HB 859 — Exceptional Students and Video Cameras in Public Schools
Last action — Died in Rules
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✓Introduced
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✓In Committee
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3Passed House
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4Passed Senate
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5To Executive
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6Enacted
This bill has passed the House. Introduced December 23, 2025. It now moves to the second chamber.
Next likely step: consideration and a floor vote in the Senate.
Odds of enactment
Moderate chanceBased on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a moderate chance of becoming law.
Upgrade to see the exact probability and what's driving it.
A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.
Prognosis
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Passed House
Current position in the legislative process.
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11 sponsors
1 primary, 10 co-sponsors signed on.
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Bipartisan support
Sponsored across 2 parties (6 D · 4 R) — cross-party backing.
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Cleared a recorded vote
Passed 5 recorded votes so far.
Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.
Summary
Exceptional Students and Video Cameras in Public Schools; Removes references to Video Cameras in Public School Classrooms Pilot Program; requires district school board to establish specified policy relating to video cameras in self-contained classrooms; prohibits concealment of certain employee identities in video recording; & provides that video recording made available after request must include accompanying audio.
Bill Text
What changed in the latest version
189 added · 195 removed189 line(s) added, 195 removed.
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S HBCS/HB 859 2026 A bill to be entitled An act relating to exceptional students and video cameras in public schools;
providing an appropriation;
(a) "Incident" means an event, a circumstance, an act, or an omission that results in the abuse or neglect of a student Page 1 of 8 CODING:
hb859-00hb859-01-c1 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S HBCS/HB 859 2026 an omission that results in the abuse or neglect of a student by:
(3) If the student who is the subject of the initial request is no longer in attendance in the classroom and a school discontinues operation of a video camera during a school year, no later than the 5th school day before the date the operation Page 2 of 8 CODING:
hb859-00hb859-01-c1 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S HBCS/HB 859 2026 no later than the 5th school day before the date the operation of the video camera is discontinued, the school must notify the parents of each student in regular attendance in the classroom that operation of the video camera will cease unless the continued use of the camera is requested by a parent.
(c) A video camera placed in a self-contained classroom is Page 3 of 8 CODING:
hb859-00hb859-01-c1 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S HBCS/HB 859 2026 (c) A video camera placed in a self-contained classroom is not required to be in operation when students are not present in the self-contained classroom.
or (b) Retain the recording until the conclusion of any Page 4 of 8 CODING:
hb859-00hb859-01-c1 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S HBCS/HB 859 2026 (b) Retain the recording until the conclusion of any investigation or any administrative or legal proceedings that result from the recording have been completed, including, without limitation, the exhaustion of all appeals.
Protect the confidentiality of all student records Pagecontained 5in ofa 8video CODING:recording in accordance with s.
1002.22.
Page 5 of 8 CODING:
hb859-00hb859-01-c1 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S HBCS/HB 859 2026 contained(9)(a) inWithin 7 days after receiving a request to view a video recordingrecording, ina accordanceschool or school district shall allow the following individuals to view a video recording with s.its accompanying audio made under this section:
1002.22.
(9)(a) Within 7 days after receiving a request to view a video recording, a school or school district shall allow the following individuals to view a video recording with its accompanying audio made under this section:
(c) A person who views the recording and suspects that Page 6 of 8 CODING:
hb859-00hb859-01-c1 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S HBCS/HB 859 2026 (c) A person who views the recording and suspects that child abuse has occurred must report the suspected child abuse to the Department of Children and Families.
(c) Create any liability for a cause of action against a school or school district or an employee of a school or school district carrying out the duties and responsibilities required Page 7 of 8 CODING:
hb859-00hb859-01-c1 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S HBCS/HB 859 2026 district carrying out the duties and responsibilities required by this section.
For the 2026-2027 fiscal year, the sum of $2 million in nonrecurring funds is appropriated from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Education for school districts providing video cameras in self-contained classrooms pursuant to s.
1003.574, Florida Statutes.
