Florida legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Florida H1059: Speech and Debate Education
Status: In committee, March 11, 2026
Designates Florida Speech & Debate Week annually in February; subject to legislative appropriation, establishing Florida Debate Initiative, Inc., (FDI) as statewide speech & debate organization that performs certain functions in support of Florida Civics & Debate Initiative (FCDI) in DOE; provides duties of FDI & FCDI.
What the bill says
An act relating to speech and debate education; creating s. 683.221, F.S.; designating Florida Speech and Debate Week annually in February; providing purposes for the annual observance; authorizing specified entities to observe Florida Speech and Debate Week; creating s. 1000.09, F.S.; subject to legislative appropriation, establishing the Florida Debate Initiative, Inc., (FDI) as a statewide speech and debate organization that performs certain functions in support of the Florida Civics and Debate Initiative (FCDI) in the Department of Education…
From the introduced text, February 26, 2026:
A bill to be entitled An act relating to speech and debate education; creating s. 683.221, F.S.; designating Florida Speech and Debate Week annually in February; providing purposes for the annual observance; authorizing specified entities to observe Florida Speech and Debate Week; creating s. 1000.09, F.S.; subject to legislative appropriation, establishing the Florida Debate Initiative, Inc., (FDI) as a statewide speech and debate organization that performs certain functions in support of the Florida Civics and Debate Initiative (FCDI) in the Department of Education; providing the duties of the FDI; providing construction; authorizing the FDI to establish and maintain certain partnerships; specifying activities for the FDI and FCDI; providing authorized uses of funds for the FDI; requiring the FDI to publish a report online and submit the report to the department annually by a specified date; specifying requirements for the report; requiring the FCDI to annually provide certain data to the FDI by a specified date; providing an effective date. Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: words underlined are additions. hb1059-02-c2 FLORIDAHOUSEOFREPRESENTATIVES CS/CS/HB 1059 2026 Section 1. Section 683.221, Florida Statutes, is created to read: 683.221 Florida Speech and Debate Week.-- (1) February 1 through February 7 shall be annually designated as "Florida Speech and Debate Week." (2) Florida Speech and Debate Week shall be observed …
Sponsors
- Booth, Erika (R, HD-035) · primary sponsor
- Booth (R, 35) · primary sponsor
- Bankson (R, 39)
- Bankson, Doug (R, HD-039)
- Barnaby, Webster (R, HD-029)
- Webster Barnaby (R, HD-027)
- Benarroch, Yvette (R, HD-081)
- Berfield, Kimberly (R, HD-058)
- Kimberly Daniels (D, HD-014)
- Daniels, Kimberly (D, HD-014)
- Dunkley, Lisa (D, HD-097)
- Gerwig, Anne (R, HD-093)
Latest actions
- : Laid on Table
- : Added to Second Reading Calendar
- : Bill referred to House Calendar
- : 1st Reading (Committee Substitute 2)
- : CS Filed
- : Laid on Table under Rule 7.18(a)
- : Reported out of Education & Employment Committee
- : Favorable with CS by Education & Employment Committee
- : PCS added to Education & Employment Committee agenda
- : Now in Education & Employment Committee
Votes
- House: Education & Employment Committee (February 26, 2026): 19 yea, 0 nay, passed
- House: Education & Employment Committee (February 26, 2026): 19 yea, 0 nay, passed
- House: Student Academic Success Subcommittee (February 11, 2026): 14 yea, 0 nay, passed
- House: Student Academic Success Subcommittee (February 11, 2026): 14 yea, 0 nay, passed
Common questions
- What is H1059?
- H1059 is a bill in the Florida Legislature (2026 Regular Session): Speech and Debate Education.
- What does H1059 do?
- In its own words: An act relating to speech and debate education; creating s. 683.221, F.S.; designating Florida Speech and Debate Week annually in February; providing purposes for the annual observance; authorizing specified entities to observe Florida Speech and Debate Week; creating s. 1000.09, F.S.; subject to legislative appropriation, establishing the Florida Debate Initiative, Inc., (FDI) as a statewide speech and debate organization that performs certain functions in support of the Florida Civics and Debate Initiative (FCDI) in the Department of Education…
- What is the status of H1059?
- In committee as of March 11, 2026. Latest action: Laid on Table (March 11, 2026).
- Who sponsored H1059?
- Booth, Erika (R, HD-035), with 11 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for H1059?
- On the Florida Legislature website: https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/1059
Source: official Florida record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.