State Representative Amber Mariano, District 36
June 15 at 1:51pm ·
Now that Special Session is over, I wanted to reassure all parents and students in Florida that the expanded benefits for Bright Futures Scholars WILL BE AVAILABLE next year.
Two weeks ago we had a great dialogue with students, parents, and taxpayers across Florida on this page about the newest reform effort for Florida’s Bright Futures Scholarship Program.
The changes included fully funding tuition for Bright Futures Academic Scholars, including the summer semester and an additional book stipend.
This week, the Governor vetoed SB 374, which contained the language for these reforms. So what does this mean? The good news is, this coming year, these changes to the Bright Futures Scholarship Program are here to stay! The Governor did NOT veto the money associated with this program and has instructed the Florida Department of Education to fully fund the expanded benefits to students who qualify.
What it also means is these changes to Bright Futures are only guaranteed for this year and not beyond. I assure you, I will not stop working to make these permanent for years to come. We had massive bi-partisan support in both chambers for these reforms and expanded benefits. The Governor also supports these changes.
So to recap, this year, the expanded benefits are still coming to students throughout Florida who qualify and we will fight to make them permanent for years to come next legislative session!