WINK News Digital Team
•7/1/2026

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WINK) — Nearly 140 new laws took effect across Florida on Wednesday, bringing changes that affect schools, churches, utilities, government policies and more.
Among the most notable changes, Senate Bill 52 allows volunteer security guards at churches and other houses of worship to carry firearms without meeting previous state licensing requirements.
High school students gained a new pathway to employment through a law signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis in June. The legislation creates a half-credit course focused on insurance and personal finance that, upon completion as part of a diploma, makes graduates eligible for an insurance customer representative license. According to ZipRecruiter, the average annual pay for this position is around $36,000.
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High school coaches also got a boost, with Senate Bill 178 allowing them to spend up to $15,000 of their own money each year on food, physical therapy and transportation for student athletes, as long as they report those expenses to the Florida High School Athletic Association.
The laws represent a fraction of the 140 measures that took effect statewide.