TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV/Gray Florida Capital Bureau) – The Florida House has passed a bill that would ban local governments from spending money on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion programs, sending the measure to Gov. Ron DeSantis.
The bill would prohibit cities and counties from funding DEI programs and even passing resolutions related to them. Elected officials who violate the ban could be removed from office.
Rep. Ashley Gantt, D-Miami, said the legislation creates legal uncertainty for local governments.
“That will inevitably cause local elected to just not act. And that will have a detrimental impact on the constituents that elected them and elected us,” Gantt said.
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Gantt said the bill is so vague that it could end cultural events, including LGBT Pride parades across Florida. She noted that while the bill includes carve-outs, local governments may still struggle to interpret the law.
“While we do have 10 to 12 carve-outs, that doesn’t mean that local governments will still have the ability to understand and interpret the law,” Gantt said.
House Speaker Daniel Perez, R, disputed that interpretation.
“That doesn’t inhibit the ability for local governments to be able to have a gay pride festival if that is something they choose to do,” Perez said.
Perez said the bill is focused on preventing tax dollars from funding such efforts.
“Do we want taxpayer dollars to be used to put on certain events and promoted by local governments? No, we don’t want taxpayer dollars to be used for that,” Perez said.
Representative Dean Black, R-Jacksonville, who sponsored the bill, said the bill signals a new era in equal opportunity police in Florida.
“We used to believe America was colorblind,” Black said. “DEI is discriminatory. It doesn’t create better opportunities. It doesn’t see Floridians as Floridians. Florida deserves better. With the support of the House and a Speaker unafraid to challenge the status quo, we are defending equality and taking a hard stance against this poisonous modern ideology.”
State data shows Florida’s Diversity Index is more than 85%. Florida has been removing DEI programs across the state government for several years. The bill extends those restrictions to local governments.
The bill now heads to Gov. DeSantis for his signature.
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