Senate Bill 1726, also known as the higher education bill, plans to reform leadership within Florida’s education systems by enforcing term limits for trustees and setting new residency and citizenship requirements for college board members. It also aims to reduce government influences.
SB 1726 was introduced by Alexis Calatayud, a Republican from Miami, in collaboration with the Senate Appropriations Committee on Higher Education. The bill was filed with the hopes of enhancing accountability within higher education systems and ensuring board members reflect their communities.
During a Senate Education Postsecondary Committee meeting, Calatayud shared a statement regarding her reasoning behind the development of SB 1726.
“The bill directly addresses key areas identified as needing reform, ensuring greater transparency in university leadership selection, increased financial disclosures for board members, and improved access to vital course and textbook information for students,” Calatayud said.
Should this bill become law, many leadership positions in Florida’s colleges and universities will face term limits. All board of trustee members may serve only two four-year terms, ensuring that they do not exceed eight consecutive years of service. Board of Governors members will be limited to a single seven-year term, and State University System boards of trustees members may serve up to two consecutive five-year terms, totaling a maximum of 10 years. Also, State Board of Education members and the leading chair position are restricted to serving a single two-year term.
SB 1726 also works to ensure that higher education leaders are familiar with Florida institutions by requiring all board members to be U.S. citizens, Florida residents or graduates from a state institution.
Additionally, the bill will allow board of trustees members to select university presidents without Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ approval. This will significantly change the process in which board members are chosen and limit the governor’s ability to appoint new leadership at the state’s colleges and universities.
The companion bill to SB 1726, House Bill 1321, works similarly to reform leadership positions within Florida’s higher education system. HB 1321 was introduced by Michelle Salzman, a representative from Pensacola, and co-sponsored by Representatives Anna Eskamani from Orlando and Yvonne Hayes Hinson from Gainesville.
During a news conference in Fort Myers, Governor DeSantis shared his thoughts on HB 1321.
“I don’t think that’s going to get on the desk. If it does, we’ll invite you all to the ceremony where we’ll veto. That’s fine, but I don’t even think it’s going to get there,” DeSantis said.
During a Florida House legislative session, Salzman shared her beliefs regarding the bill and the Florida government.
“In summary, this bill is about transparency, term-limiting bureaucrats and good governance,” Salzman said. “This isn’t an attack on the Board of Governors. This isn’t an attack on our great governor. This is simply bringing the second largest component of the state budget into the sunshine,” Salzman added.
If SB 1726 and HB 1321 are signed into law — despite the governor’s threat to veto them — they will take effect on July 1.