Text of FL H 811 (2025)

HB 811 2025 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb811-00 Page 1 of 28 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S A bill to be entitled 1 An act relating to education; providing a short title; 2 amending s. 1000.05, F.S.; removing provisions 3 relating to prohibited training or instruction in 4 specified concepts which constitutes discrimination on 5 the basis of race, color, national origin, or sex; 6 repealing s. 1000.071, F.S., relating to personal 7 titles and pronouns; amending s. 1001.42, F.S.; 8 prohibiting school districts from adopting a procedure 9 that compels or authorizes school personnel to share 10 certain information with a parent under certain 11 circumstances; removing a provision authorizing school 12 districts to adopt procedures that permit school 13 personnel to withhold certain information from a 14 parent under certain circumstances; removing a 15 prohibition against classroom instruction on sexual 16 orientation and gender identity in specified grades; 17 removing an exception; removing a provision requiring 18 student support services to adhere to specified 19 guidelines; amending s. 1001.706, F.S.; removing a 20 requirement for the Board of Governors to include in 21 its review of state university missions a directive to 22 each university regarding its programs for curricula 23 that violate certain provisions; amending s. 1001.92, 24 F.S.; removing provisions relating to a state 25 HB 811 2025 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb811-00 Page 2 of 28 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S university losing its eligibility for performance 26 funding if a certain violation is substantiated; 27 amending s. 1003.42, F.S.; requiring instruction in 28 LGBTQ history in public schools; amending s. 1004.04, 29 F.S.; removing provisions relating to teacher 30 preparation program requirements; amending s. 1004.06, 31 F.S.; authorizing and encouraging Florida College 32 System institutions, state universities, and direct- 33 support organizations to develop programs and campus 34 activities based on diversity, equity, and inclusion 35 principles; authorizing the expenditure of state and 36 federal funds to promote such programs and activities; 37 removing a prohibition against such institutions, 38 universities, and organizations expending funds on 39 programs and campus activities that advocate for 40 diversity, equity, and inclusion or that promote or 41 engage in political or social activism; amending s. 42 1004.85, F.S.; removing a requirement that certain 43 instruction be included in postsecondary educator 44 preparation institutes; amending s. 1006.28, F.S.; 45 providing that certain provisions relating to district 46 school board duties and materials made available in 47 schools do not apply to classroom libraries; revising 48 requirements for resolving objections to instructional 49 materials; removing a requirement that any 50 HB 811 2025 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb811-00 Page 3 of 28 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S instructional material that is subject to an objection 51 be removed within 5 school days; removing a 52 requirement that a school board discontinue the use of 53 an instructional material if certain conditions are 54 met; providing that school libraries may provide 55 materials and information presenting all points of 56 view; providing that materials may not be proscribed 57 or removed due to partisan or doctrinal disapproval; 58 amending s. 1007.25, F.S.; removing certain 59 prohibitions for general education courses; amending 60 ss. 1012.56 and 1012.562, F.S.; removing requirements 61 for professional learning certificate program courses 62 and school leader preparation programs; providing an 63 effective date. 64 65 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 66 67 Section 1. This act may be cited as the "Freedom to Learn 68 Act." 69 Section 2. Subsection (4) of section 1000.05, Florida 70 Statutes, is amended to read: 71 1000.05 Discrimination against students and employees in 72 the Florida K-20 public education system prohibited; equality of 73 access required.— 74 (4)(a) It shall constitute discrimination on the basis of 75 HB 811 2025 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb811-00 Page 4 of 28 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S race, color, national origin, or sex under this section to 76 subject any student or employee to training or instruction that 77 espouses, promotes, advances, inculcates, or compels such 78 student or employee to believe any of the following concepts: 79 1. Members of one race, color, national origin, or sex are 80 morally superior to members of another race, color, national 81 origin, or sex. 82 2. A person, by virtue of his or her race, color, national 83 origin, or sex, is inherently racist, sexist, or oppressive, 84 whether consciously or unconsciously. 85 3. A person's moral character or status as either 86 privileged or oppressed is necessarily determined by his or her 87 race, color, national origin, or sex. 88 4. Members of one race, color, national origin, or sex 89 cannot and should not attempt to treat others without respect to 90 race, color, national origin, or sex. 91 5. A person, by virtue of his or her race, color, national 92 origin, or sex, bears responsibility for, or should be 93 discriminated against or receive adverse treatment because of, 94 actions committed in the past by other members of the same race, 95 color, national origin, or sex. 96 6. A person, by virtue of his or her race, color, national 97 origin, or sex, should be discriminated against or receive 98 adverse treatment to achieve diversity, equity, or inclusion. 