Critics consider the bill an attack on higher education related to broader culture war issues—ahead of a potential DeSantis presidential run in 2024—rather than a serious piece of legislation aimed at fixing current issues or improving higher education. They worry that if passed as written, HB 999 will deal an irreparable blow to Florida’s public higher education system by eliminating academic freedom, exacerbating faculty recruitment issues, causing problems with accreditors and potentially costing institutions millions in federal grant money.
