TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WWSB) – Florida lawmakers have filed legislation that would require middle school students to receive at least 20 minutes of free play recess each day.
The requirement currently applies only to students in kindergarten through fifth grade. The new bill would extend the mandate to sixth through eighth grades.
Rep. Stark said she filed the bill after talking to several students who said a recess break is good for their mental health.
Tech groups seek expedited appeal of Florida social media law for minors
“This gives them an opportunity to either just decompress on their own or, you know, have a friend that they’re decompressing with, or they’re just going back and being retrospective on what they’ve learned so far during the day,” Stark said. “And if it’s been an overwhelming subject, then they can absorb that and move on to the next thing.”
Stark’s bill and a similar Senate version are filed for the legislative session that starts Tuesday.
Copyright 2026 WWSB. All rights reserved.