Florida’s new election integrity law: Easier to vote, harder to cheat

Florida is leading the way on election integrity because we have a Governor and a Legislature willing to proactively ensure that all legal votes count.

To that end, Governor DeSantis signed into law Senate Bill 90 this morning in Palm Beach County. Florida’s new election integrity bill strengthens voter identification, prohibits the unsolicited mass mailing of ballots, bans ballot harvesting and prohibits private money from administering elections in our state.

“Florida took action this legislative session to increase transparency and strengthen the security of our elections,” Governor DeSantis said. “Floridians can rest assured that our state will remain a leader in ballot integrity. Elections should be free and fair, and these changes will ensure this continues to be the case in the Sunshine State.”

“Safeguarding and maintaining the integrity of our elections is important to all of us,” said Senate President Wilton Simpson. “We all lose when people have no confidence in the integrity of an election. That’s what we want to avoid. We don’t want to backslide. Florida was a model for the nation in November, and that is something we can all take pride in.”

The new law is a win for everyone who wants voting easier but cheating harder.

“Floridians have more options to cast their ballot than ever before. With that variety must come assurance of security, accountability, and transparency,” said House Speaker Chris Sprowls.

Read more here: https://www.flgov.com/2021/05/06/governor-ron-desantis-signs-bill-to-safeguard-the-sanctity-of-florida-elections/

Watch a Fox News clip here: https://video.foxnews.com/v/6252896639001#sp=show-clips

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Charlie Crist has announced for Governor, bringing an endless stream of failures in public office — his biggest being those that failed the people of Florida. Repeatedly.

He claims now to care about jobs. But under his leadership as Governor (when he was a Republican, before he was an Independent, which was before he was a Democrat, which he is at this moment) Florida’s unemployment rate soared to 11.1 percent — triple what it had been. More than 800,000 Floridians lost their jobs under Crist. Bankruptcies and foreclosures soared and Crist steered the state budget deep into debt.

But as the times got tougher under his governorship, he began looking for ways to run away from the problems he created, quitting on Floridians to pursue other elected offices. The job he really cares about is his own.

And now that back-to-back Republican governors in Rick Scott and Ron DeSantis have righted the ship that he nearly capsized and set the state in perhaps the strongest economic and financial position in the country, he wants back in the Governor’s mansion he ran away from in disarray. Apparently totally screwing up the state once was just not enough for him.

Crist is the epitome of the self-absorbed, empty suit politician and Floridians can do much better — and already are under Governor DeSantis.

Senator Rick Scott released an awesome video documenting Crist’s almost innumerable failures and lack of personal character.

Watch Senator Scott’s video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vklOIQsvwdg&ab_channel=OnmessageInc

Helen Aguirre Ferre, Executive Director of RPOF, out out a strong statement on Crist:

“While Governor DeSantis put seniors first, kept our kids in school, and businesses open, Charlie Crist advocated for lockdowns, restrictions on businesses, and backed the teachers’ unions efforts to keep our kids from the classroom. Crist supports defunding the police and has voted 100% of the time for Nancy Pelosi’s radical agenda. He even betrayed those who fled communism when he embraced Castro regime officials in a secret trip to Cuba.”

Legislation

Banning vaccine passports, Governor DeSantis was joined by legislative leaders and small business owners in St. Petersburg where he signed landmark legislation, SB 2006, aimed at stemming the tide of local and state government overreach.

The bill takes aim at arbitrary lockdowns and vaccine passports and enhances emergency preparedness for future emergencies. The Governor also signed Executive Orders 21-101 and 21-102 suspending all local emergency orders until July 1, at which point local orders will be permanently invalidated under SB 2006.

“Over the last year we’ve avoided protracted lockdowns and school closures in Florida because I have refused to take the same approach as lockdown Governors. This legislation ensures that legal safeguards are in place so that local governments cannot arbitrarily close our schools or businesses,” Governor DeSantis said. “In Florida, your personal choice regarding vaccinations will be protected and no business or government entity will be able to deny you services based on your decision.

Read more here: https://www.flgov.com/2021/05/03/governor-ron-desantis-signs-landmark-legislation-to-ban-vaccine-passports-and-stem-government-overreach/

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To ensure Florida children are ready for school, Governor Ron DeSantis signed new laws that will prepare our kids for kindergarten and monitor academic progress through middle school. Catching the children who need help early on will make a big difference in their educational outcomes.

