Teachers may soon have to take this oath if Florida passes new bill

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – A new proposal filed this week would require teachers to take an oath starting next year if a lawmaker gets his way.

That proposal — House Bill 147 — was filed on Monday by state Rep. Tom Fabricio (R-Miami Lakes).

Under the bill, classroom teachers would have to abide by a constitutional oath before being allowed to teach in the state. That oath reads as follows:

“I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support, protect, and defend the Constitution and Government of the United States and the Constitution and Government of the State of Florida; that I am duly qualified for employment as a classroom teacher in this state; that I will well and faithfully perform the duties of a classroom teacher in a professional, independent, objective, and nonpartisan manner; that I will uphold the highest standards of academic integrity and professional ethics; that I will foster a respectful learning environment for all students, which promotes critical thinking, civic responsibility, and lifelong learning; and that I will serve as a positive role model in both conduct and character, so help me God.”

Proposed Oath under HB 147

If approved by the Legislature next year, the bill will take effect on July 1, 2026.

That being said, Florida already has a required oath for all state employees, including those who work for counties, cities, school boards and districts.

However, this oath simply requires a commitment to support the U.S. and state constitutions.

[BELOW: News 6 takes a look at HB 147]

By comparison, Fabricio’s bill would require teachers to also act in a “nonpartisan manner” — a sentiment echoed by Florida Education Commissioner Anastasios Kamoutsas in recent months.

Back in August, an Alachua County teacher came under fire from Kamoutsas after a mother accused her of giving a student a “Dictator” award.

And just last month, Kamoutsas issued a warning to Florida teachers after “despicable comments” arose online in the immediate aftermath of conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s assassination.

Furthermore, Florida lawmakers have been pushing to eliminate certain ideologies from schools in the state, particularly with a parental rights act in 2023 that gained the moniker of the “Don’t Say Gay” law.

[RELATED: Did Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis actually ban teachers from saying ‘gay?’]

That law prohibited classroom instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity that wasn’t considered age-appropriate within state schools.

In the wake of that law, the Florida State Board of Education implemented a rule requiring written parental consent for teachers to use names that are different from a student’s legal name, as state law now requires Florida teachers to recognize students based on biological sex.

It was under that rule that a Brevard County teacher was told she would lose her job after using a student’s “preferred nickname” without the parent’s approval.