A Democratic lawmaker filed legislation last week that would restructure how Florida pays its public school teachers, raising starting salaries while mandating long-term pay increases for experienced educators.
Rep. Jervonte Edmonds, filed House Bill 727, titled the “Save Our Teachers Act,” on Dec. 10. The proposal would increase the minimum base salary for full-time classroom teachers to $65,000, up from the current statutory floor of $47,500, and require districts to maintain that level once reached.
Beyond entry-level pay, the bill seeks to address salary compression by requiring school districts to implement step-based salary increases tied to years of service, with minimum annual raises ranging from $1,500 to $3,000 depending on tenure.
The bill also establishes retention incentives of $5,000 for teachers with at least 10 years of service and $10,000 for those with 20 years or more.
“Florida faces a teacher shortage. The bill helps teachers stay in the profession, helps schools keep experienced educators, and helps students learn from teachers who are supported and valued. This is about respect,” the representative said. “When teachers feel valued, students succeed. This bill is good for families, schools, and Florida’s future.”
School districts and charter schools would be required to submit detailed salary distribution plans and annual reports documenting how pay increases are implemented and how compression is addressed.
If approved, the bill would take effect July 1, 2026.