The Governor signed HB 419 that makes historic improvements to state accountability for early learning programs. Additionally, he signed HB 7011 creating a statewide progress-monitoring tool to quickly understand Pre-K through 8th grade students’ academic progress in real-time and rapidly identify any personalized interventions for students that need additional support. The goal is to have 90 percent of Florida’s third graders reading on grade level by 2030.

“As a parent of three young children, I know how important it is that parents have access to high quality early learning programs,” Governor DeSantis said. “Early learning is critical for the lifelong success of our students, and supporting our earliest learners will take the guesswork out of providing personalized interventions and instruction for our vulnerable students that may be falling behind.”

Read more here: https://www.flgov.com/2021/05/04/governor-ron-desantis-signs-groundbreaking-early-learning-and-literacy-legislation/

And here: https://www.baynews9.com/fl/tampa/news/2021/05/05/gov–desantis-signs-literacy–early-learning-education-bills-into-law

Florida Update

A one-time bonus of $1,000 will be headed to 174,000 Florida first responders, including law enforcement officers, paramedics, emergency medical technicians and firefighters, after Governor DeSantis traveled to Satellite Beach, Temple Terrace and Fort Myers to announce the bonuses.

“Supporting our law enforcement and first responders has been a top priority for my administration, and it has never been more important than over the last year. As a state, we are grateful for their continued service to our communities,” Governor DeSantis said. “This one-time bonus is a small token of appreciation, but we can never go far enough to express our gratitude for their selflessness.”

“When the Coronavirus came to Florida, our first responders worked overtime to protect our communities and get people the care they so desperately needed,” said Florida Chief Financial Officer and State Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis. “They performed with honor and distinction during this global pandemic.”

Read more here: https://www.flgov.com/2021/05/05/governor-ron-desantis-announces-1000-pandemic-bonus-for-floridas-first-responders/

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Florida CFO Jimmy Patronis launched his first digital ad for his re-election campaign this week, called “Let’s Keep Florida Open.”

The spot talks about CFO Patronis’ family restaurant business and the difficulties it endured because of local shutdowns, reinforcing the importance of keeping Florida open. And he highlighted his successes in making nearly 4,000 arrests for fraud and abuse of funds while paying back nearly $200 million in restitution.

Watch his video launch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zonIXiYjx0&ab_channel=JimmyPatronis

Sen. Rick Scott Shares 117th Congress Committee Assignments

The United States Committee on Armed Services is a committee of the United States Senate empowered with legislative oversight of the nation’s military, including the Department of Defense, military research and development, nuclear energy (as pertaining to national security), benefits for members of the military, the Selective Service System and other matters related to defense policy.

The United States Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs is the chief oversight committee of the United States Senate. It has jurisdiction over matters related to the Department of Homeland Security and other homeland security concerns, as well as the functioning of the government itself, including the National Archives, budget and accounting measures other than appropriations, the Census, the federal civil service, the affairs of the District of Columbia and the United States

The United States Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee is composed of seven subcommittees, which together oversee for the vast range of issues under its jurisdiction. These issues range from communications, highways, aviation, rail, shipping, transportation security, merchant marine, the Coast Guard, oceans, fisheries, climate change, disasters, science, space, interstate commerce, tourism, consumer issues, economic development, technology, competitiveness, product safety, and insurance.

The United States Senate Committee on the Budget was established by the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974. It is responsible for drafting Congress’s annual budget plan and monitoring action on the budget for the Federal Government.

The United States Senate Special Committee on Aging was initially established in 1961 as a temporary committee; it became a permanent Senate committee in 1977. As a special committee, it studies issues related to older Americans, particularly Medicare and Social Security.

Banner

Senate Armed Services Committee Announces Subcommittee Leadership for 117th Congress Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) Chairman Jack Reed (D-RI) and Ranking Member Jim Inhofe (R-OK) announced the subcommittee assignments for the 117th Congress. Senator Rick Scott has been assigned to: • Subcommittee on Airland • Subcommittee on Seapower • Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities Senator Rick Scott said, “I’m honored to continue serving on the Senate Armed Services Committee and on the subcommittees for Airland, Seapower and Emerging Threats and Capabilities. Florida has 20 military bases and three unified commands, more than almost any other state, and I will always do everything I can to support our armed services and the brave individuals who serve our nation. As a Navy veteran myself, I will never forget my most important job as U.S. Senator is to protect and serve the families of our nation, and we must continue to invest in America’s greatest asset — the men and women of our armed forces.”

Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Leaders Announce Subcommittee Membership Senators Gary Peters and Rob Portman, Chairman and Ranking Member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, announced members that will serve on the committee’s subcommittees in the 117th Congress. Senator Rick Scott will be serving on the following subcommittees: • Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (PSI) • Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Spending Oversight Senator Rick Scott said, “I’m proud to continue serving on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, including on the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations and the Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Spending Oversight. I look forward to continuing our work to protect our nation from foreign and domestic threats and to reform Washington so that every taxpayer dollar spent gets a return on investment for Americans.”

Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation Announces Subcommittee Leadership for 117th Congress Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation Chair Senator Maria Cantwell and Ranking Member Senator Roger Wicker announced the new Commerce subcommittee structure and leadership for the 117th Congress, including Senator Rick Scott’s new role as Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Tourism, Trade, and Export Promotion. Senator Rick Scott said, “I’m proud to continue serving on the Senate Committee for Commerce, Science and Transportation, and as Ranking Member on the new Subcommittee on Tourism, Trade, and Export Promotion. Tourism is essential to the success of Florida’s economy and supports millions of jobs in communities of every size across our state. While I was Governor, we proudly welcomed hundreds of millions of visitors every year, shattering tourism records. Each of these visitors supported small businesses, fueled job growth and helped us increase our state and local investments in the environment, transportation, public safety and education. “As our state and nation work to recover from the coronavirus and get our economy back on track, I remain committed to doing everything I can to support our tourism industry in Florida and across the United States. I also look forward to continuing my work on the committee to improve our nation’s infrastructure, maintain the United States’ role as a leader in commerce and space exploration, and protect our national security, citizens and networks from the threat of Communist China.”

Chairman’s Message

Florida continues to lead on school choice for parents and students

The Legislature has passed bills maximizing parental choice by expanding eligibility and streamlining school choice scholarship programs for students with unique abilities and students from lower income families. The Senate passed House Bill 7045, School Choice, sponsored in the Senate by Senator Manny Diaz, Jr.

“I’m pleased to see the Senate stand with Florida parents who overwhelmingly support expanding eligibility for these popular school choice programs. We know that parents are their children’s first and best educators, a fact that has certainly been highlighted over the last year,” Senate President Wilton Simpson said. “We want school choice to be an option for every family. This important legislation further streamlines our existing school choice scholarships, and expands eligibility for lower income families, families of students with unique abilities, adopted children, and children whose parents serve in our military.”

The legislation expands school choice to allow a family of four earning less than $100,000 to receive full funding for K-12 education costs at a school of their choice under an expansion of the Family Empowerment Scholarship Program. Eligibility is expanded to students who are not enrolled in a public school, students of parents serving in the military, and students who are in foster care or adopted.

Read much more here: https://www.flsenate.gov/Media/PressReleases/Show/3963

The Wall Street Journal ran a terrific editorial on Florida’s school choice bill, the final line of which is: Florida is a haven for overtaxed northerners, but it’s also an education refuge for low- and middle-income families.

Read more here:
https://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Documents/loaddoc.aspx?DocumentType=Press%20Release&FileName=764

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Holding Big Tech accountable. Both chambers of the Florida Legislature have now approved legislation barring social media companies from deplatforming political candidates. It’s a classic free speech, anti-censorship, equal access and protection bill for all Floridians.

Republicans and free-speech advocates — and just a lot of Americans — were outraged after the sitting President of the United States, President Donald Trump, was suspended and then banned from Facebook and Twitter in January on the spurious accusation that his content had the potential to incite violence. It did not, but plenty of content that the social media platforms do allow does have the potential, and expectation, to incite violence — such as Antifa organizing on their platforms.

After the appalling, partisan ban of the President,the New York Post, Parler, and Republican candidates such as Laura Loomer, Governor Ron DeSantis called for laws stopping the social media giants from doing this again. After all, for better or worse, they are the public square now and access to them is required for free speech to flourish. Under the measure, social media giants would be forbidden to suspend the accounts of candidates for more than 60 days before an election has been resolved.

