Florida Senate passes bill making it harder for most public employees to form or keep their union

The bill would change voter thresholds for union elections, eliminate voluntary recognition, and increase penalties for strikes.

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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The Florida Senate has passed a bill, SB 1296, that would make it significantly harder for most local and state government employees to form a union or keep the union they already have. The bill was approved mostly along party lines, with some Republican senators joining Democrats in opposition. The bill still needs a final vote of approval in the similarly Republican-dominated Florida House and is expected to pass this week.

Why it matters

This bill is the latest step in a years-long campaign to eliminate public sector unions in Florida, according to critics. It is backed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, as well as billionaire-funded think tanks and business groups that lobby for similar anti-union policies elsewhere. The legislation has raised concerns about infringing on workers' collective bargaining rights under the state constitution.

The details

The most significant provision of the bill would change voter thresholds in union elections, requiring a simple majority of at least 50% of eligible voters to vote to form a union, recertify, or decertify a union, instead of just a majority of those who vote. The bill would also eliminate the option for employers to voluntarily recognize a union of public employees, and significantly increase financial penalties for strikes by public employees, which are already illegal under the Florida Constitution.

  • The Florida Senate voted 20-14 to pass SB 1296 on March 2, 2026.
  • The bill still needs a final vote of approval in the Florida House this week.

The players

SB 1296

A bill passed by the Florida Senate that would make it harder for most local and state government employees to form or keep their union.

Ron DeSantis

The governor of Florida who is backing the bill.

Freedom Foundation

A billionaire-funded think tank that lobbies for anti-union policies and has endorsed the bill.

Mackinac Center for Public Policy

A think tank based in Michigan that has also endorsed the bill.

Florida Chamber of Commerce

A business group that has endorsed the bill.

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What they’re saying

“Every day, I work hard to ensure I provide exceptional care to all my patients and any patient who comes into the Jackson Health system. This bill hurts my ability to do that. [It] hurts my ability to advocate for my patients, their families and overall, our communities.”

— Casey Mohrien, Resident physician at Jackson Memorial Hospital and member of 1199 SEIU (Senate Fiscal Policy Committee)

“It is more government, more intrusion, more red tape.”

— Lisa Bush, Registered nurse of 25 years at Jackson Memorial Hospital and self-described "proud Republican" (Senate Fiscal Policy Committee)

“This is the next step in a campaign, a years-long campaign to eliminate public sector unions in Florida.”

— Sen. Carlos Guillermo Smith, Democratic senator from Orlando (Florida Senate floor)

“This commonsense reform, SB 1296, reins in fringe political activism from teacher unions and refocuses them on accountability to teachers.”

— Linda McMahon, U.S. Secretary of Education (X)

“The goal is to get rid of the bad unions.”

— Sen. Jonathan Martin, Republican sponsor of SB 1296 (Florida Senate)

What’s next

The bill still needs a final vote of approval in the Florida House this week and is expected to pass.

The takeaway

This bill is the latest step in a long-running effort by Florida's Republican leadership and business groups to weaken public sector unions, raising concerns about infringing on workers' constitutional rights. The legislation has sparked strong opposition from public employees, including some self-described Republicans, who argue it will undermine their ability to advocate for their workplaces and communities.