HB0717 • 2026

Autism Spectrum Disorder

Education Healthcare

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Maggard
Last action: 2026-01-09
Official status: House - Withdrawn prior to introduction
Effective date: 2026-07-01

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on enforcement mechanisms or timelines for rule creation by the State Board of Education.

Autism Spectrum Disorder Definition and Teacher Requirements

This bill changes the definition of autism spectrum disorder in Florida's laws and requires certain K-12 teachers to have special training if they teach students with this condition.

What This Bill Does

Changes how 'autism' is defined in state law to match the latest medical guidelines.
Requires the State Board of Education to create rules about teacher training for autism spectrum disorder.

Who It Names or Affects

Students with autism spectrum disorder in K-12 schools
Teachers and staff at Florida's K-12 schools

Terms To Know

Autism Spectrum Disorder Endorsement: A special certification that teachers need if they teach many students with autism spectrum disorder.
State Board of Education: The group in charge of making rules for Florida's public schools.

Limits and Unknowns

It is not clear how the bill will be enforced or what happens if teachers do not follow the new requirements.
The bill does not specify exactly when and how the State Board of Education must create these new rules.

Bill History

2026-01-09 House
• Withdrawn prior to introduction
2025-12-16 House
• Referred to Human Services Subcommittee • Referred to Education & Employment Committee • Referred to Health Care Budget Subcommittee • Referred to Health & Human Services Committee • Now in Human Services Subcommittee
2025-12-10 House
• Filed

Official Summary Text

Autism Spectrum Disorder; Revises definition of term "autism"; requires, rather than authorizing, State Board of Education to adopt certain rules; requires that such rules include requirement related to autism spectrum disorder for certain K-12 teachers.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB 717 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb717-00
Page 1 of 2
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S

A bill to be entitled 1
An act relating to autism spectrum disorder; amending 2
s. 393.063, F.S.; revising the definition of the term 3
"autism"; amending s. 1012.582, F.S.; requiring, 4
rather than authorizing, the State Board of Education 5
to adopt certain rules; requiring that such rules 6
include a requirement related to autism spectrum 7
disorder for certain K-12 teachers; providing an 8
effective date. 9
10
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 11
12
Section 1. Subsection (5) of section 393.063, Florida 13
Statutes, is amended to read: 14
393.063 Definitions.—For the purposes of this chapter, the 15
term: 16
(5) "Autism" and "autism spectrum disorder" mean means a 17
condition as defined by the most recent edition of the 18
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders of the 19
American Psychiatric Association pervasive, neurologically based 20
developmental disability of extended duration which causes 21
severe learning, communication, and behavior disorders with age 22
of onset during infancy or childhood. Individuals with autism 23
exhibit impairment in reciprocal social interaction, impairment 24
in verbal and nonverbal communication and imaginative ability, 25

HB 717 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb717-00
Page 2 of 2
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S

and a markedly restricted repertoire of activities and 26
interests. 27
Section 2. Subsection (4) of section 1012.582, Florida 28
Statutes, is amended to read: 29
1012.582 Continuing education and inservice training for 30
teaching students with developmental and emotional or behavioral 31
disabilities.— 32
(4)(a) The State Board of Education shall may adopt rules 33
pursuant to ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54 to implement this section. 34
(b) Such rules must require a K-12 teacher who teaches a 35
class with at least 50 percent of students having autism 36
spectrum disorder to hold an Autism Spectrum Disorder 37
Endorsement. 38
(c) Such rules must allow for an exception to the Autism 39
Spectrum Disorder Endorsement requirement in paragraph (b) if a 40
teacher holds an Endorsement in Severe or Profound Disabilities, 41
has taught students with autism spectrum disorder for a minimum 42
of 3 years, and has been rated as highly effective in the 43
preceding 3-year period pursuant to s. 1012.34. 44
Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026. 45