CS/HB 561: Educator Preparation and Certification

GENERAL BILL by Education & Employment Committee, Gerwig; (CO-INTRODUCERS) Daniels, López, J., Salzman, Valdés

Educator Preparation and Certification; Revises provisions relating to educator preparation institutes, award of temporary educator certifications, & reinstatement & renewal of professional educator certificates; & revises requirements for Florida Center for Teaching Excellence.

Current Bill Version Posted: 2/10/2026 05:39 PM

• Related Bills (2)

  Bill Number Subject Filed By Last Action and Location	Relationship Learn more about bill relationships
  S 1718 by Calatayud Educator Preparation and Certification Last Action: 2/25/2026 S Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading	Identical
  S 7036 (c2) by Education Pre-K - 12 Education Last Action: 2/25/2026 S CS/CS by Rules read 1st time	Compare

• Analyses (1)

  Links in this section are PDF documents.

  • Education & Employment Committee (Post-Meeting)   2/10/2026

• Floor Votes (1)

  Links in this section are PDF documents.

  Date	Chamber	Result
  2/25/2026 9:13 PM	House	112 Yeas - 0 Nays

• Citations - Statute (4)

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  1004.85	Postsecondary educator preparation institutes.	Page 2 (pdf)
  1012.56	Educator certification requirements.	Page 4 (pdf)
  1012.585	Process for renewal of professional certificates.	Page 5 (pdf)
  1012.981	The Florida Center for Teaching Excellence.	Page 7 (pdf)

• Bill History

  S = Senate, H = House

  12/1/2025	H	• Filed
  12/12/2025	H	• Referred to Careers & Workforce Subcommittee • Referred to PreK-12 Budget Subcommittee • Referred to Education & Employment Committee • Now in Careers & Workforce Subcommittee
  1/12/2026	H	• Added to Careers & Workforce Subcommittee agenda
  1/13/2026	H	• 1st Reading (Original Filed Version)
  1/14/2026	H	• Favorable by Careers & Workforce Subcommittee • Reported out of Careers & Workforce Subcommittee • Now in PreK-12 Budget Subcommittee
  2/2/2026	H	• Added to PreK-12 Budget Subcommittee agenda
  2/4/2026	H	• Favorable by PreK-12 Budget Subcommittee • Reported out of PreK-12 Budget Subcommittee • Now in Education & Employment Committee
  2/6/2026	H	• PCS added to Education & Employment Committee agenda
  2/10/2026	H	• Favorable with CS by Education & Employment Committee • Reported out of Education & Employment Committee • Laid on Table under Rule 7.18(a) • CS Filed • 1st Reading (Committee Substitute 1)
  2/11/2026	H	• Bill referred to House Calendar • Added to Second Reading Calendar
  2/19/2026	H	• Bill added to Special Order Calendar (2/25/2026)
  2/25/2026	H	• Read 2nd time • Added to Third Reading Calendar • Read 3rd time • CS passed; YEAS 112, NAYS 0
  2/25/2026	S	• In Messages