Filed by Republican state Senator Erin Grall in January 2026, Florida’s Senate Bill 1052 proposes to prohibit public colleges and universities from admitting students who are not U.S. citizens or “lawfully present” in the country. If enacted, this legislation would effectively bar undocumented immigrants from accessing public higher education within the state.
The bill further extends restrictions by preventing undocumented migrants from participating in state-funded adult general education programs, such as English as a second language (ESL) courses and GED preparation. This measure builds upon previous state efforts, including a February 2025 law that eliminated in-state tuition eligibility for undocumented students. These actions align with a broader crackdown on undocumented immigration in Florida, occurring in the context of federal policy changes under the Trump administration, such as increased deportation quotas and the expansion of local partnerships with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Beyond immigration-related restrictions, SB 1052 also proposes significant changes to intercollegiate athletics. It would remove the existing state requirement for public institutions to maintain gender-equity plans in sports, which had previously served as a local extension of Title IX protections, though universities would still be required to adhere to federal non-discrimination standards. As of the report’s publication, the bill lacked a companion measure in the House, and the 2026 legislative session was slated to begin on January 13
