Higher Education Campus and Funding Changes
March 13, 2026
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The Frame
The bill shifts institutional control of the USF Sarasota/Manatee campus to the New College of Florida, requiring New College to assume all debt and operational costs while protecting current USF students' ability to complete their degrees.
Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.
New College of Florida
The college must assume ownership, debt, and operational costs for the USF Sarasota/Manatee campus.
University of South Florida
The university must transfer its Sarasota/Manatee campus assets and cease new enrollments at that location.
USF Sarasota/Manatee students
Students admitted before July 1, 2026, are granted priority access to facilities to finish their degrees.
Nonresident university students
University boards of trustees are granted new authority to set out-of-state tuition fees.
Last recorded activity March 13, 2026.
Introduced.
Summary
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens to current USF Sarasota/Manatee students?
Can I still enroll at the USF Sarasota/Manatee campus?
Who pays for the campus debt during the transition?
Why It Matters
The bill shifts institutional control of the USF Sarasota/Manatee campus to the New College of Florida, requiring New College to assume all debt and operational costs while protecting current USF students' ability to complete their degrees.
News Coverage
DeSantis makes election day stop at Sarasota’s New College to push higher ed agenda
Governor Ron DeSantis visited New College of Florida on primary election day to promote his administration's efforts to reshape the school into a conservative institution. The event featured state and federal officials who framed the college's transformation as a national model for higher education reform.
Finalized deal shifts USF Sarasota-Manatee to New College
State lawmakers are set to vote on a $116 billion budget that transfers the University of South Florida's Sarasota-Manatee campus, including its 32 acres and associated debt, to the New College of Florida. Current USF students will be allowed to complete their degrees through a multi-year 'teach-out' process.
Bias ratings based on AllSides / Media Bias/Fact Check
Lobbying Activity
ACG Advocacy
on behalf of DREXEL UNIVERSITY
2026
“General issues impacting higher education. Research and development funding for specialty materials. Appropriations for University funding. Issues related to pediatric hospitals.”
ACTE
2026
“Providing information surrounding the benefits of supporting career and technical education (CTE); Supporting the work of the House and Senate CTE Caucuses; Supporting the Skills Saving Account Act, H.R. 464; Supporting the Loan Forgiveness for Educators Act, S.4576/H.R.8896; Providing input for K-12 AI Literacy and Readiness Act, H.R. 8747; Supporting the Early Childhood Workforce Advancement Act, S. 4597/H.R.8937; opposing Interagency Agreements between the Department of Education and other agencies; sharing recommendations for the reauthorization of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act.”
WILSON GROUP THE
on behalf of CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF HIGHER EDUCATION
WILSON GROUP THE
on behalf of CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF HIGHER EDUCATION
FEROX STRATEGIES
on behalf of COVISTA (FORMERLY KNOWN AS ADTALEM GLOBAL EDUCATION)
CASSIDY & ASSOCIATES, INC.
on behalf of BRADLEY UNIVERSITY
BARNES & THORNBURG, LLP
on behalf of PERDOCEO EDUCATION CORPORATION (F/K/A CAREER EDUCATION CORPORATION)
BARNES & THORNBURG, LLP
on behalf of GOVERNORS STATE UNIVERSITY
BROOKS BAWDEN MOORE, LLC
on behalf of THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO
POINT OF DIFFERENCE STRATEGIES LLC
on behalf of JOLIET JUNIOR COLLEGE
Voting Record
Favorable with 1 amendment
Total
17
Yes
17
No
0
Present
0
Not Voting
0
Abstain
0
How they voted (17)
Jason Brodeur
Republican · yes
Tina Polsky
Democratic · yes
Danny Burgess
Republican · yes
Nick DiCeglie
Republican · yes
Dave Smith
Republican · yes
Jason Pizzo
Independent · yes
Barbara Sharief
Democratic · yes
Gayle Harrell
Republican · yes
Lori Berman
Democratic · yes
Darryl Rouson
Democratic · yes
Ileana Garcia
Republican · yes
Tommy Wright
Republican · yes
Stan McClain
Republican · yes
Jay Trumbull
Republican · yes
Erin Grall
Republican · yes
Ralph Massullo
Republican · yes
Ed Hooper
Republican · yes
Passage, Third Reading
Total
119
Yes
77
No
29
Present
0
Not Voting
13
Abstain
0
How they voted (119)
Will Robinson
Republican · no
Kim Daniels
Democratic · yes
Rob Long
Democratic · no
Robbie Brackett
Republican · absent
Adam Botana
Republican · yes
Johanna López
Democratic · no
Angie Nixon
- · no
James Buchanan
Republican · no
Yvette Benarroch
Republican · yes
Ryan Chamberlin
Republican · yes
Felicia Robinson
Democratic · no
Fabián Basabe
Republican · absent
Susan Valdés
Republican · absent
Lisa Dunkley
Democratic · no
Paula Stark
Republican · yes
Brian Hodgers
Republican · yes
Daryl Campbell
Democratic · absent
Shane Abbott
Republican · yes
Jose Alvarez
Democratic · no
Fiona McFarland
Republican · yes
Nathan Boyles
Republican · yes
Kiyan Michael
Republican · yes
Kim Berfield
Republican · absent
Ashley Gantt
Democratic · no
+ 95 more
Sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Campus Consolidation
The bill effectively ends USF's presence at the Sarasota/Manatee campus by prohibiting new enrollments and transferring assets to New College of Florida.
Connected Entities
Sources
openstates.org
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance85How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy60Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment20Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz40Current news / social attention level
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