Patriotic Displays at Public Schools

Plain English Breakdown

The official metadata lists conflicting status information: it states the bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, but also notes a last action of 'Died on Second Reading Calendar'. The effective date is listed as July 1, 2026 in the text.

Patriotic Displays at Public Schools

This bill requires Florida public schools to display portraits of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln if the legislature provides funding.

What This Bill Does

• Requires each district school board to adopt rules for displaying specific items in all schools and buildings they use.
• Mandates that a portrait of George Washington be displayed in a conspicuous place at every public school, subject to legislative appropriation.
• Mandates that a portrait of Abraham Lincoln be displayed in a conspicuous place at every public school, subject to legislative appropriation.
• Requires the Department of Education to select which portraits will be used and provide them to each district.
• Makes these new display rules dependent on legislative appropriation.

Who It Names or Affects

• District school boards in Florida
• The Florida Department of Education
• Public schools within the state

Terms To Know

Legislative appropriation

Money that must be approved and given by the legislature before a rule can take effect.

Conspicuous place

A location where something is easy to see or notice clearly.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill only takes effect if the legislature approves funding for it.
• The text does not specify how much money will be needed for the portraits.

Official Summary Text

Patriotic Displays at Public Schools; Requires, subject to legislative appropriation, each district school board to adopt rules to require display of portraits of George Washington & Abraham Lincoln at each public school in district; & requires DOE to select portraits & make them available to each school district.

Current Bill Text

CS/HB 371 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb371-01-c1
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 patriotic displays at public 2
schools; amending s. 1003.44, F.S.; requiring, subject 3
to legislative appropriation, each district school 4
board to adopt rules to require the display of 5
portraits of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln at 6
each public school in the district; requiring the 7
Department of Education to select the portraits and 8
make them available to each school district; providing 9
an effective date. 10
11
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 12
13
Section 1. Subsection (4) of section 1003.44, Florida 14
Statutes, is amended to read: 15
1003.44 Patriotic programs; rules.— 16
(4) Each district school board shall adopt rules to 17
require:, in all of the schools of the district and in each 18
building used by the district school board, 19
(a) The display of the state motto, "In God We Trust," 20
designated under s. 15.0301, in a conspicuous place at each 21
public school in the district and in each building used by the 22
district school board. 23
(b) Subject to legislative appropriation, the display of 24
portraits of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln in a 25

CS/HB 371 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb371-01-c1
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

conspicuous place at each public school in the district. The 26
Department of Education shall select the portraits and make them 27
available to each school district. 28
Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026. 29