Read more here: https://www.baynews9.com/fl/tampa/news/2021/04/28/florida-house-oks-bills-banning-social-media-deplatforming–voting-drop-boxes-

Legislation

The Florida House and Senate have agreed to a budget that is balanced, while making record investments in flood mitigation, education and leaving $6 billion in budget reserves. The 2021 General Appropriations Act prepares Florida today for a better tomorrow. In reconciling the House and Senate budgets, both sides praised the other for their spirit of cooperation throughout the process.

“Working together with our partners in the Senate, we were able to craft a budget that funds immediate needs and also long-term priorities for the future,” House Speaker Chris Sprowls said. “In the greenest budget in Florida’s history, we respond to the needs of our state in areas like flooding mitigation, state park maintenance and water quality. We provide unprecedented levels of budget reserves, make record investments in higher-education funding, fund an overhaul of our workforce system and extend postpartum Medicaid coverage from two months to a full year.”

House Appropriations Committee Chair Trumbull said: “We make smart, good-government investments into programs that provide lasting benefits for generations. From unprecedented infrastructure funding to record investments into beach renourishment to bonuses for teachers and front-line workers, we make the right decisions for Florida’s future.”

The $101.5 billion budget includes $6.9 billion in federal funding from Medicaid increases and federal education stimulus funds. If those funds were not included, the budget would be $94.6 billion, slightly above the $92.3 billion budget approved last year.

Read more here: https://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Documents/loaddoc.aspx?DocumentType=Press%20Release&FileName=763

Florida Update

Governor DeSantis announced a historic gaming compact between the State of Florida and the Seminole Tribe of Florida. The agreement will generate a minimum of $2.5 billion in new state revenue over the next five years, and an estimated $6 billion through 2030.

“This historic compact expands economic opportunity, tourism, and recreation, and bolsters the fiscal success of our state in one fell swoop for the benefit of all Floridians and Seminoles alike,” Governor DeSantis said. “Our agreement establishes the framework to generate billions in new revenue and untold waves of positive economic impact.”

Larger and more expansive than any other gaming compact in U.S. history, the agreement increases the revenue to the State of Florida from the Seminole Tribe from no revenue to over $6 billion over the next decade, with a guaranteed minimum of $2.5 billion during the first five years. Most notably, the compact modernizes the gaming industry through the authorization of sports betting in Florida through the Tribe. The agreement also provides protections for pari-mutuel operations and the opportunity to participate in sports betting offered by the Tribe.

Read more here: https://www.flgov.com/2021/04/23/governor-ron-desantis-strikes-historic-gaming-compact-with-seminole-tribe-of-florida/

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Governor DeSantis announced significant progress in the Everglades Agricultural Area Reservoir Project in a press conference where he was joined by Florida Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Noah Valenstein and the South Florida Water Management District to announce significant progress on the Everglades Agricultural Area Reservoir Project.

The SFWMD Governing Board unanimously approved an agreement with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers that keeps the Corps on track to begin federal construction on the reservoir component this year. In April 2020, Governor DeSantis announced that the South Florida Water Management District began construction on the State of Florida’s component of the project, the stormwater treatment area, 12 months ahead of schedule.

“Today marks a critical milestone for Everglades restoration and achieving our state’s long-term environmental goals,” Governor DeSantis said.

Read more: https://www.flgov.com/2021/04/22/governor-ron-desantis-announces-major-milestone-to-advance-eaa-reservoir-project/

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Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis needled Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer with a letter this week in response to ongoing revelations that she and a top staffer visited Florida recently after telling Michigan residents they should not travel — particularly to Florida. CFO Patronis provided the governor and her staff with tourism materials from the state’s “Visit Florida” marketing board to “help plan” their next trip down.

“Now that you and your COO have personally experienced what the Sunshine State has to offer, I encourage you to share your experiences publicly. More importantly, however, don’t be a stranger!”

Read more here: https://www.foxnews.com/politics/desantis-cabinet-member-trolls-michigans-whitmer-over-travel-mess-by-sending-tourism-pamphlets

REMEMBER: @FloridaGOP and retweet and share. The Republican message must be spread around the state and you are integral to making that happen.

