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Senate

Senate Bill 958/House Bill 931 (Signed into law)
In February 2023, State Rep. Spencer Roach, a Republican, introduced a bill that would prohibit public colleges from requesting “political loyalty tests” as a condition of employment, admission, or promotion. Later that month, a version of the bill was introduced by State Sen. Keith Perry, a Republican. In March the House bill moved out of the House Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee. In May the bill passed both the Florida House and Senate, and went to the governor's desk. In May, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the bill into law.
House Bill 999/Senate Bill 266 (Signed into law)
In February 2023, State Rep. Robert Alexander Andrade, a Republican, introduced a bill that would prohibit public colleges from using diversity, equity, and inclusion statements or “critical race theory rhetoric, or other forms of political identity filters,” in hiring or promotion, and spending money on programs that “espouse diversity, equity, and inclusion or critical race theory rhetoric,” among other provisions. Later that month, State Sen. Erin Grall, a Republican, introduced a version of the bill. The bill was amended multiple times, but a version prohibiting public colleges from spending state or federal funds on DEI unless required by federal law passed both the House and Senate. Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the bill into law in May.
House Bill 599/Senate Bill 1382 (Introduced)
In November 2023, State Rep. Ryan Chamberlin, a Republican, filed a bill that would prohibit employers that receive state funding from requiring employees to participate in training that deals with sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. In January 2024, State Sen. Jonathan Martin, a Republican, introduced an identical bill.

Colleges Affected by DEI Legislation

Valencia College

Details: Valencia College separated its Peace and Justice Institute from the college and halted certain faculty-development workshops indefinitely.

Florida International University

Details: Florida International University eliminated its Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Details: Florida State University eliminated its Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Office; changed three roles in its human-resources department; eliminated a DEI mini-grant program; and eliminated funding for memberships to “DEI organizations” and subscriptions to “DEI publications.”

New College of Florida

Details: New College of Florida has shut down its gender-studies program, following a directive from its Board of Trustees.

Pasco-Hernando State College

Details: Pasco-Hernando State College eliminated its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion department and its Office of Access and Engagement.

Seminole State College

Details: Seminole State College changed the title of the associate vice president for diversity, equity, and inclusion to the associate vice president for organizational culture and strategy/Title IX coordinator.

University of Central Florida

Details: The University of Central Florida renamed its diversity, equity, and inclusion office as the department of access and community engagement; eliminated the post of vice president for diversity, equity, and inclusion; and cut vacant positions related to diversity training.

University of Florida

Details: The University of Florida closed its Center for Inclusion and Multicultural Engagement; eliminated its Office of the Chief Diversity Officer; terminated 13 full-time employees with DEI-related roles; eliminated all DEI-related roles; and reallocated $5 million in DEI-related funds.

University of North Florida

Details: The University of North Florida eliminated its Office of Diversity and Inclusion; eliminated all centers under the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, including the Intercultural, Interfaith, LGBTQ, and Women’s Centers; and reassigned any DEI-related jobs.

University of South Florida

Details: The University of South Florida eliminated its Office of Diversity and Inclusion.

College of Central Florida

Details: The College of Central Florida eliminated its diversity and inclusion committee and changed the title of the director of diversity and inclusion/Title IX coordinator/equity officer to the director of compliance and planning/Title IX coordinator.

Florida Atlantic University

Details: Florida Atlantic University eliminated its Center for Inclusion, Diversity Education, and Advocacy.

SB 266

In the Media

Court Overturns Parts of Florida’s Anti-DEI Laws
A recent court ruling has permanently overturned a significant portion of Florida’s controversial “Stop WOKE Act,” officially named the “Individual Freedom Act.”
Florida quietly removes LGBTQ+ travel guides from official tourism site. Here's what we know
From Gay Days at Disney to Fantasy Fest in Key West to the Stonewall Pride parade (and Floatarama) in Fort Lauderdale to numerous Pride events and filmfests and vibrant nightlife around the state, Florida is filled with LGBTQ+-friendly events and vacation destinations.
Florida to LGBTQ tourists: 'Y'all don't come at all, ya hear?'
Just how far will Gov. Ron DeSantis carry his “anti-woke” agenda?

What it means

Under House Bill 999 and its companion Senate Bill 266, public institutions in Florida are prohibited from funding the promotion, support, or maintenance of DEI programs; and from offering any general education course that "teaches identity politics, or is based on theories that systemic racism, sexism, oppression, and privilege are inherent in the institutions of the United States."

Though an amended version of SB 266 was presented in April removing all language referencing DEI due to concerns about the bill's potential impact on accreditation; SB 266 had its third reading on May 3, 2023 where language referencing DEI was reintroduced. It passed in the state Senate that same day and on May 15, 2023 the bill was signed into law by Gov. Ron DeSantis.

DeSantis additionally signed one other bill targeting DEI initiatives at colleges in Florida on May 15. Under House Bill 931 and its companion Senate Bill 958, the state's public institutions are prohibited from giving preferential consideration for employment, admission, or promotion to individuals who show support for "any ideology or movement that promotes the differential treatment of a person or a group of persons based on race or ethnicity, including an initiative or a formulation of diversity, equity, and inclusion."