FloridaFlorida law gives school board members records access and limits secrecy agreements
Starting July 1, 2026, Florida school board members have rights to district records and finances, while school districts may not require employees to sign secrecy agreements.
What it does
District school board members have rights to timely access to needed district records, review financial details, and speak publicly about board business, subject to limits for confidential information and certain hearings.
The board must require the superintendent to keep other meeting documents, including contracts or budget papers attached to agenda items, as public records with the minutes.
A school district may not require or reward an employee for signing a secrecy agreement, or impose job conditions to get around that rule.
A district school board may reject a superintendent's nominee for good cause, including false or exaggerated credentials, missing job requirements, or an educator certificate revoked by another state.
Argument forBoard members could review district records and finances more fully, which may help them oversee school decisions and explain board business to the public.
Argument againstSchool districts may have fewer ways to use confidentiality agreements with employees, which could make it harder to protect sensitive workplace information.
More detail
District school board members have rights to timely access to needed district records, consult the chief financial officer about finances, and speak publicly about board business. These rights apply to members of a district school board. Members may access district documents needed to carry out their official duties and may review budget details and district financial transactions. Confidential records must be shared only as the law allows. Members may request information from district staff with permission from the superintendent or other administrators; permission may not be unreasonably withheld, and members cannot access information the law bars them from seeing. Members may speak about board business except at specified student or employee discipline hearings and on other matters barred by law. Requests unrelated to a publicly noticed board meeting must be fulfilled within 10 business days.
The board must require the superintendent, as its secretary, to keep other meeting documents, including agenda attachments, as public records with the minutes. The requirement covers other documents, including attachments to agenda items such as vendor contracts and budget documents. The documents must be kept with the minutes of each board meeting.
A school district may not require or reward an employee for signing a nondisclosure or confidentiality agreement, or impose job conditions to get around that rule. This rule applies to school districts and their employees.
A district school board may reject a superintendent's employee nominee for good cause, including fabricated or exaggerated credentials, failure to meet minimum job requirements, or an educator certificate revoked by another state. This applies when a district school board considers a superintendent's nomination for a position. Rejecting a nominee does not give that person a right to sue over the rejection. The stated reasons define good cause for this paragraph; they are not stated as the only possible grounds.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- May 12Chapter No. 2026-73Latest
- May 11Approved by Governor Ron DeSantisBecame Law
- Apr 30Signed by Officers and presented to GovernorTo Governor
- Mar 12Ordered engrossed, then enrolledMinor
- Vote recorded Passage. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 12CS passed as amended; YEAS 108, NAYS 0Major
- Mar 12Amendment 192994 Concur
- Mar 12Added to Senate Message List
- Mar 9In Messages
- Vote recorded Third Reading. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 9CS passed as amended; YEAS 37 NAYS 0Passed Senate
- Mar 9Read 3rd timeMinor
- Mar 9Amendment(s) adopted (192994)
- Mar 9Read 2nd timeMinor
- Mar 9Substituted for CS/CS/SB 1620
- Mar 9Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading
- Mar 9Withdrawn from RulesMajor
- Feb 18ReceivedMinor
- Feb 18Referred to RulesMinor
- Feb 17In Messages
- Vote recorded Passage, Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 17CS passed as amended; YEAS 96, NAYS 10Passed House
- Feb 17Read 3rd timeMinor
- Feb 17Added to Third Reading Calendar
- Feb 17Amendment 027385 adopted
- Feb 17Read 2nd timeMinor
- Feb 17Temporarily postponed, on 2nd Reading
- Feb 10Bill added to Special Order Calendar (2/17/2026)
- Feb 3Added to Second Reading Calendar
- Vote recorded Favorable (Education & Employment Committee). Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 3Bill released to House Calendar
- Feb 3Reported out of Education & Employment Committee
- Feb 3Favorable by Education & Employment CommitteeMinor
- Jan 301st Reading (Committee Substitute 1)Minor
- Jan 30Added to Education & Employment Committee agenda
- Jan 30Now in Education & Employment Committee
- Jan 30Referred to Education & Employment CommitteeMinor
- Jan 29CS FiledMinor
- Vote recorded Favorable (Education Administration Subcommittee). Result: pass.Lower
- Jan 29Laid on Table under Rule 7.18(a)Minor
- Jan 29Reported out of Education Administration Subcommittee
- Jan 29Favorable with CS by Education Administration SubcommitteeMinor
- Jan 27PCS added to Education Administration Subcommittee agenda
- Jan 131st Reading (Original Filed Version)Minor
- Jan 12Now in Education Administration Subcommittee
- Jan 12Referred to Education & Employment CommitteeMinor
- Jan 12Referred to Education Administration SubcommitteeMinor
- Jan 6FiledIntroduced
EducationGovernment & Ethics