Danny Burgess, John Snyder push for mandatory portraits of Washington, Lincoln in Florida classrooms

State Sen. Danny Burgess and Rep. John Snyder are proposing legislation that would require portraits of Presidents George Washington and Abraham Lincoln to be displayed in classrooms across Florida.

The bill, SB 420 , comes as the nation approaches its 250th birthday and seeks to restore what the sponsors call a “proud tradition” meant to remind students of America’s history and founding ideals.

“For years, Florida’s classrooms proudly displayed portraits of George Washington, our first President, and Abraham Lincoln, our 16th President,” Burgess said in a statement. “These portraits weren’t just on display to echo civic lessons to our students; they served as a symbol of the foundation of America and our democracy.”

Burgess, a Zephyrhills Republican, said the idea came to h