Florida legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Florida H371: Patriotic Displays at Public Schools
Status: Failed, March 13, 2026
Requires, subject to legislative appropriation, each district school board to adopt rules to require display of portraits of George Washington & Abraham Lincoln at each public school in district; & requires DOE to select portraits & make them available to each school district.
What the bill says
An act relating to patriotic displays at public schools; amending s. 1003.44, F.S.; requiring, subject to legislative appropriation, each district school board to adopt rules to require the display of portraits of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln at each public school in the district; requiring the Department of Education to select the portraits and make them available to each school district; providing an effective date.
From the introduced text, February 5, 2026:
An act relating to patriotic displays at public schools; amending s. 1003.44, F.S.; requiring, subject to legislative appropriation, each district school board to adopt rules to require the display of portraits of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln at each public school in the district; requiring the Department of Education to select the portraits and make them available to each school district; providing an effective date. Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: Section 1. Subsection (4) of section 1003.44, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 1003.44 Patriotic programs; rules.— (4) Each district school board shall adopt rules to require:, in all of the schools of the district and in each building used by the district school board, (a) The display of the state motto, "In God We Trust," designated under s. 15.0301, in a conspicuous place at each public school in the district and in each building used by the district school board. (b) Subject to legislative appropriation, the display of portraits of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln in a CS/HB 371 2026 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb371-01-c1 Page 2 of FLORIDAHOUSEOFREPRESENTATIVES conspicuous place at each public school in the district. The Department of Education shall select the portraits and make them available to each school district. Section 2. This act …
Sponsors
- Snyder, John (R, HD-086) · primary sponsor
- Shoaf, Jason (R, HD-007) · primary sponsor
- Shoaf (R, 7) · primary sponsor
- Webster Barnaby (R, HD-027)
- Barnaby, Webster (R, HD-029)
Latest actions
- : Died on Second Reading Calendar; Companion bill(s) passed, see CS/CS/SB 182 (Ch. 2026-33)
- : Added to Second Reading Calendar
- : Bill released to House Calendar
- : Reported out of Education & Employment Committee
- : Favorable by Education & Employment Committee
- : Added to Education & Employment Committee agenda
- : Now in Education & Employment Committee
- : Referred to Education & Employment Committee
- : 1st Reading (Committee Substitute 1)
- : CS Filed
Votes
- House: Education & Employment Committee (February 17, 2026): 19 yea, 0 nay, passed
- House: Education & Employment Committee (February 17, 2026): 19 yea, 0 nay, passed
- House: Education Administration Subcommittee (February 5, 2026): 16 yea, 0 nay, passed
- House: Education Administration Subcommittee (February 5, 2026): 16 yea, 0 nay, passed
Common questions
- What is H371?
- H371 is a bill in the Florida Legislature (2026 Regular Session): Patriotic Displays at Public Schools.
- What does H371 do?
- In its own words: An act relating to patriotic displays at public schools; amending s. 1003.44, F.S.; requiring, subject to legislative appropriation, each district school board to adopt rules to require the display of portraits of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln at each public school in the district; requiring the Department of Education to select the portraits and make them available to each school district; providing an effective date.
- What is the status of H371?
- Failed as of March 13, 2026. Latest action: Died on Second Reading Calendar; Companion bill(s) passed, see CS/CS/SB 182 (Ch. 2026-33) (March 13, 2026).
- Who sponsored H371?
- Snyder, John (R, HD-086), with 4 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for H371?
- On the Florida Legislature website: https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/371
Source: official Florida record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.