POLISCOPE
Back to feed
Part ofcriminal justice →
HB 325FLORIDA · STATEWIDESession 2026Ordered enrolled
High Impact

New Job Training and Commercial Driving Programs for Inmates

Original title: Education and Workforce Development for Inmates

November 4, 2025

criminal justiceworkforce developmenttransportationeducationcommercial driver license

Track this bill to get notified when it advances a stage. One tap to stop, anytime.

Where This Stands

Introduced
Committee
Floor Vote
Passed
Signed

Currently Ordered enrolled. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Signed.

Procedural history

30 actions
  1. Feb 26, 2026SenateEnrolled
    Received
  2. Feb 26, 2026SenateCommittee
    Referred to Rules
  3. Feb 25, 2026Senate
    In Messages
  4. Feb 25, 2026HouseFloor
    CS passed; YEAS 112, NAYS 0
  5. Feb 25, 2026HouseFloor
    Read 3rd time
  6. Feb 25, 2026House
    Added to Third Reading Calendar
Show 24 earlier actions
  1. Feb 25, 2026HouseFloor
    Read 2nd time
  2. Feb 19, 2026House
    Bill added to Special Order Calendar (2/25/2026)
  3. Feb 4, 2026House
    Added to Second Reading Calendar
  4. Feb 4, 2026HouseIntroduced
    1st Reading (Committee Substitute 2)
  5. Feb 4, 2026House
    Bill referred to House Calendar
  6. Feb 3, 2026HouseIntroduced
    CS Filed
  7. Feb 3, 2026House
    Laid on Table under Rule 7.18(a)
  8. Feb 3, 2026House
    Reported out of Education & Employment Committee
  9. Feb 3, 2026HouseCommittee
    Favorable with CS by Education & Employment Committee
  10. Jan 30, 2026House
    Added to Education & Employment Committee agenda
  11. Jan 23, 2026House
    Now in Education & Employment Committee
  12. Jan 23, 2026HouseCommittee
    Referred to Education & Employment Committee
  13. Jan 22, 2026HouseIntroduced
    1st Reading (Committee Substitute 1)
  14. Jan 22, 2026HouseIntroduced
    CS Filed
  15. Jan 22, 2026House
    Laid on Table under Rule 7.18(a)
  16. Jan 21, 2026House
    Reported out of Careers & Workforce Subcommittee
  17. Jan 20, 2026HouseCommittee
    Favorable with CS by Careers & Workforce Subcommittee
  18. Jan 15, 2026House
    PCS added to Careers & Workforce Subcommittee agenda
  19. Jan 13, 2026HouseIntroduced
    1st Reading (Original Filed Version)
  20. Nov 12, 2025House
    Now in Careers & Workforce Subcommittee
  21. Nov 12, 2025HouseCommittee
    Referred to Education & Employment Committee
  22. Nov 12, 2025HouseCommittee
    Referred to Budget Committee
  23. Nov 12, 2025HouseCommittee
    Referred to Careers & Workforce Subcommittee
  24. Nov 4, 2025HouseIntroduced
    Filed

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

View official text →

The Frame

What this does

The bill changes how state transportation funds are spent and creates new pathways for nonviolent inmates nearing release to obtain commercial driver licenses, potentially impacting the state's transportation workforce supply and inmate post-release employment rates.

Who is mentioned in the record

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

Nonviolent inmates

Inmates meeting specific criteria gain access to CDL training and potential operation of state vehicles.

State colleges and school districts

These institutions are eligible to receive grants from the Department of Transportation for workforce development programs.

Department of Transportation

The department is authorized to expand its funding scope and coordinate new training programs with the Department of Corrections.

What changed

Current stage: Ordered enrolled.

What's next

Signed.

Background

  • The bill amends existing Florida Statutes regarding the powers of the Department of Transportation and the educational requirements for state prisoners. context

Summary

This bill expands workforce training for inmates, specifically authorizing commercial driver license (CDL) training and allowing certain inmates to operate state-owned vehicles under supervision. It also permits the Department of Transportation to use funds for broader workforce development programs and requires the Department of Corrections to report on inmate employment outcomes.

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

Which inmates are eligible for the new commercial driver license training?
Eligibility is limited to nonviolent inmates who have 2 years or less remaining on their sentence and are proficient in English.
Can inmates drive state-owned vehicles under this bill?
Yes, but only if they are enrolled in or have completed a department-operated CDL program, are appropriately licensed, and a certified correctional officer is present during operation.
What happens if an inmate does not meet functional literacy standards?
Inmates with 2 or more years remaining who lack must attend 150 hours of adult basic education instruction, unless specifically exempted.

Why It Matters

The bill changes how state transportation funds are spent and creates new pathways for nonviolent inmates nearing release to obtain commercial driver licenses, potentially impacting the state's transportation workforce supply and inmate post-release employment rates.

News Coverage

No news coverage found yet. Articles are indexed twice daily.

Voting Record

Motion succeededhouse2/25/2026Official roll call ↗

Passage, Third Reading

Total

203

Yes

194

No

0

Present

0

Not Voting

9

Abstain

0

Full roll-call analysis →

Sponsors

Show 3 more sponsors

Discoveries

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

policy shift100% confidence

Expansion of Transportation Funds

The bill shifts the Department of Transportation's mandate from strictly 'construction' workforce development to broader 'workforce development' programs.

Department of Transportation

Connected Entities

organizationCareers & Workforce Subcommittee“The subcommittee played a key role in reviewing and amending the bill.”Map →
organizationHouse Calendar“The bill's final steps involved being placed on the House Calendar.”Map →
organizationBudget Committee“The committee considered the financial implications of the bill.”Map →
organizationEducation & Employment Committee“This committee was involved in the later stages of the bill's review.”Map →
bill_numberCS“Committee Substitute”Map →
otherRule 7.18(a)“A procedural rule used to table legislation.”Map →
organizationRules Committee“The bill is now being referred to this committee for further consideration.”Map →

Sources

Open source document

openstates.org

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance85
    How much this matters to a regular citizen
  • Controversy20
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment10
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz30
    Current news / social attention level

Publisher tools

Share or embed this record

POLISCOPE publisher tools

Share or embed this record