Bill > H0641

This bill, titled the "Freedom of Conscience in the Workplace Act," establishes new policies regarding gender identity in employment practices within Florida. It defines key terms such as "adverse personnel action" (any negative employment action like firing or demotion), "contractor," "employee," "employer" (defined as state or local government entities), "gender identity" (a subjective sense of self separate from biological reality), "gender ideology" (the belief that gender identity replaces biological sex), and "sex" (defined as biological male or female based on physical characteristics at birth). The bill declares it the state's policy that a person's sex is immutable and that it is false to use pronouns that do not correspond to a person's sex, with an exception for individuals with verifiable disorders of sex development. It prohibits employers from requiring employees or contractors to use preferred pronouns that do not align with a person's sex, and conversely, prohibits employees or contractors from requiring employers to use pronouns that do not align with their own sex. Job applications will be restricted to asking for an applicant's sex as either male or female, without nonbinary options. The bill also makes it an unlawful employment practice to take adverse personnel action against an employee or contractor based on their deeply held beliefs regarding gender ideology, and provides administrative and civil remedies, including attorney fees for the prevailing party. Furthermore, employers receiving state funding are prohibited from requiring training or instruction on sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression as a condition of employment. The bill reenacts existing sections related to administrative and civil remedies to incorporate these changes and takes effect on July 1, 2026.

Government Affairs, Justice

Government Operations Subcommittee (House)

https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/641