A newly signed state law targeting diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs is on a collision course with local governments in St. Petersburg and Tampa, where existing initiatives, staff roles and community-facing programs could run afoul of sweeping new restrictions.
Gov. Ron DeSantis this week signed SB 1134, prohibiting counties and municipalities from funding, promoting or taking official action related to DEI while also voiding existing programs, policies and ordinances tied to those efforts.
The new law sets up a direct collision in St. Petersburg and a more complex restructuring challenge in Tampa. St. Pete has long maintained a dedicated department formerly known as the Office of Equity that has been renamed, and multiple roles focused on advancing inclusion across city policy and programming including positions such as an LGBTQ+ Liaison.
Meanwhile, Tampa has only more recently formalized diversity leadership through a Chief Diversity Officer role and expanded community-focused initiatives within its administrative structure.
The law also increases pressure on local leaders to comply. Any municipal official who violates the law could face removal from office, while residents are authorized to sue local governments over violations. The law takes effect Jan. 1, giving local governments a limited window to evaluate and potentially restructure operations.
St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch, who is up for re-election before that deadline, has not responded to multiple requests for comment from Florida Politics about how the city plans to comply. State law would only force changes under his administration if he is re-elected.
Tampa Mayor Jane Castor’s Office also declined comment, with a spokesperson saying only that the city is “following state law” but providing no further information.
The measure could also have a chilling effect on businesses or organizations seeking government contracts or grants, as they must now certify they will not use taxpayer dollars for DEI initiatives.
Some changes have quietly begun behind the scenes. St. Petersburg’s Office of Equity was renamed as the Office of Community Impact late last year, according to reporting from Colleen Wright of the Tampa Bay Times. The Office of Supplier Diversity was also renamed as the Office of Supplier Development, but those offices still face scrutiny despite the recent name changes.
It is not the first time Welch has had to respond to the impact of culture wars on St. Petersburg. After the state ordered the removal of Pride and Black History-themed street murals, city leaders explored alternative ways to maintain those expressions of identity.
Welch — who has made equity a core pillar of his administration — at the time acknowledged the limits of defying state authority, citing potential risks to millions in funding if the city refused to comply. The city ultimately installed a series of Pride-inspired bike racks as a symbolic response, a move that drew criticism from some members of the LGBTQ+ community and has since surfaced as a less-reported political issue in the St. Petersburg mayoral race.
He was heavily criticized by some members of the LGBTQ+ community over the bike racks at the campaign launch for City Council member Brandi Gabbard, who is running to replace Welch as Mayor. They said it was kept quiet from the community, and that the token gesture was not enough to make up for the state’s actions.
That dynamic — local inclusion priorities constrained by state authority — now extends into the city’s internal operations, including Welch’s core “Pillars of Progress,” and it remains to be seen if and how St. Petersburg’s most powerful Democrat responds or remains silent.
In Tampa, the impact is likely to be more narrow but still significant.
Unlike St. Petersburg’s centralized equity structure, Tampa may need to make adjustments to some administrative roles. That includes the city’s Chief Diversity Officer, a position created in 2020 within the Neighborhood and Community Affairs department to guide outreach, engagement and policy development across communities.
Other areas of potential impact include Tampa’s Office of Human Rights, which handles discrimination complaints and public education efforts. While the law allows actions required to comply with federal anti-discrimination mandates, it restricts programming or outreach tied to race, gender or sexual orientation if those efforts meet the bill’s definition of DEI activity.
That creates a narrower but still complex challenge for Tampa, where equity-related work is less centralized but still woven into community engagement, housing initiatives and economic development strategies.
While the law is now in effect, most of its provisions don’t apply until Jan. 1, giving local governments several months to review policies, staffing structures and vendor relationships.
How aggressively cities move to unwind or redefine existing programs remains to be seen, but the law suggests that both St. Petersburg and Tampa will soon be making significant changes to adapt.