The senate has filled it’s new education bill. It’s now working it’s way through committee. It includes much that was in the last bill (that was veto’ed) but with some changes. The final version would be approved by March(2018), and the Governor has April and May to sign off on it (or veto the bill again). I would think it has a very high chance of being approved, this time around.
It includes the current increase to Bright Futures (and it looks like it increased the lower level “Florida Medallion Scholar” to 75% of Tuition and fees, it’s currently paying around 50%).
The OOS Benacquisto Scholarship (full cost of attendance for National Merit Scholar or National Achievement Scholar) is still in the bill.
Also, the universities may have to switch to block tuition by as early as Fall 2018. Block tuition is one set cost for a student taking anywhere from 12 to 18+ credits a semester.
https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2018/4/BillText/Filed/PDF
Block is a great idea. IMO ought to be a new (higher) Bright Futures tier. But I am not the policy maker :))
I wonder how many students OOS Benacquisto will pull.
I cannot imagine OOS Benacquisto will pull many OOS NMFs to FLA schools this year, if it passes. By the time it would become law, most students would have committed to schools for 2018. Plus, there is no marketing of it yet so most 2018 applicants will not be aware. It will also take a little time for schools to implement it, probably right into August. Finally, some families will be hesitant about relying upon OOS Benacquisto until it has a couple of years of age and they are confident new legislation will not remove or reduce it. I suspect most will do what my S18 is doing. He is applying to a couple of FLA schools which already should give him good scholarships that will make it affordable for him. If OOS Benacquisto is implemented and he has an even better scholarship, then we will consider it gravy. But if OOS Benacquisto had already been going for a few years, I guarantee you we would have toured every eligible FLA school and seriously considered them if even close to decent in his intended major.
Thanks @Gator88NE for this thread - I will follow it closely. Certainly good news that the increased Bright Futures is in the bill - and nice that the Medallion Scholars level is getting a bump up, too.
Benacquisto is really a strange scholarship program at UF. It’s not a UF program, but a state program. UF does ZERO marketing, and when it’s expanded to OOS, I expect them to continue to not even mention the scholarship to prospective students.
On the other hand, a “true” full ride scholarship, at a top 10 public universities is going to be appealing. Even if it doesn’t come with any other “perks”; free tuition, room & board, books, plus some spending money, is hard to beat.
@Gator88NE Strange indeed. The state does no marketing either.
Signed by Officers and presented to Governor. Will UF have an advisor who can help when this Bill gets signed?
Based on last year? No, they will be :-?? and waiting on direction from the state. However, we’ve already had one year of 100% BF, so it should be the same process this year.
It’s the same BF process we’ve had for the last several years, except the amount is higher. You’ll get the number of credit hours X 100% tuition+(most) fees + $300 in the Fall And Spring. In the summer, you will not get the additional $300.
I wish they had a higher Bright Futures tier as well with more reward for higher stats.
In a sense, they do with the Benacquisto scholarship (full Cost of Attendance). Otherwise 100% tuition/fees +$300 a semester is pretty good. 
Is it true BF doesn’t pay for Freshman Summer B?
@GatormarriedNole You should contact UF about that. It normally does cover summer terms (but without the extra $300). Last year, the new BF may not have been in place at the start of Summer B.
@GatormarriedNole I got an update from UF Financial Aid.
BF must officially start that first Fall term.
Other students will be eligible, as long as they enroll in 6 credit hours by the end of the add/drop period for Summer.
More Info:
http://www.sfa.ufl.edu/news/summer-2018-bffas/