News Summary
A new bill, HB 109, proposed in Florida seeks to ban corporal punishment in public schools. Filed by Representative Johanna López, this legislation would prohibit all school district employees from administering corporal punishment on students, following the state’s trend toward more supportive discipline practices. Currently, Florida allows corporal punishment, impacting vulnerable student populations disproportionately. Supporters of the bill argue it reflects a changing landscape in educational environments, moving toward constructive disciplinary approaches in line with other states eliminating such practices.
Tallahassee, Florida – A new bill, HB 109, has been introduced in the Florida legislature aiming to ban corporal punishment in public schools. Filed by Representative Johanna López (D-43) on October 8, 2025, the proposed legislation seeks to prohibit all school district employees from administering corporal punishment on students. If passed, this bill would take effect on July 1, 2026.
Currently, Florida remains one of 17 states that still allow corporal punishment in schools. In fact, the Florida Department of Education recorded 516 instances of corporal punishment across 17 counties during the 2023-2024 school year. The recent trend in state legislation is to require more oversight before such measures can be implemented. A law that was enacted earlier in 2025 mandates that school districts obtain parental consent before any corporal punishment can be administered. Furthermore, approval from the principal must be secured, and administration must comply with strict guidelines.
Under the current regulations, teachers are also required to have another adult present when administering corporal punishment and must provide a written explanation to parents upon request. Despite the new rules aimed at increasing parental involvement and oversight, critics argue that the practice itself has harmful effects on children’s psychological and social development.
Advocacy groups, including Parenting Matters, highlight that corporal punishment disproportionately affects students with disabilities, sparking a wider discussion about appropriate discipline practices in Florida schools. Schools in more rural areas of northern Florida are among those that continue to permit the controversial practice. Some lawmakers believe that the existing law allows a compromise by balancing the desire to maintain corporal punishment with stricter parental consent measures.
Critics of corporal punishment argue that the potential negative impact on children’s future outcomes far outweighs any perceived benefits. Furthermore, advocacy organizations like Moms for Liberty emphasize the importance of parental choice in discipline policies while expressing concern for the adverse effects of corporal punishment on vulnerable student populations.
As the conversation surrounding student discipline evolves, the push to ban corporal punishment reflects broader societal shifts towards more supportive and constructive approaches in educational settings. Supporters of HB 109 hope that its passage would bring Florida in line with the increasing number of states moving towards eliminating corporal punishment in schools altogether.
The future of HB 109 remains uncertain as it undergoes the legislative process, but the bill’s introduction signifies a changing landscape regarding how discipline is handled in the State of Florida’s public schools.
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Additional Resources
- WJHG: New Florida Law Lets Parents Opt for Spanking in Schools
- Google Search: Corporal Punishment in Schools
- Click Orlando: New Florida Law Allows School Spankings with Parent Consent
- Wikipedia: Corporal Punishment
- Florida Phoenix: New Law Requires Sign-Off for Corporal Punishment
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Corporal Punishment
- Florida Politics: Lawmakers Renew Push for Parental Consent Limits
- Google News: Florida Corporal Punishment Laws
- Tallahassee.com: Florida Teacher Accused of Disciplining Students with Bungee Cord
Author: STAFF HERE TALLAHASSEE WRITER
The TALLAHASSEE STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERETallahassee.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Tallahassee, Leon County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Springtime Tallahassee, Tallahassee Jazz & Blues Festival, and LeMoyne Chain of Parks Art Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce and United Way of the Big Bend, plus leading businesses in education, healthcare, and insurance that power the local economy such as Florida State University, Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare, and Capital Health Plan. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREJacksonville.com, HEREOrlando.com, HEREStPetersburg.com, and HERETampa.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Florida's dynamic landscape.
