Florida Legislature restricts citizen-led amendment process

The Florida Legislature has passed a bill making it harder for citizens to place constitutional amendments on the ballot, a move strongly supported by Governor Ron DeSantis, who is expected to sign it into law. Supporters, including Republican lawmakers, argue the measure is necessary to combat petition fraud, citing a state report alleging widespread irregularities in recent amendment campaigns. Critics, primarily Democrats and voting rights advocates, contend the legislation will greatly restrict citizens' ability to address policy issues through ballot initiatives, shifting more power to lawmakers and corporate interests. The new requirements include a $1 million bond for sponsoring groups, stricter petition circulator rules, shorter signature collection periods, and steeper penalties for violations. Opponents also accuse the DeSantis administration of targeting initiatives it opposes and note that similar changes have followed citizen-led efforts on issues like marijuana, minimum wage, and voting rights. While the measure did not go as far as DeSantis originally wanted, it represents a significant tightening of the amendment process in Florida.