TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida students, including kindergarteners, must receive anti-communism education under a bill signed Wednesday by Gov. Ron DeSantis.

The bill (SB 1264) will require anti-communist teachings in kindergarten through 12^th grade. The teachings must highlight communism’s “atrocities” and its “increasing threat,” while also remaining age appropriate, according to the new law.

“We might as well give them the truth when they are in our schools because a lot of these universities… teach how great communism is,” DeSantis said at a press conference in Hialeah. “We are setting the proper foundation.”

Additionally, the proposal paves the way for a new communism history museum in Florida, plus a new partnership between Miami Dade College and Florida International University.

The partnership — known as the Institute for Freedom in the Americas — will promote individual and economic freedom to Latin America and the Caribbean.

“This bill today gives us the opportunity to ensure that we learn history so that our students in Florida are not apt to repeat the history and really understand the evils of communism,” said Florida Education Secretary Manny Diaz.

Two dozen Democratic lawmakers voted against the proposal in March, including Orlando Democratic Rep. Anna Eskamani. 

“I don’t think it’s appropriate to just focus on one specific victim of a political entity while ignoring victims that unfortunately have been created at the arms of the United States, whether its our foreign policy decisions and so forth,” Eskamani said.

Eskamani further described the proposal as hypocritical.

“I do find it disingenuous that Republican colleagues who are constantly screaming about indoctrination… then sponsor legislation that emphasizes that a specific political viewpoint be taught to our students,” Eskamani said. 

The bill goes into effect July 1. Communist teachings will begin in Florida in 2026.