99 7. A person, by virtue of his or her race, color, sex, or 100 HB 811 2025 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb811-00 Page 5 of 28 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S national origin, bears personal responsibility for and must feel 101 guilt, anguish, or other forms of psychological distress because 102 of actions, in which the person played no part, committed in the 103 past by other members of the same race, color, national origin, 104 or sex. 105 8. Such virtues as merit, excellence, hard work, fairness, 106 neutrality, objectivity, and racial colorblindness are racist or 107 sexist, or were created by members of a particular race, color, 108 national origin, or sex to oppress members of another race, 109 color, national origin, or sex. 110 (b) Paragraph (a) may not be construed to prohibit 111 discussion of the concepts listed therein as part of a larger 112 course of training or instruction, provided such training or 113 instruction is given in an objective manner without endorsement 114 of the concepts. 115 Section 3. Section 1000.071, Florida Statutes, is 116 repealed. 117 Section 4. Paragraph (c) of subsection (8) of section 118 1001.42, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 119 1001.42 Powers and duties of district school board.—The 120 district school board, acting as a board, shall exercise all 121 powers and perform all duties listed below: 122 (8) STUDENT WELFARE.— 123 (c)1. In accordance with the rights of parents enumerated 124 in ss. 1002.20 and 1014.04, adopt procedures for notifying a 125 HB 811 2025 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb811-00 Page 6 of 28 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S student's parent if there is a change in the student's services 126 or monitoring related to the student's mental, emotional, or 127 physical health or well-being and the school's ability to 128 provide a safe and supportive learning environment for the 129 student. The procedures must reinforce the fundamental right of 130 parents to make decisions regarding the upbringing and control 131 of their children by requiring school district personnel to 132 encourage a student to discuss issues relating to his or her 133 well-being with his or her parent or to facilitate discussion of 134 the issue with the parent. The procedures may not prohibit 135 parents from accessing any of their student's education and 136 health records created, maintained, or used by the school 137 district, as required by s. 1002.22(2). 138 2. A school district may not adopt procedures or student 139 support forms that prohibit school district personnel from 140 notifying a parent about his or her student's mental, emotional, 141 or physical health or well-being, or a change in related 142 services or monitoring, or that encourage or have the effect of 143 encouraging a student to withhold from a parent such 144 information. School district personnel may not discourage or 145 prohibit parental notification of and involvement in critical 146 decisions affecting a student's mental, emotional, or physical 147 health or well-being. A school district may not adopt a 148 procedure that compels or authorizes school personnel to provide 149 such information to a parent if a reasonably prudent person 150 HB 811 2025 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb811-00 Page 7 of 28 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S would believe that disclosure would result in harm to the 151 student, including, but not limited to, This subparagraph does 152 not prohibit a school district from adopting procedures that 153 permit school personnel to withhold such information from a 154 parent if a reasonably prudent person would believe that 155 disclosure would result in abuse, abandonment, or neglect, as 156 those terms are defined in s. 39.01. 157 3. Classroom instruction by school personnel or third 158 parties on sexual orientation or gender identity may not occur 159 in prekindergarten through grade 8, except when required by ss. 160 1003.42(2)(o)3. and 1003.46. If such instruction is provided in 161 grades 9 through 12, the instruction must be age-appropriate or 162 developmentally appropriate for students in accordance with 163 state standards. This subparagraph applies to charter schools. 164 4. Student support services training developed or provided 165 by a school district to school district personnel must adhere to 166 student services guidelines, standards, and frameworks 167 established by the Department of Education. 168 5. At the beginning of the school year, each school 169 district shall notify parents of each health care service 170 offered at their student's school and the option to withhold 171 consent or decline any specific service in accordance with s. 172 1014.06. Parental consent to a health care service does not 173 waive the parent's right to access his or her student's 174 educational or health records or to be notified about a change 175 HB 811 2025 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb811-00 Page 8 of 28 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S in his or her student's services or monitoring as provided by 176 this paragraph. 177 4.6. Before administering a student well-being 178 questionnaire or health screening form to a student in 179 kindergarten through grade 3, the school district must provide 180 the questionnaire or health screening form to the parent and 181 obtain the permission of the parent. 