DeSantis signs bill requiring schools teach accurate history of communism
HIALEAH GARDENS, Fla. – Gov. Ron DeSantis signed legislation on Wednesday requiring that schools teach the accurate history of communism in classrooms.
The legislation requires “age and developmentally appropriate” instruction on the history of communism, beginning in the 2026-2027 school year.
The curriculum requirements include:
- Teaching the history of communism in the United States
- The atrocities committed in foreign countries under communism
- comparative discussion of extreme political ideologies
- The increasing threat of communism in the United States
- The economic, industrial, and political events that have preceded and anticipated communist revolutions
- The communist policies and practices of Cuba and Latin America
The bill, HB 1349, was brought forth by Reps. Robert Charles Brannan, R-Lake City, James Buchanan, R-North Port, and Sen. Jay Collins, R-Tampa.
DeSantis explained during a press conference that many universities across the country try to “rehabilitate” communism.
“We’re gonna tell the truth about communism in the state of Florida,” he said. “We’re gonna tell the truth about the evils of communism. We’re gonna tell the truth about the unprecedented death toll in the 20th century at the hands of communist tyranny. 100 million killed at the hands of communist regimes, spreading from China, to the Soviet Union, to Cuba.”
DeSantis added how the state has made significant efforts to combat communist influence, including providing resources that the Florida Department of Education that can be used to help educate students.
“I want to thank the legislators for spearheading this,” he continued. “We’re proud of the legislation that we’ve done, we’re proud of the funding that we’ve done.”
DeSantis also honored the 63rd anniversary of the Bay of Pig invasion, by the celebrating the service and bravery of those who partook in it the historic event.
“63 years ago we had a lot of brave men suit up and fight communism, and fight tyranny,” he said. “We are committed to telling the truth of this ideology and we are going to make sure that people have a very accurate understanding of the human carnage that has resulted from communist regimes throughout history.”
Florida Education Commissioner Manny Diaz Jr. complimented the governor for his work to advocate for the victims of communism and help promote education and awareness of the ideology.
He explained how it was unfortunate that some people in the state are not exposed to the evils of the belief system since they didn’t have a family member or relative who experienced it first hand.
“This bill today gives us the opportunity to ensure that we learn history, so that our students in Florida are not apt to repeat that history and really understand the evils of communism,” he said.
“For too long we’ve had the other side trying to impose their ideology and their story, which is false, on our higher ed students,” he added.
Collins expressed his support for the legislation and the honor he felt to sponsor it.
“Our freedoms are God-given. They are upheld by our constitution and our way of life in this republic with which we live,” he said. “And it is our responsibility to protect those.”
“We thought in the ’80s that communism and socialism was dead, and that we took our foot off the gas pedal. But they never went away. They kept fighting,” he added.
“[This bill] makes it a very real thing to our youth. We have to teach them. Remember – what we teach our children today will be the reality of this nation tomorrow,” he said.
The law is set to go into effect on July 1.
