TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – One of the latest bills filed ahead of the upcoming Florida Legislative session could change state rules regarding how flags are displayed.
That bill — SB 100 — was filed back in December by state Sen. Randy Fine (R-19), who has also introduced three other bills so far for this year. It was approved this week by a Legislative committee chaired by Fine.
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According to the text, the bill would prohibit “governmental entities” — such as local governments, public schools, and public universities — from displaying flags that represent political viewpoints.
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Some examples mentioned in the legislation include “politically partisan, racial, sexual orientation and gender, or political ideology” viewpoints.
In addition, the bill would require that governmental entities displaying a U.S. flag do so “in a prominent position that is superior to any other flag that is also displayed.”
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However, the bill also includes a provision for members of the U.S. Armed Forces or the National Guard to use “reasonable force” to protect a U.S. flag. That provision reads as follows:
“An active or retired member of the United States Armed Forces or the National Guard may at any time use reasonable force to prevent the desecration, destruction, or removal of the United States flag or to replace the United States flag to a position of prominence consistent with subsection (3), except when directly ordered not to use such force by a law enforcement office acting in the course and scope of the law enforcement officer’s employment.”
Senate Bill 100 (2025)
Fine took to social media shortly after the bill was originally introduced, declaring that these rules would specifically prohibit governmental entities from flying Palestinian, Black Lives Matter, and transgender flags, among others.
“The first flag that should be flown in a government building is the American flag,” Fine said. “Flags that promote Muslim terror or the mutilation of children have no place in taxpayer-funded buildings — whether that government building is our state capital or a public school classroom.”
If approved, the bill would take effect on July 1.
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