HB 257 Florida House · 2025 Regular Session

Exceptional Students and Video Cameras in Public Schools

Summary

Exceptional Students and Video Cameras in Public Schools; Removes references to Video Cameras in Public School Classrooms Pilot Program; removes obsolete definition; requires certain district school boards to vote to establish policy to provide video cameras in self-contained classrooms upon request of parent; prohibits school or school district from concealing identity of employee in video recording; & provides that video recording made available after request must include accompanying audio.

Bill status died 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Apr 2025

House Passage

Apr 2025

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 27, 2025 Last action Jun 16, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

H 257 Filed → H 257 c1 · 6 edits

MODERATE

This bill was significantly rewritten to shift from a broad pilot program requiring video cameras in many classrooms to a targeted program focused only on self-contained classrooms for exceptional students. The new version removes general requirements for video cameras in all classrooms and instead creates a specific pilot program for 2021-2024 that only applies to classrooms serving students with significant disabilities.

Scope change

The bill's scope narrowed from applying to all public school classrooms to specifically targeting self-contained classrooms where a majority of students receive special education services.

REQUIREMENT

Removed the requirement for district superintendents and principals to limit class size increases by 50% for exceptional students.

Added requirement for district school boards to vote on establishing a policy to provide video cameras in self-contained classrooms upon parent request.

Added requirement that video recordings must include accompanying audio when made available after a request.

DEFINITION

Changed the definition of 'self-contained classroom' from requiring nonverbal students to requiring a majority of students to receive special education services.

Deleted the obsolete definition of 'school district' that only referenced Broward County Public Schools.

TIMELINE

Established a 3-year pilot program starting 2021-2022 with specific notification requirements for camera discontinuation.

Floor votes · House Apr 25, 2025

How they voted

105–0

Passed · 13 other

Total votes 118

Apr 25, 2025

D Democratic34

28 Yea 6

82% Yea

R Republican84

77 Yea 7

91% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 28, 2025

Committee

Referred to Rules

upper

Apr 25, 2025

Lower · Passed

CS passed; YEAS 106, NAYS 0

lower

Apr 8, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reported out of Education & Employment Committee

lower

Apr 8, 2025

Lower · Passed

Favorable by Education & Employment Committee

lower

Apr 4, 2025

Lower · Passed

Added to Education & Employment Committee agenda

lower

Apr 1, 2025

Lower · Passed

Now in Education & Employment Committee

lower

Apr 1, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reported out of PreK-12 Budget Subcommittee

lower

Apr 1, 2025

Lower · Passed

Favorable by PreK-12 Budget Subcommittee

lower

Mar 28, 2025

Lower · Passed

Added to PreK-12 Budget Subcommittee agenda

lower

Mar 27, 2025

Lower · Passed

Now in PreK-12 Budget Subcommittee

lower

Mar 27, 2025

Committee

Referred to Education & Employment Committee

lower

Mar 27, 2025

Committee

Referred to PreK-12 Budget Subcommittee

lower

Mar 26, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reported out of Student Academic Success Subcommittee

lower

Mar 25, 2025

Lower · Passed

Favorable with CS by Student Academic Success Subcommittee

lower

Mar 21, 2025

Lower · Passed

Added to Student Academic Success Subcommittee agenda

lower

Feb 6, 2025

Lower · Passed

Now in Student Academic Success Subcommittee

lower

Feb 6, 2025

Committee

Referred to Education & Employment Committee

lower

Feb 6, 2025

Committee

Referred to PreK-12 Budget Subcommittee

lower

Feb 6, 2025

Committee

Referred to Student Academic Success Subcommittee

lower

2 primary · 4 co-sponsors