Public Safety
 Legislative leaders and law enforcement officials from across the state applaud the passage of House Bill 1 to prevent mob violence, support peaceful protest and stand with our law enforcement.

Winter Haven, Fla. – Today, during a press conference at the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, Governor Ron DeSantis was joined by legislative leadership and law enforcement officials from across the state to sign the “Combating Public Disorder Act” into law. The bill, HB 1, takes a robust approach to uphold the rule of law, stand with those serving in law enforcement and enforce Florida’s zero tolerance policy for violent and disorderly assemblies. The bill comes in the wake of ongoing violence, rioting and other forms of civil unrest throughout the United States over the last two years.

Governor Ron DeSantis said, “In Florida, we are taking an unapologetic stand for the rule of law and public safety.  We are holding those who incite violence in our communities accountable, supporting our law enforcement officers who risk their lives every day to keep us safe and protecting Floridians from the chaos of mob violence. We’re also putting an end to the bullying and intimidation tactics of the radical left by criminalizing doxing and requiring restitution for damaging memorials and monuments by rioters. I am proud to sign this bill into law and appreciate the diligence of our elected leaders in the state legislature, especially Senator Stargel, Senator Burgess, Representative Fernandez-Barquin, Representative Perez and Representative Byrd, for getting this proposal to my desk so swiftly.”

First announced by Governor DeSantis in September 2020, the proposed legislation included new criminal offenses and increased penalties for individuals who are participants in violent or disorderly assemblies, while simultaneously guarding the Constitutionally protected First Amendment right to peaceably assemble.

House Bill 1, the “Combating Public Disorder Act”, increases penalties for existing crimes committed during a violent assembly, and protects the communities’ law enforcement officers, and victims of these types of acts. The bill also creates specific crimes for mob intimidation and cyber intimidation to ensure that Florida will not be a welcoming place for those wishing to impose their will on innocent civilians and law enforcement by way of mob mentality. Crimes of mob intimidation and cyber intimidation both will become 1st-degree misdemeanors.

Florida will not tolerate the destruction and demolition of memorials and historic properties by angry mobs. The Combating Public Disorder Act also creates new penalties for destroying monuments and historic property, the consequences of which include of a 2nd-degree felony and paying restitution for the repairing or replacing of the memorial. The bill is also increasing penalties and rankings for many of these offenses like assault, battery, battery on a law enforcement officer, criminal mischief, burglary, and theft when these crimes are committed during or in furtherance of a riot.

Legislative leaders and Cabinet officials from across the state joined Governor DeSantis to applaud the passage of HB1. Here is what they are saying …

Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Nuñez said, “Our administration believes there is a fine line between peaceful protest and violence. We have seen our nation’s communities ravaged by rage, anger, rioting and chaos. Our democracy cannot afford to blur the lines between peaceful assembly and violence. We applaud the Florida legislature for passing a historic bill that will protect the people’s Constitutional rights and liberties, safeguard our communities and will not turn a blind eye to criminal acts.”

Florida Senate President Wilton Simpson said, “Our constitutional right to protest has played a critical role in the great history of our democracy. We will defend the right of every Floridian to peacefully protest. However, you can’t assault a police officer. You can’t destroy property. No matter who you are, or what the cause. This good bill strengthens our state laws to increase penalties for bad actors who turn otherwise peaceful and constitutional protests into violent riots where law enforcement officers are attacked and property destroyed. I am proud to stand with our Governor to make it clear that peaceful protests are welcome, but violent, destructive mobs will not be tolerated in Florida.”

Florida House Speaker Chris Sprowls said, “There is nothing more important to me than protecting people and their property and defending our law enforcement officers. And there has been no Governor in America bolder than Governor Ron DeSantis, and for that, I commend him. Thank you to Representative Juan Fernandez-Barquin and his colleagues who championed this bill through the House, Senate President Simpson and our Senate partners, and Governor DeSantis, whose vision and signature today made this the law of the land. Today we are standing up to mob violence and standing behind our law enforcement officers who risk their lives every day to protect and serve.”

