The Florida Senate introduced a comprehensive bill (SPB 7016) Friday aimed at tightening restrictions on the state’s ballot-initiative process, following the Florida House’s initial steps on a similar plan.
The Senate Ethics and Elections Committee will review the proposal on Monday, which includes new petition-gathering requirements and provisions for legal challenges after constitutional amendments are approved.
Governor Ron DeSantis, a key supporter, has prioritized reforming the process after leading successful campaigns last year to defeat amendments on abortion rights and recreational marijuana.
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Senate President Ben Albritton emphasized that the bill enhances transparency and curbs fraud in petition collection, a concern echoed by DeSantis and other Republicans.
The 49-page Senate bill, led by Senators Don Gaetz and Erin Grall, goes further than the House version (HB 1205).
It mandates that volunteer petition gatherers register with the state, requires financial impact statements before petition signatures can be collected, and allows voters to challenge approved amendments in court. Both bills propose adding voter ID numbers to petitions, shortening submission deadlines, and increasing fines for late submissions.
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Democrats and critics, including Genesis Robinson of Equal Ground Education Fund, argue the changes undermine voters’ ability to bypass a Legislature that ignores their priorities, citing past successful initiatives like minimum wage increases and medical marijuana.
Opponents packed a House committee room Thursday to protest the House bill’s initial approval, calling it an attack on citizens’ constitutional rights.
The debate reflects a broader Republican push—backed by groups like the Florida Chamber of Commerce—to limit ballot initiatives, reignited by last year’s high-profile amendment battles. Despite strong voter support, those measures fell short of the 60% threshold required to pass.
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