HB 1009 Florida House · 2025 Regular Session

Religious and Patriotic Expression in the Public School System

Summary

Religious and Patriotic Expression in the Public School System; Requires specified information to be provided to certain persons relating to religious expression & liberties in public schools; revises requirements for display of state motto, "In God We Trust," in certain schools & buildings.

Bill status died 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2025

Committee Review

Apr 2025

House Passage

Apr 2025

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Feb 25, 2025 Last action Jun 16, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

H 1009 Filed → H 1009 c1 · 6 edits

MODERATE

The bill was substantially rewritten from a broad religious expression protection law to a focused mandate requiring the display of the state motto 'In God We Trust' in public schools and distributing federal guidance on religious expression. The original version protected students' religious rights and prohibited discrimination, while the new version adds specific requirements for motto display and anthem playing.

Scope change

The bill's scope shifted from broad religious liberty protections to specific patriotic expression requirements, narrowing its focus from student rights to institutional display mandates.

REQUIREMENT

Changed from prohibiting discrimination based on religious expression to requiring the display of the state motto 'In God We Trust' in clearly visible locations in all schools and buildings.

Added requirement for the national anthem to be played after the moment of silence at the beginning of each school day.

Changed from authorizing student religious activities to requiring school districts to distribute federal guidance on religious expression to school staff.

Removed provisions allowing students to wear religious clothing, organize prayer groups, and engage in religious activities in school.

ELIGIBILITY

Removed protections against discrimination for students, parents, and school personnel based on religious viewpoints or expression.

TIMELINE

Changed effective date from unspecified to July 1, 2025.

Floor votes · House Apr 23, 2025

How they voted

101–7

Passed · 10 other

Total votes 118

Apr 23, 2025

D Democratic34

21 Yea 7 Nay 6

61% Yea

R Republican84

80 Yea 4

95% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 23, 2025

Committee

Referred to Rules

upper

Apr 23, 2025

Lower · Passed

CS passed; YEAS 102, NAYS 7

lower

Apr 17, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reported out of Education & Employment Committee

lower

Apr 17, 2025

Lower · Passed

Favorable by Education & Employment Committee

lower

Apr 15, 2025

Lower · Passed

Added to Education & Employment Committee agenda

lower

Apr 4, 2025

Lower · Passed

Now in Education & Employment Committee

lower

Apr 4, 2025

Committee

Referred to Education & Employment Committee

lower

Apr 3, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reported out of Education Administration Subcommittee

lower

Apr 2, 2025

Lower · Passed

Favorable with CS by Education Administration Subcommittee

lower

Mar 31, 2025

Lower · Passed

PCS added to Education Administration Subcommittee agenda

lower

Mar 2, 2025

Lower · Passed

Now in Education Administration Subcommittee

lower

Mar 2, 2025

Committee

Referred to Education & Employment Committee

lower

Mar 2, 2025

Committee

Referred to PreK-12 Budget Subcommittee

lower

Mar 2, 2025

Committee

Referred to Education Administration Subcommittee

lower

2 primary · 11 co-sponsors