182 5.7. Each school district shall adopt procedures for a 183 parent to notify the principal, or his or her designee, 184 regarding concerns under this paragraph at his or her student's 185 school and the process for resolving those concerns within 7 186 calendar days after notification by the parent. 187 a. At a minimum, the procedures must require that within 188 30 days after notification by the parent that the concern 189 remains unresolved, the school district must either resolve the 190 concern or provide a statement of the reasons for not resolving 191 the concern. 192 b. If a concern is not resolved by the school district, a 193 parent may: 194 (I) Request the Commissioner of Education to appoint a 195 special magistrate who is a member of The Florida Bar in good 196 standing and who has at least 5 years' experience in 197 administrative law. The special magistrate shall determine facts 198 relating to the dispute over the school district procedure or 199 practice, consider information provided by the school district, 200 HB 811 2025 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb811-00 Page 9 of 28 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S and render a recommended decision for resolution to the State 201 Board of Education within 30 days after receipt of the request 202 by the parent. The State Board of Education must approve or 203 reject the recommended decision at its next regularly scheduled 204 meeting that is more than 7 calendar days and no more than 30 205 days after the date the recommended decision is transmitted. The 206 costs of the special magistrate shall be borne by the school 207 district. The State Board of Education shall adopt rules, 208 including forms, necessary to implement this subparagraph. 209 (II) Bring an action against the school district to obtain 210 a declaratory judgment that the school district procedure or 211 practice violates this paragraph and seek injunctive relief. A 212 court may award damages and shall award reasonable attorney fees 213 and court costs to a parent who receives declaratory or 214 injunctive relief. 215 c. Each school district shall adopt and post on its 216 website policies to notify parents of the procedures required 217 under this subparagraph. 218 d. Nothing contained in this subparagraph shall be 219 construed to abridge or alter rights of action or remedies in 220 equity already existing under the common law or general law. 221 Section 5. Paragraph (a) of subsection (5) of section 222 1001.706, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 223 1001.706 Powers and duties of the Board of Governors.— 224 (5) POWERS AND DUTIES RELATING TO ACCOUNTABILITY.— 225 HB 811 2025 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb811-00 Page 10 of 28 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S (a) The Legislature intends that the Board of Governors 226 shall align the missions of each constituent university with the 227 academic success of its students; the existing and emerging 228 economic development needs of the state; the national reputation 229 of its faculty and its academic and research programs; the 230 quantity of externally generated research, patents, and 231 licenses; and the strategic and accountability plans required in 232 paragraphs (b) and (c). The Board of Governors shall 233 periodically review the mission of each constituent university 234 and make updates or revisions as needed. Upon completion of a 235 review of the mission, the board shall review existing academic 236 programs for alignment with the mission. The board shall include 237 in its review a directive to each constituent university 238 regarding its programs for any curriculum that violates s. 239 1000.05 or that is based on theories that systemic racism, 240 sexism, oppression, and privilege are inherent in the 241 institutions of the United States and were created to maintain 242 social, political, and economic inequities. The mission 243 alignment and strategic plan must consider peer institutions at 244 the constituent universities. The mission alignment and 245 strategic plan must acknowledge that universities that have a 246 national and international impact have the greatest capacity to 247 promote the state's economic development through: new 248 discoveries, patents, licenses, and technologies that generate 249 state businesses of global importance; research achievements 250 HB 811 2025 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb811-00 Page 11 of 28 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S through external grants and contracts that are comparable to 251 nationally recognized and ranked universities; the creation of a 252 resource rich academic environment that attracts high-technology 253 business and venture capital to the state; and this generation's 254 finest minds focusing on solving the state's economic, social, 255 environmental, and legal problems in the areas of life sciences, 256 water, sustainability, energy, and health care. A nationally 257 recognized and ranked university that has a global perspective 258 and impact must be afforded the opportunity to enable and 259 protect the university's competitiveness on the global stage in 260 fair competition with other institutions of other states in the 261 highest Carnegie Classification. 262 Section 6. Subsection (5) of section 1001.92, Florida 263 Statutes, is amended to read: 264 1001.92 State University System Performance-Based 265 Incentive.