| Individual Freedom Act | |
| Legislature: | Florida Legislature |
| Enacted By: | Florida House of Representatives |
| Enacted By2: | Florida Senate |
| Signed By: | Ron DeSantis |
| Date Signed: | April 22, 2022 |
| Date Effective: | July 1, 2022 |
| Introduced By: | Bryan Avila |
| Passed: | February 24, 2022 |
| Passed For: | 74 Florida Representatives |
| Passed Against: | 41 Florida Representatives |
| Passed2: | March 10, 2022 |
| Passed2 For: | 24 Florida Senators |
| Passed2 Against: | 15 Florida Senators |
| Status: | not fully in force |
The Stop WOKE Act, also known as the Stop Wrongs to Our Kids and Employees Act and redubbed the Individual Freedom Act, is a Florida state law which prohibited schools and businesses from teaching certain concepts related to race, racism, and privilege. Penalties would include disciplinary action, including job termination, and loss of public funding for state schools.
After passing both chambers of the Republican-controlled Florida Legislature along party lines, it was signed by Governor Ron DeSantis on April 22, 2022, and entered into effect on July 1.[1] Intended by DeSantis to "fight back" against "woke indoctrination" and critical race theory,[2] critics of the law described it as whitewashing and an attack on the First Amendment.[3]
U.S. district judge Mark E. Walker declared parts of the law relating to workplace diversity training unconstitutional in August 2022, and in November he issued a temporary injunction preventing the law from being enforced in higher education. On appeal, the Eleventh Circuit upheld the district court decision in March 2024, ruling that the law would violate businesses' First Amendment rights.[4] On July 26, 2024, Judge Walker granted a permanent injunction against the workplace provisions.[5] [6]