SESSION WATCH
Died HOUSE · SESSION 2026

No. CS/HB 859

Exceptional Students and Video Cameras in Public Schools
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SPONSOR
Student Academic Success Subcommittee; Chambliss; Tramont
FILED BY
Kevin Chambliss — District 117, Democrat [search donations]
Chase Tramont — District 30, Republican [search donations]
EFFECTIVE
7/1/2026
DIED IN
Rules

Filed under Education.

PROVIDED SUMMARY

Exceptional Students and Video Cameras in Public Schools; Removes references to Video Cameras in Public School Classrooms Pilot Program; requires district school board to establish specified policy relating to video cameras in self-contained classrooms; prohibits concealment of certain employee identities in video recording; & provides that video recording made available after request must include accompanying audio.

Full bill text →

Plain English Summary

AI-GENERATED
Mandates video cameras in special education classrooms upon parent request.

Districts must install video cameras in self-contained special education classrooms within 30 days of a parent's written request.

Schools must retain recordings for at least three months, after which they must be deleted or made irretrievable.

Schools are prohibited from concealing the identity of any employee who appears in a video recording.

Video recordings made available after a request must include their accompanying audio.

KEY PROVISIONS
§ 1 Mandatory Video Cameras in Self-Contained Classrooms majors. 1003.574(2)(a)

AICreates a new mandatory duty for school districts to install and operate video cameras in specific special education classrooms upon parental request.

“Each district school board shall establish a policy to provide video cameras in self-contained classrooms upon the request of a parent” bill text, line 36 →
§ 2 Prohibition on Concealing Employee Identity majors. 1003.574(7)(c)

AIProhibits school districts from hiding the identity of employees appearing in video recordings, ensuring accountability for staff actions.

“Conceal the identity of a school or school district employee who appears in a video recording” bill text, line 111 →
§ 3 Requirement for Audio in Video Recordings moderates. 1003.574(9)(a)

AIMandates that any video recording provided to requesters must include the accompanying audio, preventing the use of silent video clips.

“view a video recording with its accompanying audio made under this section” bill text, line 128 →
§ 4 Removal of Pilot Program Designation moderates. 1003.574

AIDeletes the temporary pilot program language, making the video camera requirements permanent and applicable statewide rather than limited to a specific district.

“pilot program.-Beginning with the 2021-2022 school year, the Video Cameras in Public School Classrooms Pilot Program is created” bill text, line 19 →
TIMELINE
3/13/2026
Died in Rules
2/26/2026
Received
2/26/2026
Referred to Rules
2/25/2026
In Messages
2/25/2026
CS passed; YEAS 111, NAYS 0
2/25/2026
Read 3rd time
2/25/2026
Added to Third Reading Calendar
2/25/2026
Read 2nd time
2/19/2026
Bill added to Special Order Calendar (2/25/2026)
2/10/2026
Added to Second Reading Calendar
2/10/2026
Bill released to House Calendar
2/10/2026
Reported out of Education & Employment Committee
2/10/2026
Favorable by Education & Employment Committee
2/6/2026
Added to Education & Employment Committee agenda
2/4/2026
Now in Education & Employment Committee
2/4/2026
Reported out of PreK-12 Budget Subcommittee
2/4/2026
Favorable by PreK-12 Budget Subcommittee
2/2/2026
Added to PreK-12 Budget Subcommittee agenda
2/2/2026
Now in PreK-12 Budget Subcommittee
2/2/2026
Referred to Education & Employment Committee
2/2/2026
Referred to PreK-12 Budget Subcommittee
1/30/2026
1st Reading (Committee Substitute 1)
1/30/2026
CS Filed
1/30/2026
Laid on Table under Rule 7.18(a)
1/30/2026
Reported out of Student Academic Success Subcommittee
1/29/2026
Favorable with CS by Student Academic Success Subcommittee
1/27/2026
Added to Student Academic Success Subcommittee agenda
1/13/2026
1st Reading (Original Filed Version)
1/5/2026
Now in Student Academic Success Subcommittee
1/5/2026
Referred to Education & Employment Committee
1/5/2026
Referred to PreK-12 Budget Subcommittee
1/5/2026
Referred to Student Academic Success Subcommittee
12/23/2025
Filed
27 EARLIER →
STATUTES IT CHANGES
s. 1003.574
+54 / −40
STAFF ANALYSES