Florida SB 1736: Criminal Proceedings

Bill Text

1736 
Political Activity at Public Institutions of Higher Education 
2026-01-09T11:58:32Z 
Defining the term “public institution of higher education”; requiring such institutions to promote specified discussion and debates; requiring such institutions to take specified actions relating to candidates for public office; requiring certain persons or entities to obtain prior approval from such institutions before conducting specified political activities on campus, etc. 
Original Filed Version 
2026 
S 
2026-07-01T00:00:00Z 
GB 
General Bill 
__ 

 Florida Senate - 2026 SB 1736 

 By Senator Harrell 

 31-01182-26 20261736__ 
 1 A bill to be entitled 
 2 An act relating to political activity at public 
 3 institutions of higher education; creating s. 106.041, 
 4 F.S.; defining the term “public institution of higher 
 5 education”; requiring such institutions to promote 
 6 specified discussion and debates; requiring such 
 7 institutions to take specified actions relating to 
 8 candidates for public office; requiring certain 
 9 persons or entities to obtain prior approval from such 
 10 institutions before conducting specified political 
 11 activities on campus; prohibiting candidates for 
 12 office from taking specified actions; authorizing such 
 13 institutions to determine specified criteria for 
 14 political discussions and debates; requiring certain 
 15 nonpartisan organizations to provide certain 
 16 information to such institutions; creating s. 
 17 1004.0972, F.S.; defining the term “public institution 
 18 of higher education”; requiring such institutions to 
 19 establish policies for political activities on the 
 20 campuses of such institutions; specifying requirements 
 21 for such policies; specifying requirements for 
 22 political student organizations at such institutions; 
 23 providing prohibitions on the use of certain 
 24 institutional resources by employees; providing 
 25 applicability and construction; requiring the State 
 26 Board of Education and the Board of Governors of the 
 27 State University System to monitor compliance with 
 28 specified provisions and authorizing such boards to 
 29 adopt rules and regulations, respectively; providing 
 30 reporting requirements for such institutions to the 
 31 Department of State, the State Board of Education, the 
 32 Board of Governors, and certain county supervisors of 
 33 elections; providing an effective date. 
 34 
 35 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 
 36 
 37 Section 1. Section 106.041, Florida Statutes, is created to 
 38 read: 
 39 106.041 Political activity at public institutions of higher 
 40 education.— 
 41 (1) For purposes of this section, the term “public 
 42 institution of higher education” has the same meaning as in s. 
 43 1004.097(2). 
 44 (2) Each public institution of higher education shall make 
 45 reasonable and good faith efforts, through its office of public 
 46 policy or other designated department, to promote thoughtful and 
 47 engaging discussions and debates during federal, state, and 
 48 municipal election cycles, encouraging dialogue on a broad range 
 49 of political issues. 
 50 (3) When any candidate for public office requests access to 
 51 participate in a discussion, debate, or related event, the 
 52 public institution of higher education shall provide equitable 
 53 access to all qualified candidates for that same office. The 
 54 institution may also grant access to other political figures who 
 55 are not currently candidates for public office but who request 
 56 to engage in campus discussions or events. The following persons 
 57 must request and obtain prior approval from the institution 
 58 before engaging in any on-campus conversations, debates, or 
 59 political activities: 
 60 (a) Candidates for public office in a current election 
 61 cycle. 
 62 (b) Elected officials currently serving in office. 
 63 (c) Political committees. 
 64 (d) Political parties, whether major or minor. 
 65 (e) Lobbyists, as defined s. 11.045. 
 66 (f) Political organizations and websites. 
 67 (g) Campaign managers or staff for candidates for public 
 68 office. 
 69 (4) Candidates for public office are strictly prohibited 
 70 from holding partisan voter registration events on the campus of 
 71 a public institution of higher education or using institution 
 72 property, e-mails, websites, print or broadcast media, and all 
 73 other communication methods of the institution for campaign 
 74 related activities. 
 75 (5) Each public institution of higher education may 
 76 determine the format, timing, and structure of all political 
 77 discussions and debates to ensure equitable representation and 
 78 balanced visibility for candidates from all political parties. 
 79 (6) An organization maintaining that it is nonpartisan must 
 80 provide the public institution of higher education, in advance 
 81 of any campus activity, with a copy of its current and valid 
 82 regi