Students from across the Osceola School District came to Neptune Middle School last week to present their suggested legislative bills before a panel of judges as part of Rep. Paula Stark’s fourth “Build-A-Bill” competition.
The concept introduces middle school students to the nuts and bolts of presenting and forming arguments for legislative bills in the Florida Legislature. Judges awarded the three-student team of Carly Lech, Lucy Graham and Elysmar Francois from Neptune Middle School the top marks. Their winning bill, titled the “Student Mental Health Act,” would require at least a small amount of free time between certain classes to allow for stress reduction and more efficient learning overall.
“We just want these breaks in order to help students be able to push and to continue working at their very best because, as we know, children are the future,” said the students as they talked after winning. “We will grow up to be the next adults; we will grow up to make the next big thing.”
Their presentation was one of the five final presentations selected from 13 student bill submissions. Rep. Stark will file the winner as one of her bills for the 2026 legislative session. The student team will travel to the state capital in Tallahassee to present their bill.
“These were absolutely some wonderful presentations,” Stark told the students during judging. “This is really difficult for me. Every time I have this conversation and we choose these wonderful students, I’m emotional about it. I’m so impressed—all the time. I’m amazed at what you do, I’m amazed at how thoughtful you are, I’m amazed at some of the research that you do, and [the judges] are all super impressed with you as well.”
Other bills that were part of the final presentations included a bill to improve safety aspects in trash bins, a bill that would promote and protect more Florida wetlands, a bill addressing medical healthcare and malpractice, and a bill to create more “safe spaces” in the schools for students.
“This was a great opportunity for our students to express themselves, to get their ideas out, and really be a part of the process of what it takes to build a bill,” said Osceola County Schools Director of Middle School Curriculum Henry Santiago. “It gave them an opportunity to really think about what impacts them and what impacts other youth, and how can we solve those problems that come across their way.”
“Thank you to the teachers,” Stark added. “If you don’t do it in your civics classes, it’s not happening, so we thank you so much for doing that.”
