- Florida lawmakers will consider HB 127 (cursive instruction for grades 2-5) and HB 147 (teacher oath) starting in the 2026 legislative session.
- SB 1428 would require renaming roads at 40 public colleges after Charlie Kirk, with funding withheld for noncompliance starting immediately after passage.
- HB 1149 and SB 1518 would mandate 100 minutes per week of recess for K-8 students, excluding Florida charter schools, effective July 1.
- SB 896 would let certain college staff and students carry firearms on campus and criminalize firing weapons near schools in Florida.
Florida’s 60-day legislative session will begin on Tuesday in Tallahassee, where lawmakers will consider passing several bills, including many related to education.
Here is a list of just some of the notable education bills that have been filed for consideration in Florida’s House of Representatives and Senate as the legislative session approaches.
HB 127: Required Instruction in Cursive Writing
The bill, filed in October 2025 by state Rep. Toby Overdorf, R-Palm City, calls for state public schools to provide cursive writing instruction for students in second through fifth grades. It further states that “By the end of grade 5, each student must demonstrate proficiency in cursive writing through an evaluation of written work.”
The term “demonstrate proficiency in cursive writing,” according to the bill, means students should have the capability to write both uppercase and lowercase letters in cursive, write words and sentences in cursive “legibly” while “maintaining proper spacing and alignment, and write essays and assignments in cursive writing, compliant with state academic standards.
If passed, the law would go into effect on July 1.
HB 147: Oath of Classroom Teachers
The bill, filed in October 2025 by state Rep. Tom Fabricio, R-Miami Lakes, would require Florida teachers to take an oath to the nation and state before starting their duties as an instructor.
The oath that teachers would be required to say is below in its entirety.
“I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support, protect, and defend the Constitution and Government of the United States and the Constitution and Government of the State of Florida; that I am duly qualified for the employment as a classroom teacher in this state; that I will well and faithfully perform the duties of a classroom teacher in a professional, independent, objective, and nonpartisan manner; that I will uphold the highest standards of academic integrity and professional ethics; that I will foster a respectful learning environment for all students, which promotes critical thinking, civic responsibility, and lifelong learning; and that I will serve as a positive role model in both conduct and character, so help me God.”
If the bill were to pass, it would go into effect on July 1.
HB 1149 & SB 1518: Recess Requirements for Middle School Students
The two bills, filed by state Rep. Paula Stark, R-St. Cloud, and Sen. Kristen Arrington, D-Kissimmee, would require school districts in Florida to provide a minimum of 100 minutes of “supervised, safe, and unstructured free-play recess each week for students in kindergarten through grade eight.” This would amend current state statutes to include students in sixth through eighth grade.
Both versions of the bill state that the requirement “does not apply to Florida charter schools.” If passed, the new law would take effect on July 1.
SB 896: School Safety
The bill, filed by Sen. Don Gaetz, R-Destin, would allow public postsecondary institutions to participate in Florida’s School Guardian Program, permitting “certain college or university employees, faculty members, and students to openly carry a handgun or carry a concealed weapon or concealed firearm into a college or university facility.”
Additionally, the bill would also establish a criminal offense for firing a weapon or firearm within 1,000 feet of a school.
SB 1428: Redesignations of State University and Florida College System Institution Roads
The bill, filed on Thursday by state Sen. Illeana Garcia (R-Miami), would require all 40 of Florida’s public colleges and universities to rename certain streets after the slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Institutions that fail to comply would have state funds withheld.
A similar bill – HB 113 – was filed in October 2025 by State Rep. Kevin Steele, R-Dade City. If approved, the law would go into effect immediately, giving universities and colleges 90 days to make the necessary changes.
Schools and roads from Gainesville that are included in the bill are listed below.
- University of Florida – redesignating Stadium Road as Charlie James Kirk Road.
- Santa Fe College (Gainesville) – redesignating NW 83rd Street as Charlie James Kirk Street.
A full list of institutions and roads can be found here.
Nick Anschultz is a Report for America corps member and writes about education for Mainstreet Daily News. This position is supported by local donations through the Community Catalyst for Local Journalism Fund at the Community Foundation of North Central Florida.