Florida’s students deserve the freedom to learn, read, and explore ideas — not government censorship. But HB 1119, recently passed by the Florida House Education and Employment Committee, threatens that freedom by expanding book bans across the state’s K–12 public schools.

If passed into law, HB 1119 would force school districts to remove books within just five days of a single objection — even if that objection has no merit and even if the objector is not a parent or doesn’t have a child in the school. The law would ban first and review later, silencing voices and stories that offer artistic, political, or scientific value to students.

The bill strips away First Amendment protections by redefining what counts as “harmful to minors,” ignoring both Supreme Court precedent and Florida law. Under this new standard, books and educational materials could be banned just for including references to the human body or sexuality — no matter their broader context or educational worth. HB 1119 doesn’t just remove individual titles; it sets a dangerous precedent of censorship based on fear, not facts.

Even more troubling, the bill threatens to withhold state funding from school districts that do not comply fast enough, forcing them to prioritize censorship over education.

This isn’t about protecting children — it’s about silencing perspectives. Libraries and classrooms are places where students should be encouraged to think critically and learn. Florida’s young people deserve access to a full range of voices, ideas, and stories — not a curriculum dictated by the most extreme viewpoints.

We call on the Florida Legislature to reject HB 1119 and SB 1692 and protect every student’s right to read, learn, and grow.

Add your name to demand Florida lawmakers vote NO on HB 1119/SB 1692.