Section 3.
hb859-00hb859-01-c1
View plain text versions (2)
- H 859 c1 View text Current pdf
- Introduced H 859 Filed pdf
Action History
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Died in Rules
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Received
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Referred to Rules
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In Messages
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CS passed; YEAS 111, NAYS 0
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Read 3rd time
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Added to Third Reading Calendar
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Read 2nd time
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Bill added to Special Order Calendar (2/25/2026)
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Added to Second Reading Calendar
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Bill released to House Calendar
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Reported out of Education & Employment Committee
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Favorable by Education & Employment Committee
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Added to Education & Employment Committee agenda
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Now in Education & Employment Committee
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Reported out of PreK-12 Budget Subcommittee
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Favorable by PreK-12 Budget Subcommittee
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Added to PreK-12 Budget Subcommittee agenda
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Now in PreK-12 Budget Subcommittee
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Referred to Education & Employment Committee
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Referred to PreK-12 Budget Subcommittee
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1st Reading (Committee Substitute 1)
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CS Filed
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Laid on Table under Rule 7.18(a)
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Reported out of Student Academic Success Subcommittee
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Favorable with CS by Student Academic Success Subcommittee
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Added to Student Academic Success Subcommittee agenda
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1st Reading (Original Filed Version)
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Now in Student Academic Success Subcommittee
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Referred to Education & Employment Committee
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Referred to PreK-12 Budget Subcommittee
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Referred to Student Academic Success Subcommittee
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Filed
Sponsors
- Kevin D. Chambliss · Cosponsor
- Chase Tramont · Cosponsor
- Student Academic Success Subcommittee · Primary
- Robin Bartleman · Cosponsor
- Daryl Campbell · Cosponsor
- Kimberly Daniels · Cosponsor
- Johanna López · Cosponsor
- Bill Partington · Cosponsor
- Susan Plasencia · Cosponsor
- Susan L. Valdés · Cosponsor
- Marie Paule Woodson · Cosponsor
Sponsorship breakdown
Export CSV (upgrade) →1 sponsors · 10 co-sponsors · 153 not signed on
Sponsors (1)
- Student Academic Success Subcommittee
Co-sponsors (10)
- Chambliss, Kevin D. Democrat
- Tramont, Chase Republican
- Bartleman, Robin Democrat
- Campbell, Daryl Democrat
- Daniels, Kimberly Democrat
- López, Johanna Democrat
- Partington, Bill Republican
- Plasencia, Susan Republican
- Valdés, Susan L. Republican
- Woodson, Marie Paule Democrat
Not signed on (153)
153 members have not signed on to this bill.
Show all 153 →"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.
Votes
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | 75 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Unaffiliated | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Democrat | 32 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Total | 111 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| % of votes cast | 95% | 0% | 0% | 5% |
How each member voted (117)
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | 79 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Democrat | 31 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Unaffiliated | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 111 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| % of votes cast | 95% | 0% | 0% | 5% |
How each member voted (117)
Roll call published as PDF — view source.
Roll call published as PDF — view source.
Roll call published as PDF — view source.
Subjects
Frequently asked questions
- What does HB 859 do?
- Exceptional Students and Video Cameras in Public Schools; Removes references to Video Cameras in Public School Classrooms Pilot Program; requires district school board to establish specified policy relating to video cameras in self-contained classrooms; prohibits concealment of certain employee identities in video recording; & provides that video recording made available after request must include accompanying audio.
- Who sponsors HB 859?
- HB 859 is sponsored by Chambliss, Kevin D. (Democrat), Tramont, Chase (Republican), Student Academic Success Subcommittee, Bartleman, Robin (Democrat), Campbell, Daryl (Democrat), Daniels, Kimberly (Democrat), López, Johanna (Democrat), Partington, Bill (Republican), Plasencia, Susan (Republican), Valdés, Susan L. (Republican), and Woodson, Marie Paule (Democrat).
- What is the current status of HB 859?
- This bill has passed the House. Introduced December 23, 2025. It now moves to the second chamber.
- Where can I track HB 859?
- Track HB 859 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.
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