires that the AP Capstone designation can only be used if the
student completes six AP courses, including AP Seminar; AP Research; one AP course in
mathematics or science; one AP course in English; one AP course in art, history, or social
sciences; and one AP course in a subject of the student’s choice.
B. Amendments:
None.
This Senate Bill Analysis does not reflect the intent or official position of the bill’s introducer or the Florida Senate.