— 266 (5) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, 267 if any institution is found to have a substantiated violation of 268 s. 1000.05(4)(a), the institution shall be ineligible to receive 269 performance funding during the next fiscal year following the 270 year in which the violation is substantiated. Substantiated 271 findings are those as determined by a court of law, a standing 272 committee of the Legislature, or the Board of Governors. 273 Section 7. Paragraph (g) of subsection (2) of section 274 1003.42, Florida Statutes, is amended, and paragraph (w) is 275 HB 811 2025 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb811-00 Page 12 of 28 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S added to that subsection, to read: 276 1003.42 Required instruction.— 277 (2) Members of the instructional staff of the public 278 schools, subject to the rules of the State Board of Education 279 and the district school board, shall teach efficiently and 280 faithfully, using the books and materials required that meet the 281 highest standards for professionalism and historical accuracy, 282 following the prescribed courses of study, and employing 283 approved methods of instruction, the following: 284 (g)1. The history of the Holocaust (1933-1945), the 285 systematic, planned annihilation of European Jews and other 286 groups by Nazi Germany, a watershed event in the history of 287 humanity, to be taught in a manner that leads to an 288 investigation of human behavior, an understanding of the 289 ramifications of prejudice, racism, and stereotyping, and an 290 examination of what it means to be a responsible and respectful 291 person, for the purposes of encouraging tolerance of diversity 292 in a pluralistic society and for nurturing and protecting 293 democratic values and institutions, including the policy, 294 definition, and historical and current examples of antisemitism, 295 as described in s. 1000.05(7) s. 1000.05(8), and the prevention 296 of antisemitism. Each school district must annually certify and 297 provide evidence to the department, in a manner prescribed by 298 the department, that the requirements of this paragraph are met. 299 The department shall prepare and offer standards and curriculum 300 HB 811 2025 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb811-00 Page 13 of 28 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S for the instruction required by this paragraph and may seek 301 input from the Commissioner of Education's Task Force on 302 Holocaust Education or from any state or nationally recognized 303 Holocaust educational organizations. The department may contract 304 with any state or nationally recognized Holocaust educational 305 organizations to develop training for instructional personnel 306 and grade-appropriate classroom resources to support the 307 developed curriculum. 308 2. The second week in November shall be designated as 309 "Holocaust Education Week" in this state in recognition that 310 November is the anniversary of Kristallnacht, widely recognized 311 as a precipitating event that led to the Holocaust. 312 (w) The study of LGBTQ history in Florida and the LGBTQ 313 community's contributions to the United States, which may 314 include important United States Supreme Court cases such as 315 Obergefell v. Hodges and United States v. Windsor; the Florida 316 Legislative Investigation Committee; and the tragedy at Pulse 317 Nightclub. 318 319 The State Board of Education is encouraged to adopt standards 320 and pursue assessment of the requirements of this subsection. 321 Instructional programming that incorporates the values of the 322 recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor and that is 323 offered as part of a social studies, English Language Arts, or 324 other schoolwide character building and veteran awareness 325 HB 811 2025 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb811-00 Page 14 of 28 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S initiative meets the requirements of paragraph (u). 326 Section 8. Paragraph (e) of subsection (2) of section 327 1004.04, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 328 1004.04 Public accountability and state approval for 329 teacher preparation programs.— 330 (2) UNIFORM CORE CURRICULA AND CANDIDATE ASSESSMENT.— 331 (e) Teacher preparation program courses: 332 1. May not distort significant historical events or 333 include a curriculum or instruction that teaches identity 334 politics, violates s. 1000.05, or is based on theories that 335 systemic racism, sexism, oppression, and privilege are inherent 336 in the institutions of the United States and were created to 337 maintain social, political, and economic inequities. 338 2. Must afford candidates the opportunity to think 339 critically, achieve mastery of academic program content, learn 340 instructional strategies, and demonstrate competence. 341 Section 9. Subsection (4) of section 1004.06, Florida 342 Statutes, is renumbered as subsection (3), and subsections (2) 343 and (3) of that section are amended to read: 344 1004.06 Prohibited expenditures.— 345 (2) A Florida College System institution, state 346 university, Florida College System institution direct-support 347 organization, or state university direct-support organization 348 may, and is encouraged to, develop programs and campus 349 activities anchored in the principles of diversity, equity, and 350 HB 811 2025 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb811-00 Page 15 of 28 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S inclusion. Programs and campus activities may not expend any 351 state or federal funds to promote, support, or maintain any such 352 programs or campus activities that: 353 (a) Violate s. 1000.05; or 354 (b) Advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion, or 355 promote or engage in political or social activism, as defined by 356 rules of the State Board of Education and regulations of the 357 Board of Governors. 