Florida Excellence in Higher Education Act of 2018 (S0004)

• Enhances the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program by covering 100% of tuition and fees plus $300 per semester for textbooks for Academic Scholars and 75% of tuition and fees for Medallion Scholars, while extending summer term eligibility beginning in 2018 and 2019 respectively

• Requires each state university board of trustees to submit a proposal by June 1, 2018, to improve 4-year graduation rates, including proactive financial aid enabling full-time students to take at least 15 credit hours per semester with no increased cost to students

• Mandates consolidation of the University of South Florida's separately accredited St. Petersburg and Sarasota/Manatee branch campuses under a single institutional accreditation by July 1, 2020, establishing a task force to develop recommendations and campus boards with regional chancellors for each location

• Creates the "Campus Free Expression Act," designating outdoor campus areas as traditional public forums, prohibiting free-speech zones, protecting spontaneous expressive activities, and providing a cause of action with attorney fees for violations at public institutions of higher education

• Appropriates approximately $123.5 million ($121.8 million from the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund and $1.7 million from General Revenue) for the 2018-2019 fiscal year, funding Bright Futures expansions, the Benacquisto Scholarship Program for both resident and nonresident National Merit Scholars, and a new Florida Farmworker Student Scholarship Program offering up to 50 annual awards