Florida Senate - 2025 SB 1250
By Senator Martin
33-01887B-25 20251250__
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to political activities on school
3 grounds; creating s. 104.315, F.S.; defining terms;
4 providing that certain activities are allowed on
5 school grounds; authorizing that candidates may be
6 invited to speak as candidates on school grounds if
7 certain conditions are met; prohibiting certain
8 political activities on school grounds; prohibiting
9 certain employees from using e-mail, offices or time
10 during work hours for political advocacy; providing
11 criminal penalties for persons who violate specified
12 provisions; providing that each such violation is a
13 separate offense; providing an effective date.
14
15 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
16
17 Section 1. Section 104.315, Florida Statutes, is created to
18 read:
19 104.315 Political activities on school grounds.—
20 (1) As used in this section, the term:
21 (a) “Candidate” has the same meaning as in s. 97.021 and
22 includes a declared candidate, an incumbent who is presumed to
23 be a future candidate, and any person whose possible candidacy
24 is the subject of intense public speculation. The term does not
25 include a person acting within his or her individual capacity
26 who does not speak about politics or a campaign.
27 (b) “Public office” includes any elective office.
28 (c) “School grounds” means the buildings and grounds of any
29 public K-12 school.
30 (2) The following activities are allowed on school grounds:
31 (a) Candidate forums or debates at which all qualified
32 candidates for the office are invited.
33 (b) Use of facilities on the same terms and conditions,
34 including, but not limited to, financial, as are required of
35 other users of such facilities.
36 (c) Political advertisements under the same terms,
37 including, but not limited to, financial, as are applied to
38 other advertisements from outside groups allowed on school
39 grounds.
40 (d) Student newspaper editorials or candidate endorsements
41 that include a disclaimer that the opinion is solely that of the
42 author and is not the opinion or endorsement of the school or
43 institution.
44 (e) Voter registration and education events that do not
45 involve a campaign or political party.
46 (f) Inviting a candidate to speak in his or her individual
47 capacity, and not as a candidate; however, such person may not
48 speak about a campaign or any political issues.
49 (3) A candidate may be invited to speak in his or her
50 capacity as a candidate on school grounds only if:
51 (a) All other candidates are invited to speak on school
52 grounds. Such invitations do not need to be for the same event,
53 place, or time, but must be similar events that take place at
54 similar times. Documentation of such invitations must be
55 preserved.
56 (b) The introduction of such candidate includes a
57 disclaimer that the school or institution does not endorse any
58 candidate for public office.
59 (4) The following political activities are prohibited on
60 school grounds:
61 (a) Posting campaign signs.
62 (b) Distributing campaign literature.
63 (c) Campaigning for or with candidates.
64 (d) Any activity that may be reasonably expected to give
65 the impression of support or endorsement of any particular
66 candidate over another candidate.
67 (e) Collecting campaign donations or contributions.
68 (f) Voter registration events that involve a candidate or
69 political party.
70 (5) A faculty or staff member of any K-12 public school or
71 a public institution of higher education as defined in s.
72 1004.097(2) may not use e-mail, offices, or time during working
73 hours for political advocacy.
74 (6)(a) A person who violates this section commits a
75 misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s.
76 775.082 or s. 775.083.
77 (b) Each such violation is a separate offense.
78 Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2025.