HJR0583 • 2026

Protection of Religious Expression in Public Schools

Education

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor: Tramont ; Jacques ; (CO-INTRODUCERS) Bankson ; Boyles ; Daniels ; Fabricio ; Holcomb ; Michael ; Nix ; Partington ; Plakon ; Plasencia ; Rizo ; Salzman
Last action: 2026-03-13
Official status: Senate - Died in Rules
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on enforcement mechanisms or consequences for violations, leaving some aspects open to interpretation.

Protection for Religious Expression in Public Schools

This bill proposes an amendment to the Florida State Constitution that would protect students and staff from discrimination based on their religious expression.

What This Bill Does

Proposes a new section in Article X of the Florida State Constitution to prevent schools from discriminating against students or staff because of their religious beliefs or expressions.
Requires schools to treat voluntary religious expressions by students equally with secular expressions, especially during assignments and activities.
Allows students to wear clothing, accessories, or jewelry that display religious messages or symbols as long as similar secular items are allowed.
Permits students to pray or engage in religious activities before, during, and after school hours without discrimination.
Requires teachers to set aside a moment of silence at the start of each day for voluntary personal reflection.

Who It Names or Affects

Students who wish to express their religious beliefs in public schools.
School staff members who want to participate in student-led religious activities on school grounds.
Public school administrators and teachers responsible for enforcing these rules.

Terms To Know

Religious expression: The act of expressing one's religious beliefs or practices, such as praying, wearing religious symbols, or discussing religious views.
Voluntary expression: An action taken freely and without coercion by an individual.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify what happens if a student's religious expression conflicts with school rules or policies.
It is unclear how schools will enforce the requirement for moments of silence without interfering with students' rights to participate freely in their own way.

Bill History

2026-03-13 Senate
• Died in Rules
2026-02-10 Senate
• Received
2026-02-09 Senate
• Referred to Rules
2026-02-04 House
• Read 2nd time • Added to Third Reading Calendar • Read 3rd time • Passed; YEAS 93, NAYS 17
2026-02-04 Senate
• In Messages
2026-01-29 House
• Bill added to Special Order Calendar (2/4/2026)
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
2026-01-20 House
• Added to Education & Employment Committee agenda
2026-01-14 House
• Favorable by Education Administration Subcommittee • Reported out of Education Administration Subcommittee • Now in Education & Employment Committee
2026-01-13 House
• 1st Reading (Original Filed Version)
2026-01-12 House
• Added to Education Administration Subcommittee agenda
2025-12-12 House
• Referred to Education Administration Subcommittee • Referred to Education & Employment Committee • Now in Education Administration Subcommittee
2025-12-02 House
• Filed

Official Summary Text

Protection of Religious Expression in Public Schools; Proposes amendment to State Constitution to provide protection from discrimination for student & school personnel religious expression in public schools.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HJR 583 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

House Joint Resolution 1
A joint resolution proposing the creation of Section 2
33 of Article X of the State Constitution to provide 3
protection from discrimination for student and school 4
personnel religious expression in public schools. 5
6
Be It Resolved by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 7
8
That the following creation of Section 33 of Article X of 9
the State Constitution is agreed to and shall be submitted to 10
the electors of this state for approval or rejection at the next 11
general election or at an earlier special election specifically 12
authorized by law for that purpose: 13
ARTICLE X 14
MISCELLANEOUS 15
SECTION 33. Religious expression in public schools.— 16
(a) A school district may not discriminate against a 17
student, parent, or school personnel on the basis of a religious 18
viewpoint or religious expression. A school district shall treat 19
a student's voluntary expression of a religious viewpoint on an 20
otherwise permissible subject in the same manner that the school 21
district treats a student's voluntary expression of a secular 22
viewpoint. 23
(b) A public school must allow: 24
(1) A student to express his or her religious beliefs in 25

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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

coursework, artwork, and other written and oral assignments free 26
from discrimination. A student's homework and classroom 27
assignments shall be evaluated, regardless of any religious 28
content, based on expected academic standards relating to the 29
course curriculum and requirements. A student may not be 30
penalized or rewarded based on the religious content of his or 31
her work if the coursework, artwork, or other written or oral 32
assignment requires a student's viewpoint to be expressed. 33
(2) A student to wear clothing, accessories, and jewelry 34
that display a religious message or symbol in the same manner 35
and to the same extent that secular types of clothing, 36
accessories, and jewelry that display messages or symbols are 37
allowed to be worn. 38
(3) A student to pray or engage in religious activities or 39
expression before, during, and after the school day in the same 40
manner and to the same extent that a student may engage in 41
secular activities or expression. A student may organize prayer 42
groups, religious clubs, and other religious gatherings in the 43
same manner and to the same extent that a student is permitted 44
to organize secular activities and groups. 45
(4) School personnel to participate in religious 46
activities on school grounds which are initiated by students at 47
reasonable times before or after the school day if such 48
activities are voluntary and do not conflict with the 49
responsibilities or assignments of such personnel. 50

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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

(c) Without supporting or discouraging student prayer, 51
each public school must require teachers in first-period 52
classrooms in all grades to set aside at least one minute, but 53
not more than two minutes, daily for a moment of silence, during 54
which a student may not interfere with other students' 55
participation. 56
(d) Each high school participating in a championship 57
contest or series of contests must have the opportunity to make 58
brief opening remarks, if requested by the school, using the 59
public address system at the event. Remarks may include student-60
led or school personnel-led prayer, may not be derogatory, rude, 61
or threatening, and may not be longer than two minutes per 62
school. 63
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the following statement be 64
placed on the ballot: 65
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT 66
ARTICLE X, SECTION 33 67
PROTECTING RELIGIOUS EXPRESSION IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.—68
Proposing an amendment to the State Constitution to provide 69
protections from discrimination for student and school personnel 70
religious expression in public schools, including the expression 71
of religious beliefs in a student's school work or attire, 72
prayer, activities and religious expressions, moments of 73
silence, and opening remarks at high school championship contest 74
or series of contests. 75