Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill Friday to require local school districts to provide transparency on their curricula, as well as a parental review.
HB1467 includes “requiring certain meetings relating to instructional materials to be noticed and open to the public,” according to its text. Local parents have previously been kicked out of such meetings for not wearing masks.
“As a part of the Year of the Parent, this legislation aims to preserve the rights of parents to make decisions about what materials their children are exposed to in school,” a press release read.
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“In Florida, our parents have every right to be involved in their child’s education,” DeSantis said. “We are not going to let politicians deny parents the right to know what is being taught in our schools. I’m proud to sign this legislation that ensures curriculum transparency.”
In addition, the bill limits school board member terms to 12 years. This will not retroactively apply to existing members, but go into effect after this November.
“Gov. DeSantis has shown time and time again that he is not afraid to fight for the rights of parents and understands the importance that they have a seat at the table when it comes to their child’s education,” Commissioner of Education Richard Corcoran said.
Only one House Democrat voted for the bill. Rep. Angie Nixon, a Democrat from Jacksonville, Florida, who voted against the bill, claimed that it was “a ridiculous bill” and another example of “government overreach” and “censorship.”
“No one is calling my office talking about CRT or book banning,” Nixon told the Washington Examiner. “What people are calling my office about is property insurance increasing.”
Nixon expressed her disappointment in Florida’s most recent legislative session, which opted to name a state dessert rather than addressing property insurance in its allotted 60 days. DeSantis reportedly left any legislation on the matter to a special session. Nixon is willing to attend a special session as long as lawmakers “address the issues that Floridians are facing.”
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Not a single Senate Democrat voted for the bill. The Senate minority office did not respond to the Washington Examiner’s request for comment.
