HB 859 Florida House · 2026 Regular Session

Exceptional Students and Video Cameras in Public Schools

Summary

Exceptional Students and Video Cameras in Public Schools; Removes references to Video Cameras in Public School Classrooms Pilot Program; requires district school board to establish specified policy relating to video cameras in self-contained classrooms; prohibits concealment of certain employee identities in video recording; & provides that video recording made available after request must include accompanying audio.

Bill status died 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Dec 2025

Committee Review

Feb 2026

House Passage

Feb 2026

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Dec 23, 2025 Last action Mar 13, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

H 859 Filed → H 859 c1 · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to remove the pilot program status, making the video camera requirement permanent and expanding it to all school districts instead of just Broward County. The changes also clarify that video recordings must include audio and establish specific notification timelines for when cameras are discontinued. These updates ensure consistent access to recording technology for exceptional students across the state and strengthen parental oversight.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from a limited pilot program in Broward County to a permanent requirement for all Florida school districts.

SCOPE

The Video Cameras in Public School Classrooms Pilot Program was deleted, converting the initiative from a temporary trial to a permanent statutory requirement.

ELIGIBILITY

The requirement to provide video cameras was changed from applying only to Broward County Public Schools to applying to all district school boards statewide.

REQUIREMENT

A new requirement was added stating that any video recording made available after a parent's request must include accompanying audio.

TIMELINE

Notification procedures for discontinuing video camera operation were clarified to specify exact deadlines (5th and 10th school days) for informing parents.

Floor votes · House Feb 25, 2026

How they voted

111–0

Passed · 6 other

Total votes 117

Feb 25, 2026

D Democratic34

32 Yea 2

94% Yea

R Republican83

79 Yea 4

95% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Feb 26, 2026

Committee

Referred to Rules

upper

Feb 25, 2026

Lower · Passed

CS passed; YEAS 111, NAYS 0

lower

Feb 10, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported out of Education & Employment Committee

lower

Feb 10, 2026

Lower · Passed

Favorable by Education & Employment Committee

lower

Feb 6, 2026

Lower · Passed

Added to Education & Employment Committee agenda

lower

Feb 4, 2026

Lower · Passed

Now in Education & Employment Committee

lower

Feb 4, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported out of PreK-12 Budget Subcommittee

lower

Feb 4, 2026

Lower · Passed

Favorable by PreK-12 Budget Subcommittee

lower

Feb 2, 2026

Lower · Passed

Added to PreK-12 Budget Subcommittee agenda

lower

Feb 2, 2026

Lower · Passed

Now in PreK-12 Budget Subcommittee

lower

Feb 2, 2026

Committee

Referred to Education & Employment Committee

lower

Feb 2, 2026

Committee

Referred to PreK-12 Budget Subcommittee

lower

Jan 30, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported out of Student Academic Success Subcommittee

lower

Jan 29, 2026

Lower · Passed

Favorable with CS by Student Academic Success Subcommittee

lower

Jan 27, 2026

Lower · Passed

Added to Student Academic Success Subcommittee agenda

lower

Jan 5, 2026

Lower · Passed

Now in Student Academic Success Subcommittee

lower

Jan 5, 2026

Committee

Referred to Education & Employment Committee

lower

Jan 5, 2026

Committee

Referred to PreK-12 Budget Subcommittee

lower

Jan 5, 2026

Committee

Referred to Student Academic Success Subcommittee

lower

2 primary · 8 co-sponsors