Florida House committee approves bill to create Communism Education Task Force

(The Center Square) – Florida students could be required to learn about communism and other socio-political and economic systems after a bill advanced in a House committee on Wednesday.

A revised early learning bill also passed the House Education & Employment Committee.

HB 1349 is co-sponsored by state Rep. Robert “Chuck” Brannan, R-Macclenny and state Rep. James Buchanan, R-North Port and would require instruction on the history of communism in classrooms which would commence in the 2026-2027 school year. The bill also creates the Communism Education Task Force.

While introducing the bill to the House Education & Employment Committee, bill sponsor Brannan said that the bill would build on work done at the Adam Smith Center, located at Florida International University.

“[The bill] establishes the Institute for Freedom in the America’s at the Freedom Tower as a part of Miami-Dade College,” Brannan said. “The Adam Smith Center and the Institute for Freedom will work together to promote democracy and economic freedom, with an emphasis on Latin America and the Caribbean.”

Brannan added this bill would not only ensure that students are educated on the horrors of the history of communism but that Florida would become a “beacon of freedom” for the state’s neighbors, its citizens and all those in the Americas.

Brannan noted that the bill does not state that the subject would not be taught to children in kindergarten and is aimed towards older students in middle school, high school and college.

HB 929 is sponsored by Rep. Dana Trabulsy, R-Fort Pierce. It would revise the state’s School Readiness Program, including defining the term “economically disadvantaged” to 55% state median income for the purpose of the program.

Trabulsy said during the committee meeting that the bill was designed to maximize participation in the program, as well as codify funding and support adequate reimbursement rates for school readiness providers.

Trabulsy stated the change would capture single-parent households making $15 an hour in anticipation of the constitutionally mandated minimum wage required by Sept. 30, 2026.

The bill would require the state to adopt a state-wide parent co-payment sliding fee scale to ensure the uniformity of parent co-payments based on family incomes.

HB1353 is sponsored by state Rep. John Snyder, R-Palm City. It would revise the state’s pre-kindergarten programs to provide better support for children, providers and early learning coalitions, by adding tools needed to capture students who may be struggling with their early learning.