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

    Illinois Men’s Basketball Set to Face Alabama at United Center

    CHICAGO (WCIA) – Illinois men’s basketball is adding a rematch with Alabama…

    New Footage Captures a Car Similar to Bryan Kohberger’s Near the Time of the Idaho Student Murders

    Just after midnight on November 13, 2022, four University of Idaho students…

    Florida Agrees to $40K Settlement Over DeSantis’ Removal of Orange-Osceola State Attorney

    ORLANDO, Fla. – Nearly two years after Gov. Ron DeSantis suspended Orange-Osceola…

    High School Sports Highlights and Scores (August 5, 2025)

    CENTRAL ILLINOIS (WCIA) – On Thursday, Champaign Central achieved victories in both…

    House Republicans Approve Bill to Rename Area as the ‘Gulf of America’

    House Republicans approved a bill Thursday to rename the Gulf of Mexico…

    Study Reveals How Women’s Pelvic Disorders and Pain Are Frequently Dismissed by Doctors

    Women seeking help for certain gynecological disorders may have their symptoms gaslighted…

    Savoy Village Greenlights Downtown Plaza Redevelopment Contract

    SAVOY (WCIA) — On Wednesday night, the Village Board took a significant…

    Georgia State Trooper Involved in Accident, Hospitalized in Savannah

    WAYCROSS, Ga. () — A Georgia State Trooper was injured in a…

    Are Weight Loss Drugs Covered by Medicare and Medicaid? It Varies

    () Millions of Americans fighting obesity faced a setback last month when…

    Beaufort County Discusses Potential Measures for 2026 Penny Tax

    BLUFFTON, S.C. () — Officials in Beaufort County have gained insights into…

    GOP Senators Aim to Prevent Trump’s Agenda from Becoming a ‘Train Wreck’

    Republicans are looking to regroup on President Trump’s agenda, which one GOP…

    Trump Suddenly Dismisses Librarian of Congress

    WASHINGTON—President Donald Trump dismissed Carla Hayden, the Librarian of Congress, on Thursday,…