A bill expanding Florida’s tax credit scholarship program and creating new personal learning accounts for disabled students hit a procedural snag Thursday with time winding down in the legislative session.
But legislative leaders say their school choice push is not over, and the legislation could come up again Friday on the Senate floor.
Senate Democrats thwarted an attempt to take up the House version of the school choice bill, HB 7167.
Senate Democratic Leader Chris Smith, D-Fort Lauderdale, objected, and the move failed on a 25-14 party-line vote. It needed support from two-thirds of the Senate, meaning it fell two votes shy.
The issue may not be dead yet, given that it is supported by top leaders in both the House and Senate. Legislative leaders said they want to see the Senate debate the bill.
“I feel very good about that bill,” House Speaker Will Weatherford told reporters after floor sessions adjourned for the day on Thursday. “I think there’s a great landing zone for that bill. We look forward to seeing the Senate pass that bill, and hopefully the governor will be signing that bill.”
Senate President Don Gaetz reminded reporters that the bill was part of the agenda he and Weatherford laid out before the start of session.
“We believe in school choice, both the Speaker and I do, and we both believe in academic and financial accountability. We’re trying to make sure that the bill is in proper posture to get a full consideration,” Gaetz said. He added, however, that passing the bill could be a “heavy lift” because the Senate plans to follow its normal procedures, which means the bill would need the support of at least one Democrat.
“My hope is that we’ll be able to take that bill up, if everyone gets their questions answered, and pass it out tomorrow,” he said.
The scholarship program is administered by Step Up For Students, which co-hosts this blog.