358 359 Student fees to support student-led organizations are permitted 360 notwithstanding any speech or expressive activity by such 361 organizations which would otherwise violate this subsection, 362 provided that the public funds must be allocated to student-led 363 organizations pursuant to written policies or regulations of 364 each Florida College System institution or state university, as 365 applicable. Use of institution facilities by student-led 366 organizations is permitted notwithstanding any speech or 367 expressive activity by such organizations which would otherwise 368 violate this subsection, provided that such use must be granted 369 to student-led organizations pursuant to written policies or 370 regulations of each Florida College System institution or state 371 university, as applicable. 372 (3) Subsection (2) does not prohibit programs, campus 373 activities, or functions required for compliance with general or 374 federal laws or regulations; for obtaining or retaining 375 HB 811 2025 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb811-00 Page 16 of 28 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S institutional or discipline-specific accreditation with the 376 approval of either the State Board of Education or the Board of 377 Governors; or for access programs for military veterans, Pell 378 Grant recipients, first generation college students, 379 nontraditional students, "2+2" transfer students from the 380 Florida College System, students from low-income families, or 381 students with unique abilities. 382 Section 10. Paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of section 383 1004.85, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 384 1004.85 Postsecondary educator preparation institutes.— 385 (2)(a) Postsecondary institutions that are accredited or 386 approved as described in State Board of Education rule may seek 387 approval from the Department of Education to create educator 388 preparation institutes for the purpose of providing any or all 389 of the following: 390 1. Professional learning instruction to assist teachers in 391 improving classroom instruction and in meeting certification or 392 recertification requirements. 393 2. Instruction to assist potential and existing substitute 394 teachers in performing their duties. 395 3. Instruction to assist paraprofessionals in meeting 396 education and training requirements. 397 4. Instruction for baccalaureate degree holders to become 398 certified teachers as provided in this section in order to 399 increase routes to the classroom for professionals who hold a 400 HB 811 2025 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb811-00 Page 17 of 28 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S baccalaureate degree and college graduates who were not 401 education majors. 402 5. Instruction and professional learning for part-time and 403 full-time nondegreed teachers of career programs under s. 404 1012.39(1)(c). 405 6. Instruction that does not distort significant 406 historical events or include a curriculum or instruction that 407 teaches identity politics, violates s. 1000.05, or is based on 408 theories that systemic racism, sexism, oppression, and privilege 409 are inherent in the institutions of the United States and were 410 created to maintain social, political, and economic inequities. 411 Courses and instruction within the educator preparation 412 institute must afford candidates the opportunity to think 413 critically, achieve mastery of academic program content, learn 414 instructional strategies, and demonstrate competence. 415 Section 11. Paragraphs (a) and (d) of subsection (2) of 416 section 1006.28, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 417 1006.28 Duties of district school board, district school 418 superintendent; and school principal regarding K-12 419 instructional materials.— 420 (2) DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD.—The district school board has 421 the constitutional duty and responsibility to select and provide 422 adequate instructional materials for all students in accordance 423 with the requirements of this part. The district school board 424 also has the following specific duties and responsibilities: 425 HB 811 2025 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb811-00 Page 18 of 28 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S (a) Courses of study; adoption.—Adopt courses of study, 426 including instructional materials, for use in the schools of the 427 district. 428 1. Each district school board is responsible for the 429 content of all instructional materials and any other materials 430 used in a classroom, made available in a school or classroom 431 library, or included on a reading list, whether adopted and 432 purchased from the state-adopted instructional materials list, 433 adopted and purchased through a district instructional materials 434 program under s. 1006.283, or otherwise purchased or made 435 available. 436 2. Each district school board must adopt a policy 437 regarding an objection by a parent or a resident of the county 438 to the use of a specific material, which clearly describes a 439 process to handle all objections and provides for resolution. 