Oaths of Classroom Teachers

Education

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor: Fabricio
Last action: 2026-03-13
Official status: House - Died in Student Academic Success Subcommittee
Effective date: 2026-07-01

Plain English Breakdown

The bill's status is uncertain as it died in committee.

Oaths for Classroom Teachers

This bill requires classroom teachers in Florida to take a specific oath before starting their job.

What This Bill Does

Creates a new law that makes classroom teachers in Florida take an oath before they start working.
The oath includes promises about supporting the U.S. and Florida governments, being qualified for teaching, acting professionally, upholding high standards of academic integrity and ethics, fostering a respectful learning environment, promoting critical thinking, civic responsibility, lifelong learning, and serving as positive role models.

Who It Names or Affects

Classroom teachers who work in Florida schools

Terms To Know

Oath: A serious promise or pledge made formally, often with a religious reference like 'so help me God.'
Professional ethics: Rules and standards that guide how people in a job should behave.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify the consequences for teachers who do not take the oath.
It is unclear whether this law has been signed by the governor or enacted into law since it died in committee.

Bill History

2026-03-13 House
• Died in Student Academic Success Subcommittee
2026-01-13 House
• 1st Reading (Original Filed Version)
2025-10-21 House
• Referred to Student Academic Success Subcommittee • Referred to Education & Employment Committee • Now in Student Academic Success Subcommittee
2025-10-13 House
• Filed

Official Summary Text

Oaths of Classroom Teachers; Requires persons employed as classroom teachers to take specified oath before entering upon duties of classroom teacher; & provides requirements for such oath.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB 147 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb147-00
Page 1 of 2
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 oaths of classroom teachers; 2
creating s. 1012.591, F.S.; requiring persons employed 3
as classroom teachers to take a specified oath before 4
entering upon the duties of a classroom teacher; 5
providing requirements for such oath; providing an 6
effective date. 7
8
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 9
10
Section 1. Section 1012.591, Florida Statutes, is created 11
to read: 12
1012.591 Oath of classroom teachers.—Before entering upon 13
the duties of a classroom teacher, as defined in s. 14
1012.01(2)(a), each person employed as a classroom teacher shall 15
subscribe to the following oath: "I do solemnly swear (or 16
affirm) that I will support, protect, and defend the 17
Constitution and Government of the United States and the 18
Constitution and Government of the State of Florida; that I am 19
duly qualified for employment as a classroom teacher in this 20
state; that I will well and faithfully perform the duties of a 21
classroom teacher in a professional, independent, objective, and 22
nonpartisan manner; that I will uphold the highest standards of 23
academic integrity and professional ethics; that I will foster a 24
respectful learning environment for all students, which promotes 25

HB 147 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb147-00
Page 2 of 2
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

critical thinking, civic responsibility, and lifelong learning; 26
and that I will serve as a positive role model in both conduct 27
and character, so help me God." 28
Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026. 29