SESSION WATCH
Superseded — its companion passed HOUSE · SESSION 2026

No. HB 127

Required Instruction in Cursive Writing
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SPONSOR
Overdorf; Trabulsy
FILED BY
Tobin Overdorf — District 85, Republican [search donations]
Dana Trabulsy — District 84, Republican [search donations]
EFFECTIVE
7/1/2026
COMPANION
CS/CS/SB 182 — HB 127 was set aside and its companion carried the policy

Filed under Education.

PROVIDED SUMMARY

Required Instruction in Cursive Writing; Requires students in specified grades to receive instruction in cursive writing; provides requirements for such instruction; requires students to demonstrate proficiency in cursive writing by end of specified grade; defines "proficiency in cursive writing".

Full bill text →

Plain English Summary

AI-GENERATED
Mandates cursive instruction and a grade 5 proficiency test for students.

Public school students in grades 2 through 5 must now receive specific cursive writing instruction. This includes learning letter formation, spacing, and writing complete words and sentences.

By the end of grade 5, every student must demonstrate proficiency in cursive writing through an evaluation of their written work. This creates a new, mandatory assessment requirement for students.

The State Board of Education is encouraged to adopt standards and pursue assessment of these new cursive writing requirements. This gives the board discretion to define how proficiency is measured.

KEY PROVISIONS
§ 1 Mandatory Cursive Instruction majors. 1003.42(2)(w)

AICreates a new legal requirement for public schools to teach cursive writing to students in grades 2 through 5.

“For students in grades 2 through 5, the study of cursive writing and the development of the skills necessary for legible cursive writing” bill text, line 23 →
§ 2 Grade 5 Proficiency Requirement majors. 1003.42(2)(w)

AIRequires every student to demonstrate proficiency in cursive writing by the end of grade 5 through an evaluation of their written work.

“By the end of grade 5, each student must demonstrate proficiency in cursive writing through an evaluation of written work” bill text, line 30 →
§ 3 Definition of Proficiency moderates. 1003.42(2)(w)

AIDefines proficiency as the ability to write uppercase and lowercase letters, write legibly with proper spacing, and read and apply cursive for literacy tasks.

“The ability to write uppercase and lowercase letters of the alphabet in cursive writing” bill text, line 34 →
§ 4 State Board Encouragement moderates. 1003.42(2)(w)

AIEncourages, but does not require, the State Board of Education to adopt standards and pursue assessment of the cursive writing requirements.

“The State Board of Education is encouraged to adopt standards and pursue assessment of the requirements of this subsection” bill text, line 43 →
TIMELINE
3/13/2026
Died in Rules, companion bill(s) passed, see CS/CS/SB 182 (Ch. 2026-33 )
2/10/2026
Received
2/9/2026
Referred to Rules
2/4/2026
In Messages
2/4/2026
Passed; YEAS 111, NAYS 0
2/4/2026
Read 3rd time
2/4/2026
Added to Third Reading Calendar
2/4/2026
Read 2nd time
1/29/2026
Bill added to Special Order Calendar (2/4/2026)
1/22/2026
Added to Second Reading Calendar
1/22/2026
Bill released to House Calendar
1/22/2026
Reported out of Education & Employment Committee
1/22/2026
Favorable by Education & Employment Committee
1/20/2026
Added to Education & Employment Committee agenda
1/13/2026
1st Reading (Original Filed Version)
11/18/2025
Now in Education & Employment Committee
11/18/2025
Reported out of Student Academic Success Subcommittee
11/18/2025
Favorable by Student Academic Success Subcommittee
11/10/2025
Added to Student Academic Success Subcommittee agenda
10/14/2025
Now in Student Academic Success Subcommittee
10/14/2025
Referred to Education & Employment Committee
10/14/2025
Referred to Student Academic Success Subcommittee
10/8/2025
Filed
17 EARLIER →
STATUTES IT CHANGES
s. 1003.42
+139 / −0
STAFF ANALYSES