Florida enacted a law, Fla. Stat. § 1006.185, to guarantee two minutes of opening remarks at high school events—potentially including prayer—to accommodate religious exercise within public school activities.

The FHSAA argued the pregame statement could be government speech and an unconstitutional endorsement of religion since the events were organized by the association.

The case's procedural history shows an initial dismissal in 2017, an appellate reversal in 2019, remand, and a 2022 ruling in favor of the association before the 2025 petition to the Supreme Court.

The appeals court had ruled that allowing spectators to view the prayers as state-endorsed would constitute government endorsement, a view the Supreme Court did not overturn.

The Supreme Court declined to hear Cambridge Christian School’s appeal, leaving in place a ruling that a pregame prayer broadcast at a Florida state championship game constitutes government speech and is not a constitutional right for the school.

Advocates for the athletic association argued that state policy changes addressed the problem, suggesting judicial intervention was unnecessary.

FHSAA representatives noted political branches have addressed the issue, implying limited real-world impact from Supreme Court review.

A Boies Schiller Flexner LLP and First Liberty Institute press release emphasized that the decision preserves a fractured precedent on government speech and religious expression in public-school athletic settings and pledged ongoing advocacy for student religious freedom protections.

Cambridge Christian argued that the Eleventh Circuit’s decision could have broad implications for First Amendment protections of private speech and religious exercise in government settings, a claim the association disputed.

By declining review, the Supreme Court leaves the existing framework in place: government speech analysis applies to PA announcements at state-organized games, and the Santa Fe decision remains controlling for student-initiated prayer at school-sponsored events.

Cambridge Christian argued government speech defenses could suppress religious expression elsewhere and stressed government entities may not exclude religious expression simply because it is religious.

The 2023 Florida law reportedly mooted parts of the lawsuit, but the appeals court maintained it needed to rule on First Amendment issues regarding nominal damages, with the district court having dismissed initially in 2017 and subsequent appellate victories for the association.

Cambridge Christian filed the petition in 2025 after a lengthy nine-year legal battle, arguing the ruling could limit First Amendment protections for private speech and religious exercise in government settings.

CCS argued the FHSAA’s decision sent a message that prayer via the PA system was inappropriate, causing confusion and discouraging students.

By denying review, the Court preserves Santa Fe as controlling on student-initiated prayer at school-sponsored events, while affirming government speech analysis for PA announcements at state-organized games.

State law and prior rulings narrowed the central issues, with the district court dismissing, the Eleventh Circuit reversing, and the Supreme Court ultimately not taking the case, leaving the appellate decision intact.

Lower courts had found the broadcast closely identified with government activity, potentially constituting government speech and endorsement of religion.

Plaintiffs contended the pregame PA broadcast sent an endorsing message and caused frustration among players who felt singled out.

The petition framed the case as one with lasting implications for the balance between religious expression and government speech in publicly funded contexts.

The ruling reinforces that Santa Fe Independent School District v. Doe remains the controlling precedent against student-initiated, student-led prayer at football games.