440 The objection form, as prescribed by State Board of Education 441 rule, and the district school board's process must be easy to 442 read and understand and be easily accessible on the homepage of 443 the school district's website. The objection form must also 444 identify the school district point of contact and contact 445 information for the submission of an objection. The process must 446 provide the parent or resident the opportunity to proffer 447 evidence to the district school board that: 448 a. An instructional material does not meet the criteria of 449 s. 1006.31(2) or s. 1006.40(3)(c) if it was selected for use in 450 HB 811 2025 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb811-00 Page 19 of 28 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S a course or otherwise made available to students in the school 451 district but was not subject to the public notice, review, 452 comment, and hearing procedures under s. 1006.283(2)(b)8., 9., 453 and 11. 454 b. Any material used in a classroom, made available in a 455 school or classroom library, or included on a reading list 456 contains content which: 457 (I) Is pornographic or prohibited under s. 847.012; 458 (II) Depicts or describes sexual conduct as defined in s. 459 847.001(19), unless such material is for a course required by s. 460 1003.46 or s. 1003.42(2)(o)1.g. or 3., or identified by State 461 Board of Education rule; 462 (III) Is not suited to student needs and their ability to 463 comprehend the material presented; or 464 (III)(IV) Is inappropriate for the grade level and age 465 group for which the material is used. 466 467 A resident of the county who is not the parent or guardian of a 468 student with access to school district materials may not object 469 to more than one material per month. The State Board of 470 Education may adopt rules to implement this provision. Any 471 material that is subject to an objection on the basis of sub- 472 sub-subparagraph b.(I) or sub-sub-subparagraph b.(II) must be 473 removed within 5 school days after receipt of the objection and 474 remain unavailable to students of that school until the 475 HB 811 2025 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb811-00 Page 20 of 28 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S objection is resolved. Parents shall have the right to read 476 passages from any material that is subject to an objection. If 477 the school board denies a parent the right to read passages due 478 to content that meets the requirements under sub-sub- 479 subparagraph b.(I), the school district shall discontinue the 480 use of the material in the school district. If the district 481 school board finds that any material meets the requirements 482 under sub-subparagraph a. or that any other material contains 483 prohibited content under sub-sub-subparagraph b.(I), the school 484 district shall discontinue use of the material. If the district 485 school board finds that any other material contains prohibited 486 content under sub-sub-subparagraphs b.(II)-(IV), the school 487 district shall discontinue use of the material for any grade 488 level or age group for which such use is inappropriate or 489 unsuitable. 490 3. Each district school board must establish a process by 491 which the parent of a public school student or a resident of the 492 county may contest the district school board's adoption of a 493 specific instructional material. The parent or resident must 494 file a petition, on a form provided by the school board, within 495 30 calendar days after the adoption of the instructional 496 material by the school board. The school board must make the 497 form available to the public and publish the form on the school 498 district's website. The form must be signed by the parent or 499 resident, include the required contact information, and state 500 HB 811 2025 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb811-00 Page 21 of 28 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S the objection to the instructional material based on the 501 criteria of s. 1006.31(2) or s. 1006.40(3)(c). Within 30 days 502 after the 30-day period has expired, the school board must, for 503 all petitions timely received, conduct at least one open public 504 hearing before an unbiased and qualified hearing officer. The 505 hearing officer may not be an employee or agent of the school 506 district. The hearing is not subject to the provisions of 507 chapter 120; however, the hearing must provide sufficient 508 procedural protections to allow each petitioner an adequate and 509 fair opportunity to be heard and present evidence to the hearing 510 officer. The school board's decision after convening a hearing 511 is final and not subject to further petition or review. 512 4. Meetings of committees convened for the purpose of 513 ranking, eliminating, or selecting instructional materials for 514 recommendation to the district school board must be noticed and 515 open to the public in accordance with s. 286.011. Any committees 516 convened for such purposes must include parents of students who 517 will have access to such materials. 518 5. Meetings of committees convened for the purpose of 519 resolving an objection by a parent or resident to specific 520 materials must be noticed and open to the public in accordance 521 with s. 286.011. Any committees convened for such purposes must 522 include parents of students who will have access to such 523 materials. 