Florida law allows coaches $15,000

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis approved Senate Bill 178 on May 22, adding a new rule for public-school athletics that lets head coaches use limited personal funds to help student-athletes with certain expenses. The measure requires the Florida High School Athletic Association, or FHSAA, to adopt bylaws authorizing that support. The bill covers food, transportation and recovery services, and sets a yearly cap of $15,000 per athletic team. The law takes effect July 1, 2026. ### What exactly does the new Florida law allow? Senate Bill 178 says the FHSAA must adopt bylaws allowing the head coach of an athletic team to support the welfare of a student he or she coaches by using personal funds. The bill text says those funds may be used, in good faith, for “effects such as food, transportation, and recovery services.” (flsenate.gov) The Florida Senate’s bill summary says the law applies to head coaches of athletics teams and frames the spending as welfare support for students they coach. The same summary says the spending is limited to one head coach per athletic team. ### How much money can a coach spend? The bill sets the maximum amount of personal funds a head coach may use at $15,000 per athletic team per year. (flsenate.gov) That cap appears in both the enrolled bill text and the Senate committee summary. The measure also says a coach’s use of personal funds is presumed not to be an impermissible benefit, but only under specified conditions. (flsenate.gov) The presumption does not apply if the spending is not reported, if the FHSAA determines it was not made in good faith, or if it was used for recruiting purposes. ### What guardrails does the bill put around that spending? (flsenate.gov) The bill requires parental permission before a head coach can provide that assistance. The Senate summary says the bylaws must require a parent to provide written consent before a head coach may provide food, transportation or recovery services to a student. The legislation also requires reporting. (flsenate.gov) The bill text says a head coach who uses personal funds must report that use to the FHSAA in a manner set by FHSAA bylaw. ### Who pushed the measure through the Legislature? Senator Corey Simon Jones is listed on the Florida Senate page as the sponsor of SB 178. The bill moved through the Senate and House without recorded opposition on final passage. (flsenate.gov) The Senate page shows the Senate passed it 38-0 on February 19, and later 37-0 after concurring in a House amendment on March 11; the House passed it 112-0 on March 10. (flsenate.gov) The Senate page shows the bill was presented to the governor on May 21 and approved on May 22. The official bill history lists the measure as “Approved by Governor” on May 22, 2026. ### Does it apply only to the FHSAA? The bill requires the FHSAA to adopt the bylaws, but it also opens the door for other governing bodies. The bill text says any other organization governing interscholastic athletic competition in Florida may adopt similar bylaws. (flsenate.gov) July 1, 2026, is the effective date listed on the Florida Senate page and in the committee summary. (flsenate.gov) That means the next formal step is for the FHSAA to put the required bylaws in place under the new statute. (flsenate.gov)