What is House Bill 233?

House Bill 233, which was adopted by the Florida Legislature during the 2021 session, amends existing state law to add five new provisions. They are:

· Requiring the Board of Governors, which oversees Florida’s public universities, to develop a survey meant to measure the intellectual freedom and viewpoint diversity among students, faculty members and staff members at Florida’s universities. The survey will be conducted annually, starting Sept. 1, 2022.

· Prohibiting the Board of Governors and universities from shielding students, faculty or staff from protected free speech, which may include speech they find uncomfortable, unwelcome, disagreeable, or offensive.

· Allowing students to record audio and/or video of class lectures for their own personal educational use, to use as part of a complaint to the university, or to use as evidence in or preparation for a criminal or civil proceeding.

· Providing Student Government officers who have been disciplined, suspended or removed from office the right to directly appeal the decision to a senior university administrator.

· Requiring all public universities in Florida to adopt student codes of conduct that provide certain due process protections.