Florida SB 1472: Public Records/School Security Guards

Bill Text

1472 
Required Instruction 
2026-01-08T09:24:40Z 
Providing requirements for instruction on the study of Hispanic contributions to the United States, etc. 
Original Filed Version 
2026 
S 
2026-07-01T00:00:00Z 
GB 
General Bill 
__ 

 Florida Senate - 2026 SB 1472 

 By Senator Bernard 

 24-01454A-26 20261472__ 
 1 A bill to be entitled 
 2 An act relating to required instruction; amending s. 
 3 1003.42, F.S.; providing requirements for instruction 
 4 on the study of Hispanic contributions to the United 
 5 States; providing an effective date. 
 6 
 7 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 
 8 
 9 Section 1. Paragraph (q) of subsection (2) of section 
 10 1003.42, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 
 11 1003.42 Required instruction.— 
 12 (2) Members of the instructional staff of the public 
 13 schools, subject to the rules of the State Board of Education 
 14 and the district school board, shall teach efficiently and 
 15 faithfully, using the books and materials required that meet the 
 16 highest standards for professionalism and historical accuracy, 
 17 following the prescribed courses of study, and employing 
 18 approved methods of instruction, the following: 
 19 (q) The study of Hispanic contributions to the United 
 20 States. Such instruction must include: 
 21 1. For grades K through 2, Hispanic American holidays, 
 22 symbols, and traditions; Hispanic Americans who have made 
 23 significant contributions to the country; how Hispanic Americans 
 24 fit into the broader American social fabric; and the importance 
 25 of respect, fairness, and kindness to all people. 
 26 2. For grades 3 through 5, Spanish exploration of the New 
 27 World; the role of Hispanic leaders in the defense of the United 
 28 States; influences of Hispanic culture in American life; 
 29 Hispanic Americans who have excelled in the arts and sciences, 
 30 business, and education; Hispanic Americans who have 
 31 demonstrated perseverance, courage, and civic responsibility; 
 32 and how fairness, hard work, and equality strengthen democracy. 
 33 3. For grades 6 through 8, the impact of Spanish 
 34 colonization and Hispanic communities on the growth of the 
 35 United States; how United States expansion affected Hispanic 
 36 populations; Hispanic contributions during significant periods 
 37 of United States history; how Hispanic Americans overcame 
 38 barriers to achieve equality and opportunity; how Hispanic 
 39 American experiences reflect the nation’s founding principles of 
 40 liberty and equality; how prejudice, racism, and stereotyping 
 41 limit individual freedoms; and how recognition of freedoms helps 
 42 overturn unjust laws. 
 43 4. For grades 9 through 12, the role of Hispanic people in 
 44 United States exploration, colonization, and expansion; Hispanic 
 45 American participation in major United States conflicts; 
 46 Hispanic American contributions to United States economic 
 47 growth; the influence of Hispanic leaders in advancing civil 
 48 rights; Hispanic American contributions to art, music, 
 49 literature, science, and education; how Hispanic identity has 
 50 evolved within American society; how hard work, merit, and 
 51 responsibility align with the pursuit of happiness and success; 
 52 instances where Hispanic Americans’ freedoms were infringed upon 
 53 and how those injustices were addressed; Hispanic American 
 54 contributions to civic life and governance; and stories of 
 55 Hispanic Americans who prospered through perseverance and 
 56 innovation. 
 57 
 58 The State Board of Education is encouraged to adopt standards 
 59 and pursue assessment of the requirements of this subsection. 
 60 Instructional programming that incorporates the values of the 
 61 recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor and that is 
 62 offered as part of a social studies, English Language Arts, or 
 63 other schoolwide character building and veteran awareness 
 64 initiative meets the requirements of paragraph (u). 
 65 Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.