SESSION WATCH
Superseded — its companion passed SENATE · SESSION 2026

No. CS/SB 420

Patriotic Displays at Public Schools
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SPONSOR
Appropriations Committee on Pre-K - 12 Education; Burgess
FILED BY
Danny Burgess — District 23, Republican [search donations]
EFFECTIVE
7/1/2026
COMPANION
CS/CS/SB 182 — CS/SB 420 was set aside and its companion carried the policy

Filed under Education.

PROVIDED SUMMARY

Patriotic Displays at Public Schools; Requiring, subject to legislative appropriation, each district school board to adopt rules to require the display of portraits of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln at each public school in the district; requiring the Department of Education to select the portraits and make them available to each school district, etc.

Full bill text →

Plain English Summary

AI-GENERATED
Mandates portrait displays in every public school building.

District boards must now require George Washington and Abraham Lincoln portraits in every public school building, not just the schools themselves.

The Department of Education must select these specific portraits and provide them to each district, subject to legislative funding.

The existing requirement to display the state motto remains, but the bill restructures the rule into distinct subsections.

This change expands the physical scope of mandatory patriotic displays to include all district buildings, not just school facilities.

KEY PROVISIONS
§ 1 Mandatory Display of State Motto majors. 1003.44(4)(a)

AIRequires every district school board to adopt rules mandating the display of the state motto, “In God We Trust,” in a conspicuous place at each public school and in each building used by the district school board.

“The display of the state motto, "In God We Trust," designated under s. 15.0301, in a conspicuous place at each public school in the district and in each building used by the distri” bill text, line 20 →
§ 2 Mandatory Display of Presidential Portraits majors. 1003.44(4)(b)

AIRequires district school boards to adopt rules mandating the display of portraits of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln in a conspicuous place at each public school, subject to legislative appropriation.

“Subject to legislative appropriation, the display of portraits of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln in a conspicuous place at each public school in the district.” bill text, line 24 →
§ 3 Department of Education Selection Duty moderates. 1003.44(4)(b)

AIRequires the Department of Education to select the specific portraits of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln and make them available to each school district.

“The Department of Education shall select the portraits and make them available to each school district.” bill text, line 26 →
TIMELINE
3/13/2026
Died in Messages; Companion bill(s) passed, see CS/CS/SB 182 (Ch. 2026-33 )
2/19/2026
In Messages
2/19/2026
Immediately certified -SJ 356
2/19/2026
CS passed; YEAS 36 NAYS 2 -SJ 346
2/19/2026
Read 3rd time -SJ 346
2/19/2026
Read 2nd time -SJ 346
2/17/2026
Placed on Special Order Calendar, 02/19/26
2/10/2026
Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading
2/10/2026
Favorable by- Rules; YEAS 21 NAYS 2
2/5/2026
On Committee agenda-- Rules, 02/10/26, 9:00 am, 412 Knott Building
2/4/2026
CS by Appropriations Committee on Pre-K - 12 Education read 1st time
1/30/2026
Now in Rules
1/30/2026
Pending reference review under Rule 4.7(2) - (Committee Substitute)
1/28/2026
CS by Appropriations Committee on Pre-K - 12 Education; YEAS 9 NAYS 1
1/23/2026
On Committee agenda-- Appropriations Committee on Pre-K - 12...
1/14/2026
Now in Appropriations Committee on Pre-K - 12 Education
1/13/2026
Introduced
1/13/2026
Favorable by Education Pre-K - 12; YEAS 6 NAYS 1
1/8/2026
On Committee agenda-- Education Pre-K - 12, 01/13/26, 1:30 pm, 412...
11/17/2025
Referred to Education Pre-K - 12; Appropriations Committee on...
11/6/2025
Filed
15 EARLIER →
STATUTES IT CHANGES
s. 1003.44
+61 / −20
STAFF ANALYSES
2 MORE →