524 6. If a parent disagrees with the determination made by 525 HB 811 2025 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb811-00 Page 22 of 28 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S the district school board on the objection to the use of a 526 specific material, a parent may request the Commissioner of 527 Education to appoint a special magistrate who is a member of The 528 Florida Bar in good standing and who has at least 5 years' 529 experience in administrative law. The special magistrate shall 530 determine facts relating to the school district's determination, 531 consider information provided by the parent and the school 532 district, and render a recommended decision for resolution to 533 the State Board of Education within 30 days after receipt of the 534 request by the parent. The State Board of Education must approve 535 or reject the recommended decision at its next regularly 536 scheduled meeting that is more than 7 calendar days and no more 537 than 30 days after the date the recommended decision is 538 transmitted. The costs of the special magistrate shall be borne 539 by the school district. The State Board of Education shall adopt 540 rules, including forms, necessary to implement this 541 subparagraph. 542 (d) School library media services; establishment and 543 maintenance.—Establish and maintain a program of school library 544 media services for all public schools in the district, including 545 school library media centers, or school library media centers 546 open to the public, and, in addition such traveling or 547 circulating libraries as may be needed for the proper operation 548 of the district school system. Beginning January 1, 2023, school 549 librarians, media specialists, and other personnel involved in 550 HB 811 2025 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb811-00 Page 23 of 28 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S the selection of school district library materials must complete 551 the training program developed pursuant to s. 1006.29(6) before 552 reviewing and selecting age-appropriate materials and library 553 resources. Upon written request, a school district shall provide 554 access to any material or book specified in the request that is 555 maintained in a district school system library and is available 556 for review. 557 1. Each book made available to students through a school 558 district library media center or included in a recommended or 559 assigned school or grade-level reading list must be selected by 560 a school district employee who holds a valid educational media 561 specialist certificate, regardless of whether the book is 562 purchased, donated, or otherwise made available to students. 563 2. Each district school board shall adopt procedures for 564 developing library media center collections and post the 565 procedures on the website for each school within the district. 566 School libraries may provide materials and information 567 presenting all points of view on current and historical issues. 568 Materials may not be proscribed or removed because of partisan 569 or doctrinal disapproval. The procedures must: 570 a. Require that book selections meet the criteria in s. 571 1006.40(3)(c). 572 b. Require consultation of reputable, professionally 573 recognized reviewing periodicals and school community 574 stakeholders. 575 HB 811 2025 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb811-00 Page 24 of 28 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S c. Provide for library media center collections, including 576 classroom libraries, based on reader interest, support of state 577 academic standards and aligned curriculum, and the academic 578 needs of students and faculty. 579 d. Provide for the regular removal or discontinuance of 580 books based on, at a minimum, physical condition, rate of recent 581 circulation, alignment to state academic standards and relevancy 582 to curriculum, out-of-date content, and required removal 583 pursuant to subparagraph (a)2. 584 3. Each elementary school must publish on its website, in 585 a searchable format prescribed by the department, a list of all 586 materials maintained and accessible in the school library media 587 center or a classroom library or required as part of a school or 588 grade-level reading list. 589 4. Each district school board shall adopt and publish on 590 its website the process for a parent to limit his or her 591 student's access to materials in the school or classroom 592 library. 593 Section 12. Paragraph (c) of subsection (3) of section 594 1007.25, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 595 1007.25 General education courses; common prerequisites; 596 other degree requirements.— 597 (3) The chair of the State Board of Education and the 598 chair of the Board of Governors, or their designees, shall 599 jointly appoint faculty committees to review and recommend to 600 HB 811 2025 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb811-00 Page 25 of 28 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S the Articulation Coordinating Committee for approval by the 601 State Board of Education and the Board of Governors statewide 602 general education core course options for inclusion in the 603 statewide course numbering system established under s. 1007.24. 604 Faculty committees shall, by July 1, 2024, and by July 1 every 4 605 years thereafter, review and submit recommendations to the 606 Articulation Coordinating Committee and the commissioner for the 607 removal, alignment, realignment, or addition of general 608 education core courses that satisfy the requirements of this 609 subsection. 