The Republican governor explained that many of the Founding Fathers who helped create the country's system of government wouldn't agree with the notion that "you can just push God out of every institution and be successful."

"I'm sorry, our Founding Fathers did not believe that," DeSantis added, speaking at a signing event in Bal Harbour.

The bill, H.B. 529 (pdf), requires the principals at public schools to require certain teachers to take a moment of silence at the start of each school day in public schools. The bill also bans "teachers from making suggestions as to the nature of any reflection that a student may engage in during the moment of silence."

"In today's hectic society too few persons are able to experience even a moment of quiet reflection before plunging headlong into the activities of daily life," according to the measure. "Young persons are particularly affected by the absence of an opportunity for a moment of quiet reflection. The legislature finds that our youth and society as a whole would be well served if students in the public schools were afforded a moment of silence at the beginning of each school day."