Read the full stored bill text
Florida Senate
-
2026
SB 426
By
Senator Yarborough
4-00812-26 2026426__
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to the adoption and display of flags
3 by governmental entities; creating s. 256.18, F.S.;
4 defining the term “governmental entity”; prohibiting a
5 governmental entity from displaying, placing, or
6 causing to be placed certain flags on real property;
7 providing a penalty; specifying flags a governmental
8 entity may display on such property; providing
9 requirements for a governmental entity that displays
10 the flag of the United States; creating s. 256.19,
11 F.S.; defining the term “local government”;
12 prohibiting a local government from adopting certain
13 ordinances or regulations relating to the flag of the
14 local government; providing that certain ordinances
15 and regulations are void; providing an effective date.
16
17 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
18
19 Section 1. Section 256.18, Florida Statutes, is created to
20 read:
21
256.18
Governmental entities; display of flags.—
22
(1)
As used in this section, the term “governmental entity”
23
means a state, county, municipality, special district, or other
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political subdivision, whether executive, judicial, or
25
legislative, including, but not limited to, a department,
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division, board, bureau, commission, authority, or district, or
27
an agency thereof, or a public school, Florida College System
28
institution, state university, or associated board.
29
(2)(a)
A governmental entity may not:
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1.
Display any flag on real property other than a flag
31
listed in subsection (3).
32
2.
Place or cause to be placed a flag authorized to be
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displayed under subsection (3) which contains or depicts any
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word, figure, mark, picture, design, drawing, symbol, or
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advertisement of any nature which represents political
36
partisanship, political ideology, race, gender, or sexual
37
orientation.
38
(b)
A governmental entity that violates this subsection is
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liable for a civil fine in the amount of $500 per day. Proceeds
40
from fines collected by the Department of State shall be
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deposited into the General Revenue Fund.
42
(3)
A governmental entity may display on real property:
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(a)
The flag of the United States.
44
(b)
The state flag.
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(c)
The flag of another state or another country.
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(d)
The flag of a city, county, municipality, or other
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political subdivision of this state.
48
(e)
The flag of a branch of the United States Armed Forces.
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(f)
A POW-MIA flag pursuant to this chapter.
50
(g)
The flag of an Indian tribe recognized by the United
51
States.
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(h)
The official flag of a public school, Florida College
53
System institution, or state university.
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(i)
A flag of historical significance to the government of
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the United States or this state.
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(j)
The official flag of the United States Paralympic
57
Committee, the International Olympic Committee, or the
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International Paralympic Committee.
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(k)
The Olympic flag or Paralympic flag representing games
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that have occurred or will occur in this state.
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(l)
The flag of any sporting organization that is hosting,
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has hosted, or will host a sporting event in this state.
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(4)
A governmental entity that displays the United States
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flag must display the flag in a prominent position that is
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superior to any other flag on display.
66 Section 2. Section 256.19, Florida Statutes, is created to
67 read:
68
256.19
Local government flags; prohibited acts.—
69
(1)
As used in this section, the term “local government”
70
means a city, county, municipality, or other political
71
subdivision of this state.
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(2)
A local government may not adopt an ordinance or
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regulation that authorizes the flag of the local government to
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contain or depict any word, figure, mark, picture, design,
75
drawing, symbol, or advertisement of any nature which represents
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political partisanship, political ideology, race, gender, or
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sexual orientation.
78
(3)
Any existing or future ordinance or regulation adopted
79
by a local government which is in conflict with subsection (2)
80
is void.
81 Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.