SESSION WATCH
Superseded — its companion passed SENATE · SESSION 2026

No. CS/CS/SB 1620

Public Education
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SPONSOR
Rules; Judiciary; Leek
FILED BY
Thomas J. Leek — District 7, Republican [search donations]
EFFECTIVE
7/1/2026
COMPANION
CS/HB 1073 — CS/CS/SB 1620 was set aside and its companion carried the policy

Filed under Education.

PROVIDED SUMMARY

Public Education; Providing members of a district school board with specified rights; requiring that certain documents from district school board meetings be kept as public records; providing that a school district employee may not be required or incentivized to sign a nondisclosure agreement or confidentiality agreement; prohibiting a school district from imposing certain conditions on employment, etc.

Full bill text →

Plain English Summary

AI-GENERATED
Bans school districts from forcing employees to sign nondisclosure agreements.

School districts can no longer require or incentivize employees to sign nondisclosure or confidentiality agreements. This prohibition applies to all district employees, regardless of their role or seniority.

District school board members gain the right to access documents, consult with the CFO on budgets, and request information from staff. These rights are subject to existing confidentiality laws and reasonable administrative permissions.

School districts must now keep agenda attachments, such as vendor contracts and budget documents, as public records alongside meeting minutes. This ensures transparency for documents discussed during board meetings.

The bill defines "good cause" for rejecting a nominated employee, limiting it to fabricated credentials, unmet minimum requirements, or out-of-state certificate revocation. This narrows the board's discretion in personnel decisions.

KEY PROVISIONS
§ 1 Board Member Access Rights majors. 1001.366(1)

AIGrants district school board members a statutory right to request and receive documents, budget details, and staff information, with a 10-business-day deadline for non-agenda requests.

“A request not related to a matter on a publicly noticed meeting of the district school board must be fulfilled within 10 business days after receipt of such request.” bill text, line 25 →
§ 2 Public Record Requirement for Meeting Documents majors. 1001.42(1)(c)

AIRequires school districts to keep agenda attachments, such as vendor contracts and budget documents, as public records alongside meeting minutes.

“Other documents, including attachments for agenda items, such as vendor contracts or budget documents, must be kept as a public record with the minutes of each meeting.” bill text, line 56 →
§ 3 Nondisclosure Agreement Prohibition majors. 1012.22(1)(k)

AIProhibits school districts from requiring or incentivizing employees to sign nondisclosure or confidentiality agreements, and bans circumventing this rule via employment conditions.

“A school district employee may not be required or otherwise incentivized to sign a nondisclosure agreement or confidentiality agreement.” bill text, line 99 →
§ 4 Definition of Good Cause for Rejection moderates. 1012.22(1)(a)

AILimits the definition of "good cause" for rejecting a nominated employee to three specific scenarios: fabricated credentials, failing minimum requirements, or out-of-state certificate revocation.

“That the nominated employee fabricated or materially exaggerated his or her credentials or background.” bill text, line 93 →
TIMELINE
3/9/2026
Laid on Table, companion bill(s) passed, see CS/HB 1073 (Ch....
3/9/2026
Substituted CS/HB 1073 -SJ 694
3/9/2026
Read 2nd time -SJ 694
3/4/2026
CS/CS by Rules read 1st time
3/4/2026
Placed on Special Order Calendar, 03/09/26
3/4/2026
Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading
3/4/2026
Pending reference review -under Rule 4.7(2) - (Committee Substitute)
3/3/2026
CS/CS by- Rules; YEAS 22 NAYS 0
2/26/2026
On Committee agenda-- Rules, 03/03/26, 9:00 am, 412 Knott Building
2/18/2026
CS by Judiciary read 1st time
2/12/2026
Now in Rules
2/11/2026
Pending reference review under Rule 4.7(2) - (Committee Substitute)
2/10/2026
CS by Judiciary; YEAS 11 NAYS 0
2/5/2026
On Committee agenda-- Judiciary, 02/10/26, 12:00 pm, 110 Senate Building
2/3/2026
Now in Judiciary
2/3/2026
Favorable by Education Pre-K - 12; YEAS 6 NAYS 0
1/29/2026
On Committee agenda-- Education Pre-K - 12, 02/03/26, 3:30 pm, 412...
1/22/2026
Introduced
1/16/2026
Referred to Education Pre-K - 12; Judiciary; Rules
1/9/2026
Filed
14 EARLIER →
STATUTES IT CHANGES
s. 1001.366
+254 / −0
s. 1001.42
+30 / −0
s. 1012.22
+101 / −0
STAFF ANALYSES
2 MORE →