Florida Senate Passes "Teddy Bridgewater Act" Bill

New law would allow K-12 head coaches to use personal funds for student-athlete welfare

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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The Florida Senate has passed the "Teddy Bridgewater Act", a bill that would allow K-12 public school head coaches in the state to use up to $15,000 of their own personal funds annually to support student-athletes with expenses such as food, transportation, and recovery services. The bill was proposed by Senator Shervin Jones and is named after former Miami Northwestern High School head coach Teddy Bridgewater, who was suspended in 2025 for providing impermissible benefits to his players.

Why it matters

The new law aims to address issues around equitable access to resources for student-athletes, as well as support the efforts of dedicated coaches who want to go above and beyond for their teams. It comes after Bridgewater's suspension for using his own money to cover costs the school did not provide, highlighting the challenges some programs face in adequately funding student-athlete welfare.

The details

Senate Bill 178, also known as the "Teddy Bridgewater Act", would allow middle and high school head coaches in Florida to use up to $15,000 of their own personal funds each year to cover expenses like food, transportation, and recovery services for their student-athletes. The bill was proposed by Senator Shervin Jones and passed the Florida Senate on February 19, 2026. It will now move to the House of Representatives before potentially being signed into law by Governor Ron DeSantis.

  • The Florida Senate voted on and passed the "Teddy Bridgewater Act" on February 19, 2026.
  • Teddy Bridgewater was suspended from his head coaching position at Miami Northwestern High School for the 2025 season due to allegations of providing impermissible benefits to his players.

The players

Teddy Bridgewater

Former head football coach at Miami Northwestern High School and alumnus, who was suspended in 2025 for using his own funds to support student-athletes.

Shervin Jones

Florida state senator who proposed Senate Bill 178, also known as the "Teddy Bridgewater Act".

Ron DeSantis

Governor of Florida, who would need to sign the "Teddy Bridgewater Act" into law if it passes the state House of Representatives.

Miami Northwestern High School

A prominent public high school in Miami, Florida, known for its strong academics, competitive athletics, and active extracurricular programs.

Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA)

The organization that oversees high school athletics in the state of Florida and deemed Bridgewater's use of personal funds as an impermissible benefit.

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What they’re saying

“This bill allows K-12 head coaches to use $15,000 in personal funds annually to support student-athlete welfare, such as food, transportation, and recovery services.”

— Florida Senate Democrats (Twitter)

What’s next

The "Teddy Bridgewater Act" will now need to pass through the Florida House of Representatives before being signed into law by Governor Ron DeSantis.

The takeaway

The passage of the "Teddy Bridgewater Act" in the Florida Senate highlights the ongoing challenges around equitable funding and support for student-athletes, as well as the dedication of coaches who are willing to use their own resources to ensure the well-being of their teams. This new law could set a precedent for other states to follow, empowering coaches to go above and beyond for their student-athletes.