610 (c) General education core courses may not distort 611 significant historical events or include a curriculum that 612 teaches identity politics, violates s. 1000.05, or is based on 613 theories that systemic racism, sexism, oppression, and privilege 614 are inherent in the institutions of the United States and were 615 created to maintain social, political, and economic inequities. 616 Section 13. Paragraph (c) of subsection (8) of section 617 1012.56, Florida Statutes, is redesignated as paragraph (b), and 618 paragraph (a) of subsection (7) and present paragraph (b) of 619 subsection (8) of that section are amended to read: 620 1012.56 Educator certification requirements.— 621 (7) TYPES AND TERMS OF CERTIFICATION.— 622 (a) The Department of Education shall issue a professional 623 certificate for a period not to exceed 5 years to any applicant 624 who fulfills one of the following: 625 HB 811 2025 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb811-00 Page 26 of 28 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S 1. Meets all the applicable requirements outlined in 626 subsection (2). 627 2. For a professional certificate covering grades 6 628 through 12: 629 a. Meets the applicable requirements of paragraphs (2)(a)- 630 (h). 631 b. Holds a master's or higher degree in the area of 632 science, technology, engineering, or mathematics. 633 c. Teaches a high school course in the subject of the 634 advanced degree. 635 d. Is rated highly effective as determined by the 636 teacher's performance evaluation under s. 1012.34, based in part 637 on student performance as measured by a statewide, standardized 638 assessment or an Advanced Placement, Advanced International 639 Certificate of Education, or International Baccalaureate 640 examination. 641 e. Achieves a passing score on the Florida professional 642 education competency examination required by state board rule. 643 3. Meets the applicable requirements of paragraphs (2)(a)- 644 (h) and completes a professional learning certification program 645 approved by the department pursuant to paragraph (8)(b) (8)(c) 646 or an educator preparation institute approved by the department 647 pursuant to s. 1004.85. An applicant who completes one of these 648 programs and is rated highly effective as determined by his or 649 her performance evaluation under s. 1012.34 is not required to 650 HB 811 2025 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb811-00 Page 27 of 28 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S take or achieve a passing score on the professional education 651 competency examination in order to be awarded a professional 652 certificate. 653 654 At least 1 year before an individual's temporary certificate is 655 set to expire, the department shall electronically notify the 656 individual of the date on which his or her certificate will 657 expire and provide a list of each method by which the 658 qualifications for a professional certificate can be completed. 659 (8) PROFESSIONAL LEARNING CERTIFICATION PROGRAM.— 660 (b) Professional learning certification program courses: 661 1. May not distort significant historical events or 662 include curriculum or instruction that teaches identity 663 politics, violates s. 1000.05, or is based on theories that 664 systemic racism, sexism, oppression, and privilege are inherent 665 in the institutions of the United States and were created to 666 maintain social, political, and economic inequities. 667 2. Must afford candidates the opportunity to think 668 critically, achieve mastery of academic program content, learn 669 instructional strategies, and demonstrate competence. 670 Section 14. Subsection (4) of section 1012.562, Florida 671 Statutes, is amended to read: 672 1012.562 Public accountability and state approval of 673 school leader preparation programs.—The Department of Education 674 shall establish a process for the approval of Level I and Level 675 HB 811 2025 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb811-00 Page 28 of 28 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S II school leader preparation programs that will enable aspiring 676 school leaders to obtain their certificates in educational 677 leadership under s. 1012.56. School leader preparation programs 678 must be competency-based, aligned to the principal leadership 679 standards adopted by the state board, and open to individuals 680 employed by public schools, including charter schools and 681 virtual schools. Level I programs lead to initial certification 682 in educational leadership for the purpose of preparing 683 individuals to serve as school administrators. Level II programs 684 build upon Level I training and lead to renewal certification as 685 a school principal. 686 (4) PROGRAM PROHIBITIONS; REQUIREMENTS.— 687 (a) School leader preparation programs may not distort 688 significant historical events or include curriculum or 689 instruction that teaches identity politics, violates s. 1000.05, 690 or is based on theories that systemic racism, sexism, 691 oppression, and privilege are inherent in the institutions of 692 the United States and were created to maintain social, 693 political, and economic inequities. 694 (b) School leader preparation programs must afford 695 candidates the opportunity to demonstrate mastery of program 696 content, including instructional leadership strategies, coaching 697 development, school safety, and continuous improvement efforts. 698 Section 15. This act shall take effect July 1, 2025. 699