CS/SB 254: Nursing Education Programs

GENERAL BILL by Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services, Harrell

Nursing Education Programs; Requiring applicants for nurse licensure seeking to take the licensing examination more than 6 months after graduation to first complete a remedial course approved or developed by the Board of Nursing; requiring the Department of Health to issue temporary provisional licenses to graduate professional nurses and graduate practical nurses meeting certain criteria; revising application requirements for nursing education program approval; requiring the Florida Center for Nursing to develop graduate nursing preceptorship standards by a specified date; authorizing agents or employees of the department to conduct onsite evaluations and inspections of approved and accredited nursing education programs, etc.

Current Bill Version Posted: 2/27/2026 11:08 AM

• Senate Committee References (3)

  1. Health Policy (HP)
  2. Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services (AHS)
  3. Fiscal Policy (FP)

• Related Bills (2)

  Bill Number Subject Filed By Last Action and Location	Relationship Learn more about bill relationships
  H 121 (c1) by Health & Human Services Committee Nursing Education Programs Last Action: 3/13/2026 S Died in Fiscal Policy	Compare
  S 742 by Rodriguez Nursing Licensure Last Action: 3/13/2026 S Died in Health Policy	Compare

• Citations - Statute (3)

  The page numbers, when listed, for citations are constantly under review. The journals or printed bills of the respective chambers should be consulted as the official documents of the Legislature.
  
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  464.008	Licensure by examination.	Page 3 (pdf)
  464.019	Approval of nursing education programs.	Page 5 (pdf)
  464.022	Exceptions.	Page 18 (pdf)

• Bill History

  S = Senate, H = House

  10/20/2025	S	• Filed
  11/3/2025	S	• Referred to Health Policy; Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services; Fiscal Policy
  11/10/2025	S	• On Committee agenda-- Health Policy, 11/18/25, 10:00 am, 412 Knott Building
  11/18/2025	S	• Favorable by Health Policy; YEAS 7 NAYS 1 • Now in Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services
  1/13/2026	S	• Introduced
  2/20/2026	S	• On Committee agenda-- Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services, 02/25/26, 10:00 am, 412 Knott Building
  2/25/2026	S	• CS by Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services; YEAS 6 NAYS 0
  2/27/2026	S	• Pending reference review under Rule 4.7(2) - (Committee Substitute)
  3/3/2026	S	• CS by Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services read 1st time
  3/6/2026	S	• Now in Fiscal Policy
  3/13/2026	S	• Died in Fiscal Policy