THE BILL ITSELF
CS/HB 725
Political Activity at Public Institutions of Higher Education
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A bill to be entitled
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An act relating to political activity at public
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institutions of higher education; amending s.
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1004.097, F.S.; requiring public institutions of
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higher education to inform students and employees of
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the Campus Free Expression Act through specified
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means; creating s. 1012.802, F.S.; requiring the Board
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of Governors and the State Board of Education to adopt
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regulations and rules, respectively, describing the
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limitations of state universities and Florida College
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System institutions relating to certain political
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campaign activities; requiring the boards of trustees
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of such universities and institutions to publish on
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their official websites and provide to employees
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certain information relating to permissible and
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prohibited political activities, state law, and
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disciplinary actions; providing an effective date.
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Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
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Section 1. Paragraph (h) is added to subsection (3) of
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section 1004.097, Florida Statutes, to read:
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1004.097 Free expression on campus.—
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(3) RIGHT TO FREE-SPEECH ACTIVITIES.—
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(h) Each public institution of higher education shall
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inform students and employees of the Campus Free Expression Act
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at orientation and on its official website.
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Section 2. Section 1012.802, Florida Statutes, is created
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to read:
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1012.802 Political activities.—
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(1) The Board of Governors shall adopt regulations for
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state university boards of trustees, and the State Board of
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Education shall adopt rules for Florida College System
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institution boards of trustees, describing the limitations of
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such universities and institutions, as tax-exempt entities,
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relating to participation or intervention in political campaign
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activities in support of or opposition to candidates for
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elective public office.
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(2) One month before the primary election, as provided in
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s. 100.061, the boards of trustees of each state university and
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Florida College System institution must send an e-mail to each
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employee and post, in a conspicuous area, on the university's or
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institution's official website all of the following:
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(a) Permissible political activities, such as voter
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registration events that do not involve a campaign or political
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party and candidate forums at which all qualified candidates for
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the office are invited.
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(b) Prohibited political activities, such as university or
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institution faculty and employees campaigning for or with
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candidates while on duty, any activity that directly or
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indirectly implies that the university or institution supports
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any particular candidate, and the unauthorized use of
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facilities, property, logos, or equipment of the university or
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institution for any campaign.
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(c) The Campus Free Expression Act established by s.
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1004.097.
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(d) Disciplinary action that may be taken for a violation
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of this section.
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Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.