Collin Drafts

Great to be in Jacksonville this morning to sign two bills that expand opportunities for student participation in athletics and extracurricular activities. This legislation supports our K-12 coaches and student athletes, making Florida more competitive to recruit great coaches who will have a positive impact on their community. SB 538 provides school districts with greater flexibility in compensation for athletic coaches. It also ensures that students enrolled in charter, private, virtual, and homeschool options will have the same access to sports and other extracurricular programs as their peers in traditional public schools. SB 178, the Teddy Bridgewater Act, is named for a football coach who was unjustly suspended from Miami Northwestern High School because he paid with his personal funds for meals and rides for his players from under-privileged backgrounds. In Florida, we want to encourage mentorship — not punish it. This legislation creates a structured and transparent way for coaches to provide assistance using personal funds, with safeguards like parental consent, reporting requirements, and clear oversight.