Ought to be a Law

HCPS Students are Laying Down the Law!

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When local lawmakers present bills during the next legislative session, several of them will be courtesy of students from Hillsborough County Public Schools.

“Ought to be a Law”

Each year, our school district partners with local lawmakers for an event called “Ought to be a Law.” Students from Hillsborough County high schools brainstorm ideas they think should become Florida law, and then they pitch them to local lawmakers and school board members.

HCPS Students are Laying Down the Law!

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These presentations are quite thorough.

The students explain their ideas, discuss resources and funding their ideas would require, and then create an in-depth PowerPoint presentation.

Each year, there’s one winner, whose idea will be sponsored by a local lawmaker.

However, our students are stepping up their games. This year, we had seven schools compete, and three of their proposals will be sponsored during the legislative session.

Ought to be a Law Lennard High School
The team from Lennard High School presents its bill proposal called Driving Under the Influence

Representative Susan Valdés, who has been a loyal proponent of this event for several years, along with Senator Jay Collins and Representative Traci Koster, will sponsor the bill proposal from Jefferson High School called Smart Living. The bill would require all high schools to offer a mandatory class for seniors to help them prepare for life after graduation.

The team from Jefferson really impressed the panelists with a semester-by-semester outline of classes that would help prepare seniors for career planning and financial literacy in the real world.

The team from Bloomingdale High School also impressed the panel, and especially Representative Dianne Hart, who will sponsor their bill presentation called The Green Business Act. The Act would incentivize businesses to increase recycling to the 75% goal that the Department of Environmental Protection implemented. The Act would mandate that Florida offer tax incentives for businesses that increase their recycling rate.

And lastly, the team from Sumner High School got the attention of Senator Jay Collins and Representative Danny Alvarez with their bill proposal. It’s called the Military Interstate Children’s Compact Commission. This bill would mandate one person at each school site be trained in counseling and enrolling students from military families.

Ought to be a Law Bloomingdale High School with Representative Dianne Hart
Representative Dianne Hart poses with the team from Bloomingdale High School whose bill she will sponsor

Our students in Hillsborough County Public Schools are making a difference—not just at their schools, but also at the state level. These teams will now work with lawmakers and begin the process of watching their bill work its way through the House and Senate.

The “Ought to be a Law” event is held each year, and every Hillsborough County Public high school can take part. So, if you have a younger student, encourage them to start thinking of ways they want to change the world… or at least change Florida law… and maybe one day they can pitch their proposals to Tallahassee as well!

 

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Feature Image: The team from Sickles High School presents its bill proposal called Caring Closet | Originally published in the December 2024 issue of Tampa Bay Parenting Magazine.