HB0049 • 2026

Political Activities on School Grounds

Crime Education Elections

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Gossett-Seidman
Last action: 2025-10-03
Official status: House - Withdrawn prior to introduction
Effective date: 2026-07-01

Plain English Breakdown

The bill text states invitations for candidates do not need to be at the same time or place but must be similar events; this nuance is included in what_it_does.

Rules for Political Activities on School Grounds

This law sets rules about what political activities are allowed or banned at public K-12 schools and colleges in Florida.

What This Bill Does

Creates a new state law that defines terms like 'candidate' and 'school grounds'.
Allows candidate forums if all qualified candidates for an office are invited to speak, even if the events happen at different times or places as long as they are similar.
Permits political ads on school property only under the same rules applied to other outside groups allowed there.
Bans posting campaign signs, handing out flyers, campaigning with candidates, collecting money for campaigns, and voter registration events involving a candidate or party at schools.
Prohibits teachers and staff from using work email, offices, or paid time during working hours for political advocacy.
Sets criminal penalties of a second-degree misdemeanor for anyone who breaks these rules.

Who It Names or Affects

Public K-12 schools and public colleges in Florida
Political candidates running for office
School faculty and staff members

Terms To Know

Candidate: A declared candidate, an incumbent expected to run again, or someone whose possible candidacy is the subject of intense public speculation.
School grounds: The buildings and land of any public K-12 school or public college in Florida.

Limits and Unknowns

The law requires schools to keep documentation proving they invited all candidates, but does not specify the exact format for this record.
It is unclear what specific actions count as 'political advocacy' beyond using work resources during working hours.

Bill History

2025-10-03 House
• Withdrawn prior to introduction
2025-09-26 House
• Filed

Official Summary Text

Political Activities on School Grounds; Provides that certain activities are allowed on school grounds; authorizes candidates to be invited to speak as candidates on school grounds if certain conditions are met; prohibits certain political activities on school grounds; prohibits certain employees from using e-mail, offices, or time during working hours for political advocacy; provides criminal penalties for persons who violate specified provisions; provides that each such violation is separate offense.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB 49 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb49-00
Page 1 of 4
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 political activities on school 2
grounds; creating s. 104.315, F.S.; providing 3
definitions; providing that certain activities are 4
allowed on school grounds; authorizing candidates to 5
be invited to speak as candidates on school grounds if 6
certain conditions are met; prohibiting certain 7
political activities on school grounds; prohibiting 8
certain employees from using e-mail, offices, or time 9
during working hours for political advocacy; providing 10
criminal penalties for persons who violate specified 11
provisions; providing that each such violation is a 12
separate offense; providing an effective date. 13
14
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 15
16
Section 1. Section 104.315, Florida Statutes, is created 17
to read: 18
104.315 Political activities on school grounds.— 19
(1) As used in this section, the term: 20
(a) "Candidate" has the same meaning as in s. 97.021 and 21
includes a declared candidate, an incumbent who is presumed to 22
be a future candidate, and any person whose possible candidacy 23
is the subject of intense public speculation. The term does not 24
include a person acting within his or her individual capacity 25

HB 49 2026

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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

who does not speak about politics or a campaign. 26
(b) "Public office" includes any elective office. 27
(c) "School grounds" means the buildings and grounds of 28
any public K-12 school or public institution of higher education 29
as defined in s. 1004.097(2). 30
(2) The following activities are allowed on school 31
grounds: 32
(a) Candidate forums or debates at which all qualified 33
candidates for the office are invited. 34
(b) Use of facilities on the same terms and conditions, 35
including, but not limited to, financial, as are required of 36
other users of such facilities. 37
(c) Political advertisements under the same terms, 38
including, but not limited to, financial, as are applied to 39
other advertisements from outside groups allowed on school 40
grounds. 41
(d) Student newspaper editorials or candidate endorsements 42
that include a disclaimer that the opinion is solely that of the 43
author and is not the opinion or endorsement of the school or 44
institution. 45
(e) Voter registration and education events that do not 46
involve a campaign or political party. 47
(f) Inviting a candidate to speak in his or her individual 48
capacity, but not as a candidate; however, such person may not 49
speak about a campaign or any political issues. 50

HB 49 2026

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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

(3) A candidate may be invited to speak in his or her 51
capacity as a candidate on school grounds only if: 52
(a) All other candidates are invited to speak on school 53
grounds. Such invitations do not need to be for the same event, 54
place, or time, but must be similar events that take place at 55
similar times. Documentation of such invitations must be 56
preserved. 57
(b) The introduction of such candidate includes a 58
disclaimer that the school or institution does not endorse any 59
candidate for public office. 60
(4) The following political activities are prohibited on 61
school grounds: 62
(a) Posting campaign signs. 63
(b) Distributing campaign literature. 64
(c) Campaigning for or with candidates. 65
(d) Any activity that may be reasonably expected to give 66
the impression of support or endorsement of any particular 67
candidate over another candidate. 68
(e) Collecting campaign donations or contributions. 69
(f) Voter registration events that involve a candidate or 70
political party. 71
(5) A faculty or staff member of any K-12 public school or 72
public institution of higher education as defined in s. 73
1004.097(2) may not use e-mail, offices, or time during working 74
hours for political advocacy. 75

HB 49 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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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

(6)(a) A person who violates this section commits a 76
misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 77
775.082 or s. 775.083. 78
(b) Each such violation is a separate offense. 79
Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026. 80