FloridaFailed proposal would transfer USF Sarasota-Manatee campus to New College
The failed proposal would transfer the USF Sarasota-Manatee campus to New College, which would take on its costs while eligible USF students finish their degrees there.
What it does
New College would take over the USF Sarasota-Manatee campus, its related costs, and certain outstanding facility debt. It would pay USF $166,617 each month until it completes the listed debt obligations.
USF students admitted before July 1, 2026, who stay enrolled would get priority for campus space as they work toward a degree. USF could not assign the campus as the home campus for students first offered admission later.
State university trustees could set out-of-state fees for nonresident students in all programs. Unless an exception applies, tuition and fees would have to cover the full cost of their instruction.
When a university's reserve is above the 7 percent minimum, its spending plan would have to commit 12 percent of its prior 2025-2026 state operating fund carry-forward balance to an eligible building project or deferred maintenance.
State funds could support Title IX and related requirements, including scholarships, administration, recruitment, and comparable coaching.
Argument forUSF students admitted before July 1, 2026, could keep access to local classes and support space while they work toward their degrees.
Argument againstNew College could have less money for other needs because it would take on campus costs and make monthly debt payments from its available funds.
More detail
New College would take over the USF Sarasota-Manatee campus and its related responsibilities. The transfer covers campus property, facilities, and related contracts, obligations, responsibilities, and liabilities. Covered debt is for facilities on the campus properties with a balance still owed on July 1, 2026. New College would pay USF $166,617 each month from its available funds until it completes the listed debt obligations; USF funds could not cover these payments. If New College failed to pay, the facility transfer would be invalid and the facilities would return to USF. The property and related items would transfer by July 1, 2026. New College would have until October 30, 2026, to complete the steps to assume the covered debt.
New College would make campus space available for certain USF students, and USF could not assign the campus as the home campus for some new students. The space protections cover USF students admitted before July 1, 2026, who remain continuously enrolled. The home-campus restriction covers new students whose first USF admission offer came after that date. New College would provide sufficient academic and student support space free of charge to USF. New College students, faculty, and staff would have access to educational and administrative space when feasible during USF's teach-out. Priority would last until each covered student has had a reasonable chance to graduate, for no more than four full academic years after initial enrollment.
State university trustees could set out-of-state fees for nonresident students in all programs. This applies to nonresident students at state universities, in all programs. Unless another part of the law provides otherwise, tuition and out-of-state fees for nonresident students would have to cover the full cost of their instruction.
Universities would have to include a set-aside for building projects or deferred maintenance in certain spending plans. This applies to a university whose annual reserve balance is above the 7 percent minimum carry-forward balance. When the annual reserve is above the 7 percent minimum carry-forward balance, the plan would have to commit 12 percent of the university's prior 2025-2026 state operating fund carry-forward balance to an eligible building project or deferred maintenance. The plan would have to name the project and the amount committed. The commitment would apply to spending plans for annual reserve balances above the 7 percent minimum.
State funds could support costs tied to Title IX and section 1006.71. This concerns state university spending in support of Title IX and section 1006.71. Listed costs include building projects, scholarships, administration, recruitment, and comparable coaching.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- May 28Added to Conference Report CalendarLatest
- May 12Conference Committee appointed: Appropriations Conference Committee/Budget: Senator Hooper, Chair; Senators Berman, Boyd, Brodeur, Gruters, Passidomo, and Rouson, At Large; Appropriations Conference Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government/Agriculture & Natural Resources: Senator Brodeur, Chair; Senators Arrington, Berman, DiCeglie, Grall, Massullo, McClain, Nathan, Pizzo, Rodriguez, Sharief, and Truenow; Appropriations Conference Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government/State Administration: Senator Brodeur, Chair; Senators Arrington, Berman, DiCeglie, Grall, Massullo, McClain, Nathan, Pizzo, Rodriguez, Sharief, and Truenow; Appropriations Conference Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice/Justice: Senator Garcia, Chair; Senators Martin, Osgood, Polsky, Simon, Smith, Wright, and Yarborough; Appropriations Conference Committee on Health and Human Services/Health Care: Senator Trumbull, Chair; Senators Brodeur, Burton, Davis, Garcia, Harrell, Rodriguez, Rouson, and Sharief; Appropriations Conference Committee on Higher Education/Higher Education: Senator Harrell, Chair; Senators Bracy Davis, Bradley, Burgess, Calatayud, Davis, and Leek; Appropriations Conference Committee on Pre-K – 12 Education/Pre-K – 12: Senator Burgess, Chair; Senators Bradley, Calatayud, Gaetz, Jones, Massullo, Nathan, Osgood, Pizzo, Simon, and Yarborough; Appropriations Conference Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development/Transportation & Economic Development: Senator DiCeglie, Chair; Senators Arrington, Avila, Bernard, Bracy Davis, Grall, Leek, Martin, Mayfield, McClain, Polsky, Smith, Truenow, and Wright.
- Vote recorded Third Reading. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded Passage, Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- May 12Bill placed in Conference (Appropriations Conference Committee/Budget)
- May 12Conference Committee appointed
- May 12Bill placed in Conference (Appropriations Conference Committee/Budget)
- May 12In Messages
- May 12The Senate having refused to pass the bill as passed by the House, acceded to the request for a conference
- May 12Passed as amended; YEAS 32 NAYS 0Passed Senate
- May 12Read 3rd timeMinor
- May 12Amendment(s) adopted (926488)
- May 12Read 2nd timeMinor
- May 12Substituted for SB 2516-E
- May 12Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading
- May 12Withdrawn from AppropriationsMajor
- May 12Referred to AppropriationsMinor
- May 12ReceivedMinor
- May 12In Messages
- May 12Requests that the Senate pass the bill as passed by the House or agree to include the bill in the Budget Conference
- May 12Passed; YEAS 80, NAYS 26Passed House
- May 12Read 3rd timeMinor
- May 12Added to Third Reading Calendar
- May 12Read 2nd timeMinor
- May 12Added to Second Reading Calendar
- May 12Read 1st time
- May 5Bill referred to House Calendar
- May 5FiledIntroduced
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