Teacher Nonpartisan Oath Bill Postponed Before First Committee Hearing

By Jay Waagmeester, Florida Phoenix

January 21, 2026

A bill requiring teachers to take an oath to the Florida and U.S. constitutions, and to non-partisanship, was temporarily postponed in advance of its first committee hearing Tuesday.

SB 430, sponsored by Jacksonville Republican Sen. Clay Yarborough requiring Florida College System and State University System instructors and K-12 school personnel to swear the oath, has an uncertain fate.

Yarborough told the Florida Phoenix after the Education Pre-K-12 meeting that he lacked the votes to pass the bill through the committee.

The panel comprises five Republicans, including Yarborough, and three Democrats. All senators were present.

The bill is similar to Rep. Tom Fabricio’s bill, HB 147, but goes further by requiring the oath for higher education instructors, whereas Fabricio’s is limited to K-12.

Chapter 876 of Florida Statutes already requires state employees, including those serving on school boards and working for the state and county school districts and institutions of higher education, to swear that they are citizens of Florida and will support the U.S. and Florida constitutions.

Other states require oaths to the federal and state constitutions, including California, Georgia, and New York. According to Encyclopedia.com, almost two-thirds of states since 1863 have adopted teacher loyalty oaths.

The House version of the bill is in the Student Academic Success Subcommittee, but not on the panel’s next meeting agenda.

This is the second week of the Legislature’s 60-day session.

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