DeSantis signs Florida law restricting use of foreign or religious law and expanding state terrorist designations
The Facts
- Ron DeSantis signed HB 1471 into law on Monday.
- The law bars Florida courts or other adjudicatory bodies from enforcing foreign or religious law when doing so would conflict with constitutional rights, including provisions described as Sharia law.
- HB 1471 creates a state mechanism for designating domestic or foreign terrorist organizations.
- Under the law, Florida's chief of domestic security can designate a group as a terrorist organization, subject to approval by the governor and Cabinet.
- Once designated under the law, a group can be dissolved and lose access to state funding.
- The law includes penalties affecting students who promote or support designated terrorist organizations, including expulsion from institutions.
- Critics including civil liberties and free speech advocates said the law could chill speech and raises due process or civil rights concerns.
- Multiple reports say the law takes effect on July 1, 2026.
Context
What does HB 1471 change for Florida courts?
It bars courts and other adjudicatory bodies from enforcing foreign or religious legal provisions if they would violate constitutional rights; reports specifically note the law highlights Sharia law in that context Newsweek,CBS News,NBC 6 South Florida.
Who can label a group a terrorist organization under the new law?
The state's chief of domestic security can make the designation, but it must be approved by the governor and the Florida Cabinet, which includes the attorney general, chief financial officer and agriculture commissioner CBS News,Spectrum News Bay N….
Why has the law drawn criticism?
Civil liberties and free speech advocates say the measure's provisions on designating groups and punishing support for them could chill protected speech and raise due process concerns Newsweek,Reuters,Spectrum News Bay N….
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Wire services (7)
Independent coverage (37)
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