The legislative session is set to begin Jan. 13.

• Florida lawmakers have filed several bills for the 2026 legislative session to strengthen religious expression rights.
• One proposed bill would protect employees from being disciplined over religious beliefs against “gender ideology.”
• Another measure seeks to amend the state constitution to protect students and staff who express religious beliefs in public schools.

The First Amendment’s freedom of religious expression is appearing among a variety of bills in Florida’s upcoming legislative session, set to begin Jan. 13.

Specifically, lawmakers filed bills for the 2026 session that would create new Florida law or amend the state’s Constitution in efforts to strengthen the right of religious expression.

No doubt some advocates will disagree.

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For instance, one bill called the “Freedom of Conscience in the Workplace Act,” proposed by Rep. Rachel Plakon, R-Longwood, would ban employers from disciplining employees based on deeply held religious beliefs against “gender ideology.”

It was introduced last year and died in committee, and Equality Florida said at the time that the measure doubled down on “anti-transgender rhetoric.”

Some of these measures come in response to a conservative push to counter LGBTQ+ positions seen as in conflict with deeply-held religious beliefs. A notable decision for this cause came from the U.S. Supreme Court, after it said public school parents could exempt their children from discussions on LGBTQ+ issues in classrooms.

Republicans enter the 60-day session having an advantage of a supermajority in Florida’s House and Senate, since votes along party lines could advance the conservative-led push uplifting religious beliefs.

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Religious expression bills filed for 2026 Florida legislative session

Here’s a list of bills and resolutions, as of Jan. 9, filed so far that include religious expression measures:

• HJR 583 (filed by Rep. Chase Tramont, R-Port Orange, and Berny Jacques, R-Clearwater): A resolution that would amend the state constitution to provide protection from discrimination for students and school personnel who express religious beliefs in public schools.
• HB 641 (filed by Rep. Rachel Plakon, R-Longwood): Would prohibit employers from disciplining employees or contractors due to “deeply held religious, moral, conscience-based, or biology-based beliefs against gender ideology.”
• HB 835 (filed by Rep. David Borrero, R-Doral): Would prohibit schools from discriminating against students or school personnel based on political, religious or ideological viewpoint expression.
• HB 1227 (filed by Rep. Vanessa Oliver, R-Punta Gorda): Would prohibit counties and municipalities from adopting or enforcing ordinances, regulations, resolutions or rules that could substantially burden free exercise of religion.

One person reported, “95 between Melbourne and viera all smokey. Visibility is decent.”

Another added, “I work at Gordon food services and it’s so smoky on 192 . Prayers.”

A third resident wrote, “Fountainhead neighborhood in Melbourne has ALOT of smoke in it…. near Dustins BBQ.”

Another person asked, “Okay I’m here at work on Palm Bay road and I smell smoke really bad something is on fire badddd…. Does anyone know whats goin on?”

Another resident wrote, “Yeah I left to run to hair cuttery/publix at heritage square and I come out and it’s super smokey. Pace is really bad.”

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One resident reported on Facebook, “For those concerned about the burning i called to confirm, its a controlled burn just the wind is carrying the smoke everywhere. This is what the non emergency line confirmed but it seems there are multiple fires. One at the apartment building near Henry Ave, a house fire in cocoa, an industrial building closer to the coast and then the control fire at the wild refuge. It makes sense with the amount of smoke and the wind why palm bay is severely covered.”

Authorities have not yet officially confirmed the same.

More information is expected as officials continue to assess the situation.