Bill on citizen initiatives draws statewide opposition
Press conferences were held across Florida on March 25 to defend citizen-led amendments in an effort to stop HB1205 and its companion legislation, SB2016.
HB1205 is sponsored by Rep. Jenna Persons-Mulicka, R-District 78, a member of the Lee County Legislative Delegation. District 78 covers parts of Lee County, but not Sanibel and Captiva.
Key provisions of the bill include prohibiting sponsors from sponsoring more than one amendment at a time, requiring them to register as political committees, mandating a $1 million bond, and limiting the collection of signatures to one general election cycle.
SEE Alliance, a student-founded, student-led intergenerational organization, held a virtual press conference, which included numerous speakers, each against both bills.
“Our democracy is under attack. Florida lawmakers once again are trying to silence their constituents,” SEE Alliance Political Director Julie Forestier said as she opened the virtual press conference.
“Florida already has some of the strictest rules in the country for citizen-led ballot initiatives. Lawmakers want to make it even harder for everyday Floridians to have a say in their government. Instead of increasing access to democracy, they are working to take it away,” she said. “That’s why SEE Alliance is working with incredible organizations like Voices of Florida Fund to mobilize a statewide coalition to stop this attack on direct democracy. Across Florida, organizations and advocates are uniting to protect our rights to petition and ensure that grassroots movements, not just politicians, can shape our future.”
SEE Alliance Executive Director Zander Moricz said communities across Florida — Miami, Sarasota, Tallahassee, Orlando, St. Petersburg, and Palm Beach — came together to sound the alarm.
“Six coordinated press conferences took place because Floridians everywhere are rising up to defend our democracy,” he said. “For decades the citizens amendment process has been how, we the people, pass policies when politicians refuse to act.”
Moricz said instead of the 30 days that petition gatherers currently have to submit signed forms, they would be required to turn them in within just 10 days.
“A completely unrealistic timeline that would crush grassroot efforts and silence community volunteers,” he said. “These bills also create massive fines and the threat of felony charges, all designed to intimidate and shut down the civic process. These proposals are not about protecting the process of our Constitution, they’re about concentrating power amongst politicians. A direct attempt to rig the rules, so only the wealthy, the well-connected and those elected can put amendments on the ballot, while everyday Floridians are shut out.”
The press conference included many organizations run by students, each sharing their opposition, saying the proposed legislation is an attack on young people’s ability to organize, speak out and participate fully in the political system.
League of Women Voters of Florida Co-President Debbie Chandler also spoke. She said the league has a 105-year history of fighting for voting rights for citizens. Chandler said for the past 57 years, Floridians have used this tool to put 42 measures on the ballot, of which 32 passed and became part of the Constitution.
“Almost immediately after 1968, the Legislature began chipping away at this form of direct democracy,” she said.
Chandler went through a timeline from 1977 to current day of different rules that took place.
“We already face an uphill battle with citizen-led petition,” she said of making it harder to navigate. “There are huge financial burdens and strict legal requirements just to bring the issue to the ballot. Once it is on the ballot, it requires a super majority of 60% for passing.”
Chandler said they are making it harder, which is not reform, but suppression.
Persons-Mulicka could not be reached for comment as of press time.
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