SESSION WATCH
Died SENATE · SESSION 2026

No. SB 430

Oaths of School Personnel
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SPONSOR
Yarborough
FILED BY
Clay Yarborough — District 4, Republican [search donations]
EFFECTIVE
7/1/2026
DIED IN
Education Pre-K - 12

Filed under Education.

PROVIDED SUMMARY

Oaths of School Personnel; Requiring specified persons employed as members of school personnel to take a specified oath before entering upon the duties of a member of the school personnel; requiring persons employed in an administrative or instructional capacity at a Florida College System institution or state university to take a specified oath before entering upon the duties of a person employed in an administrative or instructional capacity, etc.

Full bill text →

Plain English Summary

AI-GENERATED
Mandates a new professional oath for all public school and higher education staff.

Starting July 1, 2026, every public school teacher and administrator must take a new oath before starting work. This applies to all instructional and administrative personnel in Florida's public school system.

The bill also requires all administrative and instructional employees at state universities and Florida College System institutions to take a nearly identical oath before beginning their duties.

The oath requires staff to support both the U.S. and Florida constitutions, act in a nonpartisan manner, and uphold high standards of academic integrity and professional ethics.

This creates a new legal requirement for tens of thousands of educators and university staff who will be hired or re-hired after the effective date.

KEY PROVISIONS
§ 1 Mandatory Oath for K-12 School Personnel majors. 1012.591

AICreates a new legal requirement for all instructional and administrative staff in public schools to swear a specific oath before starting work.

“a person must subscribe to the following oath” bill text, line 21 →
§ 2 Mandatory Oath for Higher Education Staff majors. 1012.802

AIRequires all administrative and instructional employees at state universities and Florida College System institutions to take the same oath before assuming their duties.

“a person employed in such capacity must subscribe to the following oath” bill text, line 44 →
§ 3 Oath Content: Professional and Nonpartisan Conduct moderates. 1012.591

AILegally binds school and university staff to a sworn commitment to act in a professional, independent, objective, and nonpartisan manner.

“in a professional, independent, objective, and nonpartisan manner” bill text, line 30 →
§ 4 Oath Content: Student Environment and Role Modeling moderates. 1012.591

AIRequires staff to swear they will foster a respectful learning environment and serve as a positive role model in conduct and character.

“foster a respectful learning environment for all students” bill text, line 34 →
TIMELINE
3/13/2026
Died in Education Pre-K - 12
1/15/2026
On Committee agenda-- Education Pre-K - 12, 01/20/26, 1:00 pm, 412...
1/13/2026
Introduced
12/1/2025
Referred to Education Pre-K - 12; Education Postsecondary; Rules
11/7/2025
Filed
STATUTES IT CHANGES
s. 1012.591
+169 / −0
s. 1012.802
+171 / −0
STAFF ANALYSES