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HB0409 • 2026

Observance of Veterans' Day by K-12 Schools

Observance of Veterans' Day by K-12 Schools

Education
Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor
Giallombardo ; (CO-INTRODUCERS) Albert ; Barnaby ; Basabe ; Benarroch ; Booth ; Cobb ; Conerly ; Cross ; Gossett-Seidman ; Holcomb ; Michael ; Nix ; Partington ; Rizo
Last action
2026-03-13
Official status
Senate - Died in Rules
Effective date
2026-07-01

Plain English Breakdown

The bill status indicates it 'Died in Rules,' meaning it is not currently active legislation despite passing both chambers.

HB409: Veterans' Day School Holiday

This bill requires Florida K-12 school districts to observe Veterans' Day as a school holiday if it becomes law.

What This Bill Does

  • Amends section 1001.42 of the Florida Statutes regarding district school board duties.
  • Requires every school district to observe Veterans' Day, listed in s. 110.117(1)(f), as a school holiday.
  • Sets an effective date of July 1, 2026.

Who It Names or Affects

  • District school boards across Florida
  • K-12 public schools and their students

Terms To Know

School holiday
A day designated by the district when regular classes do not meet.
District school board
The group of officials who manage public schools in a specific area.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This bill passed the legislature but died in Senate Rules, so it did not become law.
  • The text does not explain how teachers or staff should spend their time on this day.
  • The source material only mentions school districts and does not state if private schools must follow this rule.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-13 Senate

    • Died in Rules

  2. 2026-02-18 Senate

    • Referred to Rules • Received

  3. 2026-02-17 House

    • Read 2nd time • Added to Third Reading Calendar • Read 3rd time • Passed; YEAS 107, NAYS 0

  4. 2026-02-17 Senate

    • In Messages

  5. 2026-02-10 House

    • Bill added to Special Order Calendar (2/17/2026)

  6. 2026-01-22 House

    • Favorable by Education & Employment Committee • Reported out of Education & Employment Committee • Bill released to House Calendar • Added to Second Reading Calendar

  7. 2026-01-20 House

    • Added to Education & Employment Committee agenda

  8. 2026-01-14 House

    • Favorable by Education Administration Subcommittee • Reported out of Education Administration Subcommittee • Now in Education & Employment Committee

  9. 2026-01-13 House

    • 1st Reading (Original Filed Version)

  10. 2026-01-12 House

    • Added to Education Administration Subcommittee agenda

  11. 2025-11-18 House

    • Referred to Education Administration Subcommittee • Referred to Education & Employment Committee • Now in Education Administration Subcommittee

  12. 2025-11-12 House

    • Filed

Official Summary Text

Observance of Veterans' Day by K-12 Schools; Requires school districts to observe Veterans' Day as school holiday.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HB 409 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb409-00
Page 1 of 1
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 observance of Veterans' Day by K-12 2
schools; amending s. 1001.42, F.S.; requiring school 3
districts to observe Veterans' Day as a school 4
holiday; providing an effective date. 5
6
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 7
8
Section 1. Paragraph (g) of subsection (4) of section 9
1001.42, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 10
1001.42 Powers and duties of district school board.—The 11
district school board, acting as a board, shall exercise all 12
powers and perform all duties listed below: 13
(4) ESTABLISHMENT, ORGANIZATION, AND OPERATION OF 14
SCHOOLS.—Adopt and provide for the execution of plans for the 15
establishment, organization, and operation of the schools of the 16
district, including, but not limited to, the following: 17
(g) Observance of school holidays and vacation periods.—18
Designate the observance of school holidays and vacation 19
periods. Each school district shall observe Veterans' Day, as 20
listed in s. 110.117(1)(f), as a school holiday. 21
Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026. 22