Florida’s swim-lesson voucher system might get revised to allow older kids in the program

A subcommittee gave a thumbs up to a proposal that would open up state vouchers to pay for swim lessons for kids in a broader age range

The state currently offers free vouchers for parents who want to get swim lessons for their children, but only for ages 0-4. The program was implemented after Gov. Ron DeSantis signed legislation in 2024.

But many parents say the stipulations are too limiting and most children in their first year of life are too young to adequately understand, and participate in, swim lessons.

The House Health Professions & Programs Subcommittee held a hearing to consider the measure (HB 85), which would instead make the vouchers available for children 1 to 7 years old.

Rep. Kim Kendall, a St. Augustine Republican, is sponsoring the proposed revisions in the bill. During a presentation before the subcommittee Tuesday, she said swim instructors have told her that the current voucher aims at kids that are too young.

“The younger kids have to keep repeating the swim lessons. They don’t stick with the younger kids,” Kendall said. “Babies under 1 show reflex swimming movements that can be misleading.”

She added that the majority of drownings for babies under 1 happen in the house, most likely in the bathtub, and said the current Florida voucher system just misses the target.

In Florida, she said, drownings in the state among children 4 to 12 have nearly doubled in the past decade.

“We are very excited to bring this bill. It’s to take the great swim lesson voucher program and make it a little more effective,” Kendall said.

Subcommittee members unanimously approved supporting the proposal, which still has two stops in the House. The Health Care Budget Subcommittee and Health & Human Services Committee are both scheduled to hear the bill.

The 2026 Legislative Session begins Jan. 13 and is scheduled to conclude March 13.