Florida Bill: HB 1149

Bill Summary

HB 1149 extends Florida’s existing recess mandate (currently K–5) so that each district school board must provide at least 100 minutes per week of supervised, safe, unstructured free‑play recess for all students in kindergarten through grade 8, with at least 20 consecutive minutes per school day. This requirement would take effect July 1, 2026, and, like the existing law, would not apply to charter schools.

Why It Matters to the Make America Healthy Again Movement

The MAHA Movement supports this bill because it hard‑codes daily movement and unstructured play into the middle‑school day, reinforcing MAHA’s view that physical activity is foundational to mental focus, stress reduction, and long‑term health—not an optional extra. By guaranteeing middle schoolers the same minimum free‑play recess time already required for younger children, HB 1149 helps shift school culture toward more daily movement and away from entirely sedentary, screen‑heavy schedules that undermine kids’ metabolic and emotional health.