Fort Myers, FL — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis today signed SB 1296 into law, closing longstanding gaps that Florida government unions have exploited to maintain certification without genuine worker support.

SB 1296 reforms union elections by requiring at least 50 percent of the bargaining unit to cast ballots before an election result can be certified, ensuring unions cannot claim exclusive representation based on turnout from a small fraction of the workers they claim to represent.

The new law also limits taxpayer-funded paid leave for union activities to legitimate representational work — contract negotiations and grievance proceedings — ending the practice of using that time for lobbying, political campaigning or member recruitment. 

Employees who wish to engage in those activities may do so using unpaid leave, their own accrued PTO or voluntarily pooled PTO from colleagues.

“Florida is setting a national standard that every state should pay attention to,” said Freedom Foundation CEO Aaron Withe. “Florida government unions have been exploiting a systemic loophole to remain certified, and this law shuts that down. SB 1296 forces them to prove they represent the workers they claim to speak for or admit they don’t.”

The Florida House of Representatives passed the bill with overwhelming support on March 11; the Florida Senate approved it on March 6. SB 1296 builds on SB 256, signed by DeSantis in 2023, which required unions to maintain 60 percent dues-paying membership or stand for re-election.

The need for that earlier reform became clear quickly. Several unions representing more than 70,000 Florida employees were decertified for lack of support, yet even among unions that survived, some prevailed with backing from less than 30 percent of their bargaining unit. 

SB 1296 closes the gap that remained.