Attorney General Ashley Moody said, “We ask law enforcement officers to take an oath to protect and serve. We, as leaders, in turn have a responsibility to protect them as they ensure order and safety in the communities they serve.  We respect the right of people to peaceably assemble and make their views known on issues of public policy, but rioting, violence and destruction of property cannot and will not be tolerated in Florida. I want to thank Governor DeSantis and our great legislative leaders for taking steps to prevent the chaos and destruction happening in other parts of the country from gaining a foothold in Florida.”

Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis said, “Governor Ron DeSantis has done it once again. As citizens and businesses flee states like California and New York for sunny Florida, the Governor has fired off another message to the rest of the world that Florida will put the safety of its citizens first and foremost. We’ve watched cities like Portland, New York, Seattle, and Chicago burn because politicians turned their backs on law enforcement. Luckily, Governor DeSantis’ Florida is different from the Portlands of the world because we love and appreciate our law enforcement community. Unfortunately, as anti-law and anti-law enforcement sentiments are spilling out to certain portions of the nation, Florida has had to make sure our laws are keeping up with the times to keep our communities safe. This law makes it clear that civil protests are not the same as violent-destruction, and we’re thankful to the Governor and Legislature for putting this commonsense idea into action.”

Representative Juan Fernandez-Barquin, R-Miami, Sponsor of House Bill 1 said, “My bill protects peaceful protestors, innocent residents, private property and law enforcement. It stiffens penalties for looters and rioters and preserves our First Amendment rights by clearly differentiating between a rioter and peaceful protestor.”

Senator Danny Burgess said, “As a Father, Soldier, and Florida Senator, I took an oath to protect our First Amendment rights and will always continue to do so. This bill protects the 1st Amendment Rights we all cherish – rights generations of Americans have fought and died to protect. This bill makes it clear that the Florida Legislature and our Governor stand side by side with protestors who are peaceful and trying to enact meaningful change. We stand side by side with law enforcement who risk their lives every day to protect our communities. Most importantly, we stand side by side with Floridians across our state who like me were rendered speechless watching U.S. soldiers inside our nation’s Capital protect us from ourselves. I am grateful to Governor DeSantis for signing this legislation today, because here in Florida criminals who seek to thwart peaceful protests by willfully inciting violence, attacking law enforcement and destroying public or private property will be held accountable.”

Senator Kelli Stargel said, “As a mother of children who have served this country in our Armed Forces and defended the freedoms we enjoy as Americans, and as a citizen who has participated in many peaceful protests over the years, I am grateful to the Legislature and our Governor for their work to protect the rights of protestors whose worthwhile efforts to make their voices heard are drowned out when peaceful protests turn into violent attacks on law enforcement and property. We are honored to have our Governor here in Polk Country today to sign critical legislation that safeguards our First Amendment right to protest, while enhancing public safety by giving law enforcement the tools they need to protect our communities.”

Representative Cord Byrd said, “HB 1 strikes the right balance between protecting the constitutional right to peaceably assemble while punishing those who sow discord and anarchy.  HB 1 sends a strong message that Florida will not wait for its cities to burn before taking action to protect her citizens.”

Representative Danny Perez said, “With the signing of HB 1, we are making it abundantly clear that rioting and looting will never be tolerated in Florida. I am proud to join Governor DeSantis and my colleagues in the Legislature in standing for law and order.”

In addition to legislative leaders, law enforcement officials and representatives from across the state applauded the Governor’s leadership to pass House Bill 1 and sign it into law. Here is what law enforcement officials are saying …

Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said, “I applaud House Speaker Sprowls, Senate President Simpson, and Governor DeSantis for their leadership to keep Floridians and visitors to Florida safe by passing this important legislation. Nothing else matters if you and your children aren’t safe. This law represents Florida’s commitment to public order and creating a safe place for people to express their constitutional right to free speech.”

Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey said, “Government’s one and only responsibility is to protect its citizens and in a state that stands for law and order, House Bill 1 does exactly that!! From day one, Governor DeSantis has stood shoulder to shoulder with law enforcement to protect our citizens and this bill is another perfect example of his commitment to make certain that Florida is the safest state in the country!!  The bill combats public disorder and holds those accountable who put others lives and property at risk through violent acts and destruction. Structured to protect free speech and peaceful protest, House Bill 1 gives strong teeth to law enforcement and prosecutors to bring criminal charges against those who commit acts of violence, looting, destruction, and intimidation during a public disturbance. Championed by Governor DeSantis, House Bill 1 makes certain that our citizens, our cops, and our Constitution are protected!!”

Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri said, “HB1 is important to the rule of law and effective public safety across Florida. Thanks to Governor DeSantis and the Florida Legislature, law enforcement will now have effective tools to hold people accountable who are not peacefully protesting, but rather are engaging in lawless behavior that threatens the safety of others.”

Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno said, “I fully support Governor DeSantis and his commitment to law and order in the State of Florida; I have taken a zero-tolerance stance against rioting or any type of violence within my county. While I completely support the citizens right to peacefully assemble, any type of public endangerment or rioting will be shut down immediately, and those responsible will be incarcerated. I could not be more proud of our great Governor.”

Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods said, “I commend Governor DeSantis and his strong leadership because he truly knows how to protect this great State of ours. This bill becoming a law is a perfect example of his passion of ensuring that the hard working, law abiding citizens and their property is and will be protected. This law will separate the law-abiding citizen exercising their Constitutional Rights from the individual who is committing crimes.  Anyone who opposes or fears this law is an individual who cares more about a criminal and criminal acts rather than law and order.”

Duval County Sheriff Mike Williams said, “I am very pleased that our Governor has demonstrated yet again his support for law enforcement in signing House Bill 1 – the Anti-Riot Bill. Jacksonville, along with the rest of the state is ready to work together to build stronger bridges of trust and cooperation while maintaining public safety. Public Safety is paramount for everyone in Florida – our families, our neighbors and our businesses.”

Gilchrist County Sheriff and President of the Florida Sheriffs Association Bobby Schultz said, “Destroying property, harassing, and threatening Floridians, or attacking law enforcement officers is unacceptable in a civil society; Sheriffs will defend every citizen’s right to peacefully protest. HB 1 further supports this by removing the criminal element that attempts to take these peaceful events and turn them violent.”

Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Rick Swearingen said, “I am grateful for Governor Ron DeSantis’ leadership on HB1. Under Governor DeSantis, Florida has shown what it means to be a national model by bolstering our law enforcement community with the tools it needs to protect our citizens. The anti-riot bill makes Florida safer and I’m proud to stand with Governor DeSantis on this important legislation.”

Florida Highway Patrol Colonel Gene Spaulding said, “Thanks to the leadership of Governor Ron DeSantis, HB 1 will help our communities exercise their constitutional rights peacefully while upholding the rule of law and furthers Florida’s commitment to supporting and protecting our dedicated law enforcement officers.”

Colonel Curtis Brown, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said, “We want to thank Governor DeSantis for his leadership in keeping Floridians safe, we stand behind the Governor and the Legislature on this important issue.”

Satellite Beach Police Chief and President of the Florida Police Chiefs Association Jeff Pearson said, “On behalf of the Florida Police Chiefs Association and over 900 law enforcement executives, we applaud Governor DeSantis and the Florida Legislature for their unwavering support for Florida’s law enforcement and the rule of law. Peaceful protest is a defining hallmark of our society, but violent protests endanger lives and threaten the rights of every other citizen we are sworn to protect. With Governor DeSantis’ leadership, House Bill 1 will help law enforcement better protect the lives and property of every Floridian, and ensure that peaceful protestors can safely exercise their constitutional rights without the threat of having their voices hijacked by the violent actions of others.”

Florida Police Benevolent Association President John Kazanjian said, “On behalf of the thousands of brave men and women who put their lives on the line every day to keep our communities safe, the Florida PBA applauds Governor Ron DeSantis for signing into law, the ‘Anti- Riot Bill.’ This important legislation will increase penalties for assault, battery, burglary and theft, and battery against a law enforcement officer during a riot, and prohibits the damaging or defacing of memorials or historic property. This is a win for public safety in the State of Florida and for our law enforcement officers, who maintain public safety every day.”

Florida State Fraternal Order of Police President Robert Jenkins said, “The Fraternal Order of Police wants to thank Governor DeSantis for HB 1. The  FOP believes this bill allows Law Enforcement the ability to act appropriately and swiftly to protect the citizenry, and property of this State, but more importantly those persons wishing to exercise their constitutional right of free speech peacefully. The FOP wants to thank Governor DeSantis not only for his continued support of Law Enforcement but his continued leadership during the pandemic this past year.”