Florida Bill Removes State-Required Pay Raises for Teachers, Grants Schools New Salary Power

The Florida Senate introduced Senate Bill 136 today, proposing amendments to public school personnel salary schedules under section 1012.22 of the Florida Statutes. The bill removes certain requirements and offers greater flexibility for district school boards in determining compensation for school employees.

A key change in SB 136 is the removal of the mandate for cost-of-living salary adjustments. Additionally, the bill authorizes—rather than requires—district school boards to base a portion of each employee’s salary on performance evaluations. This revision removes the previous requirement for a performance salary schedule, offering districts more autonomy in how they structure compensation.

The bill also revises the base salary requirements for instructional personnel and school administrators, making adjustments to reflect the new approach to salary schedules. It modifies the conditions under which salary supplements are provided, giving school boards more flexibility in determining when and how these supplements are offered.

Another important aspect of SB 136 is the deletion of a provision that prohibited reductions to performance-based salary schedules due to budget constraints. This change allows districts more discretion in making necessary salary adjustments without restrictions tied to budget limitations.

SB 136 also includes technical changes and reenacts various sections of Florida Statutes to incorporate the amendments made to section 1012.22, including provisions related to charter school exemptions, district innovation schools of technology, and the Principal Autonomy Program Initiative.

If passed, the bill is set to take effect on July 1, 2025. The changes will provide district school boards with increased flexibility and autonomy over salary structures, removing some of the previous mandates while allowing continued focus on performance-based compensation if desired.
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For more information on Senate Bill 136, visit the Florida Senate’s official website or contact Senator Rodriguez’s office.