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Gov. DeSantis signs bill for tougher citizen amendment process in Florida [1]
['James Call']
Date: 2025-05-02
Gov. DeSantis signs bill for tougher citizen amendment process in Florida 'This is to stop any citizens’ initiative from every appearing on a ballot again,' one critic said.
Show Caption Hide Caption Insurance rates, condo fees: What is the Legislature doing to help? FLORIDA TODAY's John Torres discusses the 2025 legislative session with reporters James Call and John Kennedy in this excerpt fro the Florida Pulse.
The Florida Legislature passed and Gov. DeSantis signed a bill increasing hurdles for citizen-led constitutional amendments.
Supporters say it combats fraud, while critics argue it suppresses citizen involvement in policy changes.
Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed into law a bill to make it more difficult for citizens to get constitutional amendments on the ballot, like ones in recent years that raised the minimum wage to $15 and allowed for the use of medical marijuana.
The Legislature passed the measure (HB 1205) May 2 and the governor signed it later that same day.
The House and Senate earlier had been at odds over at what point a signature collector would have to register with the state as a "petition circulator" and take a two-hour online training course. The measure bounced between the chambers the last three days of the session before the House boosted the threshold to 25 signatures on May 1.
The next day, the session's final day, the Senate agreed with a 28–9 vote.
DeSantis had called for new regulations on the constitutional amendment process after his Office of Election Crimes and Security issued a report finding rampant fraud by backers of an abortion-rights initiative in 2024.
The pro-initiative Floridians Protecting Freedom political committee paid a $164,000 settlement over alleged fraudulent signatures.
The Legislature responded to DeSantis’ call with a measure that requires groups sponsoring ballot initiatives to put up a $1 million bond, as well as shortens the time for submitting signatures and increases financial penalties for violations.
But it also prohibits spending "public funds for a political advertisement or any other communication" to support or oppose a proposed amendment.
Outside estimates suggest DeSantis may have spent anywhere from $20 million to $100 million in taxpayer money successfully opposing last year's initiatives to create a state right to abortion and adult-use marijuana. Critics said the expenditures were an improper use of public funds.
“This bill is not an attack on the citizens’ initiative process. But it is an attack on those who have corrupted it,” Sen. Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, said in an April 30 debate.
Democrats warn the new legislation will effectively end citizens' abilities to enact policy changes when the Legislature refuses to act. Groups have used the initiative process, allowed since 1968, to limit the number of students in the classroom, ban offshore oil drilling and restore voting rights to felons.
Sen. Carlos Guillermo Smith, D-Orlando, said the stiff regulations and steep fines were examples of "big government" putting up obstacles to people participating in government.
“This is to stop any citizens’ initiative from every appearing on a ballot again,” said Smith, one of the 9 'no' votes.
Among other things, the bill shortens the time organizers have to submit signed petitions to supervisors of elections to 10 days from the current 30.
Fines for late submissions can be as much as $2,500, and a constitutional amendment sponsor could be fined up to $50,000 if it's discovered that someone collecting signatures had been convicted of a felony.
In other provisions, the legislation:
Requires a petition sponsor to post a $1 million bond payable to the Division of Elections once sponsor has collected 25% of signatures needed to be placed on ballot.
Requires all petition circulators to be Florida residents.
Levies a $50,000 fine for allowing a non-citizen or convicted felon to collect or handle initiative petitions.
Lowers the amount of time to submit signature to supervisor of elections from 30 days to 10 days.
Revises penalties for late submission from a flat fine of $50 to a daily fine of $50 up to $2,500.
Triggers an Office of Election Crimes and Security investigation when a supervisor of elections reports more than 10% of voters revoked their petition signature.
(This story was updated to add new information.)
This story contains previously published material. James Call is a member of the USA TODAY NETWORK-Florida Capital Bureau. He can be reached at
[email protected] and is on X as @CallTallahassee.
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[1] Url:
https://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/local/state/2025/05/02/florida-lawmakers-agree-on-stringent-ballot-initiative-requirements/83412822007/
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