In preparation for the 2026 Florida House of Representatives legislative session, many Florida Representatives have already begun filing their proposed bills.
On September 26, 2025, Republican Rep. Gossett-Seidman of Florida’s 91st district, which covers portions of Palm Beach County, filed House Bill 49: Political Activities on School Grounds.
In its current form, HB 49 outlines which types of political activities are allowed and prohibited on school grounds, which includes any public K-12 schools and public institutions of higher education.
The bill would prohibit posting campaign signs, distributing campaign literature, campaigning for or with candidates, collecting campaign contributions, and organizing voter registration events involving a candidate or political party. It would also prohibit faculty and staff from using their email, offices, or time during work for political advocacy.
Alongside the extensive list of prohibited activities concerning political activities on school grounds, the bill would also prohibit any activity that may be suspected of giving the impression of support or endorsement of any candidate over another candidate.
For Amelia Coronado, a member of Daytona State College’s Democratic club, HB 49 is an attack on the freedom of speech of students, particularly college students.
“House bill 49 is alarmingly dangerous because if passed it can lead to fewer forums, debates, voter registrations, and opportunities for young people to exercise their voice and get involved,” she said.
Colleges have long served as centers of political engagement where students get the chance to debate, organize, and learn civic participation firsthand.
However, if HB 49 were to be passed, a violation of any of the prohibited activities listed in the bill would be considered a misdemeanor of the second degree, with each activity considered to be a separate violation.
“Removing visible signs of elections and other political activities could make politics feel distant or irrelevant for college students,” said Coronado.
The bill also caught the attention of other political clubs across Florida, particularly Florida State Democrats.
In an interview with FSU Democrats’ President Madalyn Propost, she said that she found HB 49 “immensely dangerous to college campuses all around Florida.” She added, “The bill itself was draconian. College campuses are meant to be hotbeds of political expression and broaden the world view of those attending, any attempt to stifle that is quite frankly un-American.”
Amidst the troubling implications that HB 49 proposes, college organizers like Coronado also fear the possible repercussions that might come if HB 49 or a similar bill were to be passed.
“With the vague language about what ‘gives the impression of support,’ schools might start over-policing political activities out of fear of violating the law,” Coronado said.
Frustrated with the lack of transparency given by Rep. Gossett-Seidman regarding filing HB 49 in a seemingly secretive manner, college democrats across Florida took immediate action.
At the forefront of the fight of HB 49 Propst and FSU Democrats took to social media platforms such as Instagram and TikTok to spread awareness of the bill. The social media post made by FSU Democrats highlighted the dangers of HB 49 and encouraged viewers to take action.
Following a wave of social media advocacy and coordinated calls from FSU Democrats and others to Rep. Gossett-Seidman, House Bill 49 was withdrawn only eight days after it was filed.
“These Representatives are used to doing things undercover and we made sure they didn’t have that luxury,” said Propst.