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HB 5601EFLORIDA · STATEWIDESession 2026E
High Impact

Higher Education Campus Transfer and Tuition Policy Changes

Original title: Higher Education

May 28, 2026

Companion · SB 2516same policy, Senate versionCompanion · SB 2516Esame policy, Senate version
higher educationuniversity governancetuitioncampus facilitiesstate budgetconference committeek

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The Frame

What this does

The bill shifts institutional control of the USF Sarasota/Manatee campus to New College of Florida, requiring New College to assume all associated debts and operational costs while protecting current USF students' ability to complete their degrees.

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

New College of Florida

The college must assume ownership, operational costs, and debt liabilities for the USF Sarasota/Manatee campus.

University of South Florida

The university is transferring its Sarasota/Manatee campus assets and liabilities to New College of Florida.

USF Sarasota/Manatee students

Students enrolled before July 1, 2026, are subject to new facility use agreements and campus transition rules.

What changed

Last recorded activity May 28, 2026.

What's next

Introduced.

Summary

This bill mandates the transfer of the University of South Florida (USF) Sarasota/Manatee campus assets and liabilities to the New College of Florida by July 1, 2026. It also grants university boards of trustees more authority to set out-of-state tuition and fees while updating rules for university capital projects and funding.

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?
Students admitted before July 1, 2026, have priority access to classroom space and support to finish their degrees at the campus for up to four years.
Can I still enroll at the USF Sarasota/Manatee campus?
No, the university is prohibited from allowing new students to designate that campus as their home campus after July 1, 2026.
Who is responsible for the debt on the campus buildings?
New College of Florida is required to assume full financial liability for the debt on these facilities.

Why It Matters

The bill shifts institutional control of the USF Sarasota/Manatee campus to New College of Florida, requiring New College to assume all associated debts and operational costs while protecting current USF students' ability to complete their degrees.

News Coverage

Center2
2 sources
Blind spot - only covered by center outlets
C

DeSantis makes election day stop at Sarasota’s New College to push higher ed agenda

WUSF — Tampa Bay NPR (Politics)Aug 18, 2026

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.

C

Finalized deal shifts USF Sarasota-Manatee to New College

YourobserverMay 27, 2026

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

BUDGET/APPROPRIATIONS

“General issues impacting higher education. Research and development funding for specialty materials. Appropriations for University funding. Issues related to pediatric hospitals.”

View filing →

ACTE

$20,000

2026

EDUCATIONBUDGET/APPROPRIATIONSLABOR ISSUES/ANTITRUST/WORKPLACE

“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.”

View filing →

WILSON GROUP THE

on behalf of CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF HIGHER EDUCATION

Senate LDAView filing →

WILSON GROUP THE

on behalf of CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF HIGHER EDUCATION

Senate LDAView filing →

FEROX STRATEGIES

on behalf of COVISTA (FORMERLY KNOWN AS ADTALEM GLOBAL EDUCATION)

View filing →

CASSIDY & ASSOCIATES, INC.

on behalf of BRADLEY UNIVERSITY

View filing →

BARNES & THORNBURG, LLP

on behalf of PERDOCEO EDUCATION CORPORATION (F/K/A CAREER EDUCATION CORPORATION)

View filing →

BARNES & THORNBURG, LLP

on behalf of GOVERNORS STATE UNIVERSITY

View filing →

BROOKS BAWDEN MOORE, LLC

on behalf of THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO

View filing →

POINT OF DIFFERENCE STRATEGIES LLC

on behalf of JOLIET JUNIOR COLLEGE

View filing →

Voting Record

Motion succeededlower5/12/2026openstates_bulkOfficial roll call ↗

Passage, Third Reading

Total

119

Yes

80

No

26

Present

0

Not Voting

13

Abstain

0

Motion succeededupper5/12/2026openstates_bulkOfficial roll call ↗

Third Reading

Total

40

Yes

32

No

0

Present

0

Not Voting

0

Abstain

0

Full roll-call analysis →

Sponsors

Discoveries

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift100% confidence

Campus Consolidation

The bill effectively ends the operation of the USF Sarasota/Manatee campus as a USF-designated home campus for new students.

University of South FloridaNew College of Florida

Connected Entities

organizationBoard of Governors“The state body overseeing university system policies and dispute resolution.”Map →
locationUniversity of South Florida Sarasota/Manatee“The campus being transferred to New College of Florida.”Map →
bill_numberHB 5601E“The primary legislative document being analyzed.”Map →
organizationNew College of Florida“An institution involved in the transfer of assets and liabilities.”Map →
organizationUniversity of South Florida“The current operator of the Sarasota/Manatee campus.”Map →
organizationUniversity of South Florida Sarasota/Manatee“An institution involved in the transfer of assets and liabilities.”Map →
date2026“The legislative session or effective year associated with the bill.”Map →
organizationFlorida Center for the Partnerships for Arts Integrated Teaching“A center previously required to be housed at USF Sarasota/Manatee.”Map →
organizationNew College of Florida“The institution assuming control of the USF Sarasota/Manatee campus.”Map →

Sources

Open source document

openstates.org

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance90
    How much this matters to a regular citizen
  • Controversy60
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment20
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz40
    Current news / social attention level

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