Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday signed a bill allowing public school students “to reflect and to be able to pray as they see fit” with a moment of silence in the classroom. The bill gives students 1-2 minutes every day in first period to pray or reflect.
State law already “encourages” students to participate in “silent prayer,” but the new law will require the 1-2 minute time slot making sure students have the ability to get that time in during their day.
“It’s something that’s important to be able to provide each student the ability, every day, to be able to reflect and to be able to pray as they see fit,” DeSantis said during a Monday press conference. “The idea that you can just push God out of every institution, and be successful — I’m sorry, our founding fathers did not believe that.”
The pro-life governor also signed legislation to help protect the Jewish community from discrimination.
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“Every family in our state should be able to send their children to school and know that they will be protected from harm and be able to practice their faith,” DeSantis said in a Monday statement. “I’m proud to sign these bills today to help protect religious freedom in Florida and increase the safety and security of our Jewish communities.”
He continued: “I will continue to make sure that in Florida we root out anti-Semitism, and that every day we show our support for Israel and our Jewish communities.”
Florida will become one of 15 states to make sure students get the time to pray — something that even a Democrat legislator supported.
Democratic State Sen. Jason Pizzo supported HB 529, saying the students won’t be required to pray during those moments set aside by schools.
“It’s like a moment of meditation, relaxation, connection,” he said.
