{"id":180790,"date":"2026-03-06T14:26:07","date_gmt":"2026-03-06T14:26:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/180790\/"},"modified":"2026-03-06T14:26:07","modified_gmt":"2026-03-06T14:26:07","slug":"bill-allowing-florida-to-designate-domestic-terrorist-organizations-passes-in-house","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/180790\/","title":{"rendered":"Bill allowing Florida to designate domestic terrorist organizations passes in House"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"Credit: Florida Department of Law Enforcement\/X<\/p>\n

Legislation to allow a handful of state officials to designate domestic or foreign terrorist organizations was approved in the GOP-controlled Florida House Tuesday, despite complaints by Democrats that the measure lacks guardrails. The vote was 81-26, mostly along party lines.<\/p>\n

The bill \u2014\u00a0HB 1471<\/a>, sponsored by Rep. Hillary Cassel, R-Dania Beach \u2014 says the terrorism label could be applied if the state\u2019s chief of domestic security finds that the group \u201cis engaging in terrorist activities that either involve illegal acts dangerous to human life, or that are intended to intimidate or coerce a civilian population; influence the policy of a government by intimidation or coercion; or affect the conduct of a government by mass destruction, assassination, or kidnapping or aircraft piracy.\u201d<\/p>\n

The state\u2019s chief of domestic security is Mark Glass, head of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.<\/p>\n

The bill says he could declared a domestic terrorist group if it is:<\/p>\n

Based in the U.S.
\nEngaging in terrorist activity as defined in state statute.
\nIts activity poses an ongoing threat to the security of Florida or the United States.<\/p>\n

That recommendation would be put in written form and have to be approved or rejected by the governor and the three members of the Florida Cabinet (the agriculture commissioner, the chief financial officer, and attorney general).<\/p>\n

Within seven days after the terrorist designation is approved by the governor and Cabinet, the chief of domestic security must publish notice of that designation in the Florida Administrative Register. Within 30 days after that, the organization or any member may challenge such designation in the state Circuit Court in Leon County.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis bill confronts a reality that cannot be ignored,\u201d Cassel said on the floor of the House. \u201cTerrorism does not become less dangerous because it is homegrown. Nations do not collapse only from invasion, they can unravel from complacency. America has endured nearly two-and-a-half centuries because we have never surrendered our principles \u2014 not to fear, not to pressure and not to slow erosion. And members, let\u2019s be very clear, if we fall, there is no one coming to save us.\u201d<\/p>\n

Concerns about guardrails<\/p>\n

The proposal received strong pushback from Democrats.<\/p>\n

Rep. Rita Harris, D-Orlando, said the bill places \u201can\u00a0extraordinary concentration of power\u201d in the hands of just a few government officials.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is no requirement for legislative approval,\u201d she said. \u201cThere is no independent judicial finding before the designation takes effect. There is no\u00a0 built-in meaningful oversight mechanism to ensure transparency or review. In our system of government, we do not place sweeping, labeling authority in the hands of a few executive officials without guardrails.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rep, Robin Bartleman, D-Weston, said she worries about who could be classified as a terrorist organization.<\/p>\n

\u201cDoes the governor and his Cabinet have the ability to designate NOW [the National Organization for Women] or Planned Parenthood as a domestic terrorist organization? Many would characterize them as a danger to unborn fetuses. So, it is not out of the realm of possibility without tighter guardrails,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Another part of the measure changes School Choice scholarship funding, prohibiting schools with affiliations to a designated foreign or domestic terrorist organization from receiving tuition voucher funds. That has led to concerns that some Islamic private schools could be targeted.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have some fantastic schools throughout this state where they are based in an Arab or Muslim community, and they are concerned that the way that this bill is written, they would no longer qualify for this funding. And it has nothing to do with them practicing an extreme interpretation of what the bill\u2019s sponsor is talking about \u2014 Sharia law,\u201d said Rep. Anna Eskamani, D-Orlando.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s really this concern that because they\u2019re a Muslim school they\u2019re being thrown into this discriminatory environment and people are making assumptions because their students are wearing a hijab and now they must be dangerous.\u201d<\/p>\n

The bill bans any Florida court from enforcing any provision of Sharia law.<\/p>\n

The bill\u2019s passage in the House comes several months after Gov. Ron DeSantis\u00a0designated\u00a0<\/a>the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) Florida a \u201cterrorist organization.\u201d The group has filed\u00a0a lawsuit<\/a>\u00a0calling that executive order unconstitutional.<\/p>\n

The proposal received unanimous approval from House Republicans.<\/p>\n

\u201cMembers, if we do not fight for our safety and security in Florida, what are we fighting for?\u201d asked Rep. Jeff Holcomb, R-Spring Hill. \u201cBy that metric, I move that this bill, which seeks to secure Florida, is quite possibly one of the most important bills that you\u2019ll vote on.\u201d<\/p>\n

Shortly after the bill passed, the House voted to support a related measure sponsored by Rep. Cassel (HB 1473<\/a>). That measure provides an exemption from public record disclosure \u201cfor certain information\u201d regarding groups designated as domestic terrorist organizations being sent from the chief of domestic security to the governor and Cabinet \u201cin certain circumstances.\u201d<\/p>\n

The bill\u2019s Senate companion,\u00a0SB 1632<\/a>, will be voted on in that chamber later this week. If approved as expected, that measure will then head to Gov. DeSantis desk for consideration.<\/p>\n

Subscribe to Orlando Weekly newsletters.<\/a><\/p>\n

Follow us:\u00a0Apple News<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Google News<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0NewsBreak<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Reddit<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Instagram<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Facebook\u00a0<\/a>|\u00a0Bluesky<\/a>\u00a0| Or sign up for our\u00a0RSS Feed<\/a><\/p>\n

Related Stories<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Florida\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\tEmergency managers say projected costs at migrant detention centers have since been revised downward\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Mark\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\tWelcome to the Sunshine State, Zuck\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Florida\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\tRoughly 100 workers testified against the legislation in its final committee hearing Monday. It still passed largely along party lines, with most Republicans in support.\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\n\tRelated\n<\/p>\n

\t