Particle.news
Download on the App Store
3 ARTICLES
·
2h ago

Florida Lawmakers File Bills to Require Washington and Lincoln Portraits in Classrooms

Sponsors cast the portraits as a civic reminder ahead of the nation’s 250th anniversary.

Gilbert Stuart’s 1796 oil on canvas portrait of George Washington on display at Washington’s National Portrait Gallery. (AP Photo)

Overview

  • Companion bills SB 420 and HB 371 were filed by Sen. Danny Burgess and Rep. John Snyder to mandate classroom displays of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln.
  • The requirement covers all K–5 classrooms and grades 6–12 rooms primarily used for social studies, with portraits to be placed in a conspicuous location.
  • The Florida Department of Education would select the official images and distribute them to school districts statewide.
  • The proposal is described as part of a broader state patriotic program that also features the display of the motto “In God We Trust” in district buildings.
  • The measures await consideration in the legislative session starting Jan. 13, 2026, and one version specifies an effective date of July 1, 2026, if enacted.