Senate passes bill requiring public schools teach history of communism

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Florida Senate passed a bill on Friday that would require Florida public schools to teach the history of communism.

Sen. Jay Collins, R-Tampa, filed SB 1264. The Senate passed the bill 25-7.

“SB 1264 addresses the instruction of the history of communism and makes provisions for activities related to political and economic freedom,” Collins said on the Senate floor. “[It] requires specified instruction on the history of communism, beginning in the 2026-27 school year that must be age and developmentally appropriate.”

The teaching of communism, as recommended under SB 1264, would cover the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution of China and the Third Reich of Nazi Germany. It also would detail its ideology in Latina America, particularly the socioeconomic policies of Communist Cuba.

Sen. Tina Polksy, D-Boca Raton, asked why the curriculum was needed.

“This is not additional curriculum. What this is refining what we already got,” Collins said. “Taking a snap shot and looking at this holistically to make sure one, that its age appropriate, developmentally appropriate, and hits on this in a way that matters.”

Collins emphasized teaching the “truth” about communism.

“About 11 or 12% of our population has direct ties to socialism, communism, some derivative there of in our state,” Collins added.

Sen. Rosalind Osgood, D-Tamarac, opposed the bill due its ties to a certain institution.

“My change in my vote is because we have now tied this to the Adam Smith Center for Economic Freedom that was sounded in 2022 by the legislature,” Osgood said. “When we talked about other history, African American history, particularly, we didn’t tie it to a certain group or institution.”

Polsky, also in opposition, shifted the cause of communism on dictators.

“It’s all the same. It’s awful evil dictators who are the ones who are causing the issue,” Polsky said. “It’s not the ideal of everyone has enough money to survive.”

Polsky further added the happiest nations in the world were Scandinavian nations.

“I think the idea is this is indoctrination of telling people communism as an economic policy is bad, but it really is totalitarianism, dictatorial regimes, brutal, sadistic regimes are the reason your parents escaped, your grandparents escaped. While my grandfather as well escaped. It’s not the economic policy.”

Polsky concluded by stating her concern of the bill was the “weaponization” of its labeling.

Reps. Chuck Brannan, R-Macclenny, and James Buchanan, R-Osprey, filed a similar bill to SB 1264.

The Senate bill now moves to the House for approval. If fully passed, it will take effect July 1.