Bill > H1495

This bill, titled the "Freedom of Conscience in the Workplace Act," establishes new regulations regarding gender identity and employment practices in Florida. The legislation defines key terms like "sex" as a biological classification based on reproductive characteristics, and introduces a state policy that a person's sex is an immutable trait. The bill prohibits employees and contractors from being required to use preferred pronouns that do not correspond to a person's biological sex, and prevents employers from taking adverse personnel actions against workers who hold religious, moral, or biology-based beliefs about gender. Additionally, the bill restricts employment forms from offering non-binary sex options and prohibits state-funded employers from mandating training or instruction related to sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. The legislation provides administrative and civil remedies for employees who believe they have been wrongfully treated, including the potential for attorney fees and costs. The bill defines "gender ideology" critically, describing it as a false belief that replaces biological sex with a subjective sense of gender identity. Notably, the bill will take effect on July 1, 2025, and applies to state, county, municipal, and special district employers, with specific exceptions for individuals with verifiable disorders of sex development.

Government Affairs

https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2025/1495