Gov. Ron DeSantis on Friday signed Senate Bills 538 and 178 into law, approving a legislative package aimed at expanding support for Florida’s K-12 athletic coaches and student athletes.

According to a press release, state officials said the measures will allow school districts to offer more competitive compensation for coaches while expanding extracurricular eligibility opportunities for students across Florida’s school choice programs.

“We recognize the value of strong coaches and strive to ensure that student athletes have the opportunities they need to thrive,” DeSantis said in the release. “Together, the bills I signed today will strengthen Florida’s K-12 athletic programs and support the students and coaches who help them achieve their potential.”

Anastasios Kamoutsas, Florida’s commissioner of education, said the legislation will strengthen athletic programs statewide while broadening participation opportunities for students.

“Florida is fortunate to have athletic coaches who lead exceptional sports programs in our high schools,” Kamoutsas said in the release. “Thanks to Governor Ron DeSantis signing Senate Bills 538 and 178 into law, Florida’s high school athletic programs will be better positioned to recruit and retain top coaching talent while ensuring student-athletes receive the strong, thoughtful, and accountable support they deserve.”

Among its provisions, Senate Bill 538:

• Allows school districts to use booster club funds to supplement coach stipends for extracurricular activities
• Permits districts to classify athletic coaches and extracurricular sponsors as administrative personnel and negotiate compensation up to the salary level of the district’s highest-paid administrator
• Revises student eligibility requirements for athletics and extracurricular activities across public schools, charter schools, private schools, home education programs, alternative schools, and Florida Virtual School
• Allows students to participate in sports at another school within their district if their current school does not offer that sport

Senate Bill 178:

• Allows K-12 head coaches to spend up to $15,000 annually in personal funds to support student-athlete welfare
• Requires coaches to report those expenditures to the Florida High School Athletic Association

State leaders said the legislation is intended to improve opportunities for student-athletes while helping schools recruit and retain experienced coaching talent across Florida.