The proposed bill, titled the "Freedom of Conscience in the Workplace Act," aims to establish specific employment practices related to gender identity in Florida. It introduces a new section, 110.1051, which defines key terms such as "adverse personnel action," "contractor," "employee," "employer," "gender identity," "gender ideology," and "sex." The bill asserts that a person's sex is an immutable biological trait and prohibits employees and contractors from being required to use pronouns that do not correspond to their biological sex. Additionally, it mandates that job applications can only inquire about male or female classifications, excluding nonbinary options. The bill also prohibits adverse personnel actions based on an individual's beliefs against gender ideology and provides for administrative and civil remedies, including reasonable attorney fees for prevailing parties.
Furthermore, the bill amends section 760.10 of the Florida Statutes to make it unlawful for employers receiving state funding to require training or activities related to sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression as a condition of employment. It reenacts subsections of section 760.11 to incorporate these amendments, ensuring that individuals aggrieved by violations can file complaints within 365 days. The Department of Management Services is authorized to adopt rules to administer the new provisions. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2026.