Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signs 1 new bill into law. Here’s what it changes
Share this @internewscast.com

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – On Friday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a brand-new bill into law hours after it was approved by the Florida Legislature.

The legislation (HB 1205) targets the process of citizen-initiated amendments to the state constitution by introducing stricter rules and more severe consequences for those who violate them.

  • Petition Sponsors: Those sponsoring petitions must certify that individuals involved with petitions are not felons, unless their rights have been reinstated, and that all are U.S. citizens. Should any participant be discovered as either a felon or non-citizen, the sponsors face a $50,000 penalty for each occurrence.

  • Amendment Language: Sponsors must submit the ballot title, ballot summary, and full text of the proposed amendment to the Secretary of State.

  • Petition Forms: Effective from July 1, all petition forms must feature the complete text of the proposed amendment and detail the sponsor’s name and address. Furthermore, these forms will require voters to fill in their full name, residence, date of birth, and a form of identification, such as a driver’s license, state ID, or Social Security number.

  • Petition Collectors: Starting July 1, people may not deliver or possess more than 25 signed petitions along with their own and immediate family members unless they are a registered petition circulator. In addition, petition circulators must be residents of the state.

  • Training Requirements: People may not register to collect signatures until they go through state-mandated training. This training includes an overview of the petition-gathering process, registration requirements, explanation of state regulations, and criminal penalties for violators.

  • Deadline Changes: Sponsors must delivery petition forms to a supervisor of elections within 10 days — shortened from 30. Forms that are submitted late or not delivered at all incur fines for the sponsor.

  • Sponsor Liabilities: If a person collecting petition forms for a sponsor signs someone else’s name on a form or fills in missing information for a voter, the sponsor can be fined up to $5,000 per petition.

  • Criminal Penalties: A person collecting petition forms for a sponsor can be convicted of a third-degree felony if he/she copies or retains a voter’s personal information.

  • HB 1205 took effect upon being signed, though it only managed to pass the Legislature roughly six hours beforehand, making it the quickest bill to get past DeSantis so far this year.

    Share this @internewscast.com
    You May Also Like

    Man Sought for Suspected Indecent Exposure Incident at Aiken Dollar General Store

    AIKEN, S.C. () – The Aiken Department of Public Safety is seeking…

    Second Mayoral Candidate Assassinated in Veracruz, Mexico Just Before June Elections

    TEXISTEPEC – A mayoral candidate from Mexico’s ruling party in the Veracruz…

    Asian Markets Rise Following Wall Street Surge, Though Trade War Doubts Linger

    Asian shares advanced Tuesday after China and the United States announced a…

    Former Pharma Exec Criticizes Trump’s Drug Executive Order as ‘All Bark, No Bite’

    () President Trump’s executive order to discuss President Trump’s executive order to…

    International Aviation Authority Concludes Russia’s Role in 2014 MH17 Crash Over Ukraine

    The Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in Melbourne, Australia,…

    Denver Pet Walker Cautions App Users After Falling Victim to a Scam by Another User

    DENVER (KDVR) A Denver woman is warning people of a scam that…

    South Carolina Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evette Visits North Augusta to Open New Clinic

    NORTH AUGUSTA, S.C. () – On Monday, South Carolina Lt. Gov. Pamela…

    New Law Prohibits Pet Sales in Sidewalks and Parking Lots

    ATLANTA () — A bill making it illegal to sell dogs, cats…

    McCarthy Says Trump’s Drug Plan Needs Democratic Teamwork to Succeed

    ()Former Republican Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy says President Donald Trump’s…

    EPA Encourages Scientists to Seek New Positions Within the Agency

    Political heads at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have reportedly directed scientists…

    Georgia Declares Official State Stew and Bread

    BRUNSWICK, Ga. () — Georgia officially has a state stew and a…

    Palm Coast Residents Express Concerns Over Disliked Paint Color Regulations

    PALM COAST, Fla. – News 6 has been following a story out…