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CS/HB 725 2026
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb725-01-c1
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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
A bill to be entitled 1
An act relating to political activity at public 2
institutions of higher education; amending s. 3
1004.097, F.S.; requiring public institutions of 4
higher education to inform students and employees of 5
the Campus Free Expression Act through specified 6
means; creating s. 1012.802, F.S.; requiring the Board 7
of Governors and the State Board of Education to adopt 8
regulations and rules, respectively, describing the 9
limitations of state universities and Florida College 10
System institutions relating to certain political 11
campaign activities; requiring the boards of trustees 12
of such universities and institutions to publish on 13
their official websites and provide to employees 14
certain information relating to permissible and 15
prohibited political activities, state law, and 16
disciplinary actions; providing an effective date. 17
18
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 19
20
Section 1. Paragraph (h) is added to subsection (3) of 21
section 1004.097, Florida Statutes, to read: 22
1004.097 Free expression on campus.— 23
(3) RIGHT TO FREE-SPEECH ACTIVITIES.— 24
(h) Each public institution of higher education shall 25
CS/HB 725 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
inform students and employees of the Campus Free Expression Act 26
at orientation and on its official website. 27
Section 2. Section 1012.802, Florida Statutes, is created 28
to read: 29
1012.802 Political activities.— 30
(1) The Board of Governors shall adopt regulations for 31
state university boards of trustees, and the State Board of 32
Education shall adopt rules for Florida College System 33
institution boards of trustees, describing the limitations of 34
such universities and institutions, as tax-exempt entities, 35
relating to participation or intervention in political campaign 36
activities in support of or opposition to candidates for 37
elective public office. 38
(2) One month before the primary election, as provided in 39
s. 100.061, the boards of trustees of each state university and 40
Florida College System institution must send an e-mail to each 41
employee and post, in a conspicuous area, on the university's or 42
institution's official website all of the following: 43
(a) Permissible political activities, such as voter 44
registration events that do not involve a campaign or political 45
party and candidate forums at which all qualified candidates for 46
the office are invited. 47
(b) Prohibited political activities, such as university or 48
institution faculty and employees campaigning for or with 49
candidates while on duty, any activity that directly or 50
CS/HB 725 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
indirectly implies that the university or institution supports 51
any particular candidate, and the unauthorized use of 52
facilities, property, logos, or equipment of the university or 53
institution for any campaign. 54
(c) The Campus Free Expression Act established by s. 55
1004.097. 56
(d) Disciplinary action that may be taken for a violation 57
of this section. 58
Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026. 59