Governor Ron DeSantis hosted a conference at St. Petersburg College Tuesday to highlight an increase in nursing graduates following a $500 million investment in nursing education since 2022. Statewide, however, nursing performance metrics are still lagging national averages after a decade of uneven results.
The bulk of the funding has flowed to two state programs. Linking Industry to Nursing Education (LINE) rewards public postsecondary nursing programs based on performance measures such as graduate numbers and NCLEX pass rates, with the goal of expanding and strengthening the nursing workforce.
The other major initiative is Learners through Incentives for Nursing Education (PIPELINE), which provides performance-based funding to eligible nursing education institutions to improve program quality and increase the number of fully trained nurses entering the workforce. Both programs are embedded across state colleges, state universities and other postsecondary institutions.
The initiatives were launched to mitigate persistent nursing shortages. “We wanted to improve Florida’s commitment to workforce education,” DeSantis said. “And we’ve done it,” adding that while shortages are not entirely resolved, “the decibels have been reduced.”
DeSantis also announced an additional $20 million for the programs, with $14.5 million directed to state colleges and $5.5 million to state universities, as part of the $130 million allocated to nursing education in 2026.
At the conference, Florida Commissioner of Education Anastasios Kamoutsas cited an 88% pass rate for first-time National Council Licensure Examination takers. Some reports do show Florida programs outperforming the national average, with universities such as FSU outperforming.
Still, statewide numbers tell a more mixed story. Last year Florida ranked near the bottom nationally in overall NCLEX pass rates, posting an 83% rate in the second quarter, down from the year prior, suggesting some programs are ineffective.
If Kamoutsas’ 88% figure holds statewide, it would mark a meaningful turnaround for Florida’s status.
At the Capitol, lawmakers are also moving legislation aimed at improving outcomes. House Bill 121, which has already passed the House with a single dissenting vote, would increase oversight of nursing education programs by authorizing Department of Health (DOH) inspections, allowing the Board of Nursing to revoke underperforming programs and tightening reporting requirements.
Another measure, House Bill 809, would streamline licensure for health care professionals, including nurses, who hold temporary certificates. Filed Jan. 13, the bill remains under review as the 2026 legislative session continues.