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Florida Senator Randy Fine files bill to ban political flags in government buildings

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Published  December 16, 2024 10:30am EST
Florida Politics
FOX 35 Orlando

The Brief

    • Florida State Senator Randy Fine (R-Melbourne Beach) has introduced legislation to prohibit the display of political and ideological flags in government buildings, including schools.
    • The legislation comes after controversies in Florida over the display of ideological flags in public institutions.
    • If passed, the only flags permitted in government buildings would be official government flags, including the U.S. flag, Florida’s state flag, and flags representing other recognized jurisdictions.

ORLANDO, Fla. - Florida State Senator Randy Fine (R-Melbourne Beach) has introduced legislation to prohibit the display of political and ideological flags in government buildings, including schools. 

The proposed bill, SB 100, would ban flags representing political candidates, movements, or organizations deemed ideological, including flags for "fictional countries" like Palestine and groups such as Black Lives Matter.

"The first flag that should be flown in a government building is the American flag," Fine said in a released statement Monday. "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."

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The legislation comes after controversies in Florida over the display of ideological flags in public institutions. 

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A lawsuit was filed against the Palm Beach County School District over a flag at Emerald Cove Middle School in Wellington, which some claimed represented an inappropriate political message.

The bill would also extend the prohibition to flags supporting political candidates or causes. 

If passed, the only flags permitted in government buildings would be official government flags, including the U.S. flag, Florida’s state flag, and flags representing other recognized jurisdictions.

This is not the first time Fine has pursued such legislation. 

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During the 2024 legislative session, he sponsored a similar measure in the Florida House of Representatives. 

As he prepares to leave the Senate, Fine said his goal is to ensure taxpayer-funded spaces remain free of what he called "repugnant messages."

Fine’s bill is likely to spark debate as it moves through the legislature, with critics arguing it infringes on free speech rights and supporters praising it as a step toward depoliticizing public institutions.

The Source: The information in this article comes from a release shared by State Senator Randy Fine's office. 

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