2025 Legislative Session

March 4 - May 2, 2025

Legislative Updates

Standing Up For Democracy

State Voices Florida Communications and Policy Director Larry Hannan spoke on Tuesday, April 8 before the Florida Senate Fiscal Policy Committee in opposition to SB 7016. This legislation would make it much harder to do constitutional amendments in Florida.

While some claim it would prevent fraud, Hannan argued that there is very little fraud in Florida and when a petition is filled out incorrectly it is more likely due to ignorance or the exhaustion of the petition gatherer. Others also pointed out that mistakes are common in the petition process, for example someone putting USA or America down when asked to list the county they live in.

Hannan also defended the work of petition gatherers, pointing out that they work outside in extreme heat and hard rain because they believe in what they’re doing. And while some petition gatherers are paid, no one is getting rich filling out petitions. People do it because they believe in what the petition would do.

Hannan finished by urging the committee to make the petition process easier instead of harder. Unfortunately, in a party line vote the Fiscal Policy Committee approved SB 7016. We will continue to work with our partners to defeat this bill and its House companion, HB 1205.

Legislative Resources

HB 1205/SPB 7016 Toolkit

Legislative Advocacy Mini-Guide

Preparing for Legislative Session

Our Voice
Our Florida

Building a Better Democracy for All

State Voices Florida is a statewide civic engagement organization committed to bringing together progressive 501(C)(3) organizations to work together in building power around civic issues. If the progressive movement works together and speaks with one voice, great things will happen.

We believe everyone should have the right to vote, and voting should be simple and easy. We also support reproductive rights, environmental justice, criminal justice reform, economic justice and affordable housing for everyone.

Along with our partner organizations, we use data and technology, people-powered campaigns, and coalitions to collectively build a multiracial democracy that allows every Floridian to thrive and live in their full dignity. We are a member of the State Voices Affiliated Network, a network of state-based coalitions, advocates, and organizers fighting for a healthy, multiracial democracy.

We have over 100 partner organizations. They range from large national organizations with hundreds of employees to small nonprofits based out of a single county or even a single neighborhood. We provide support and tools to nonprofit partners regardless of size, to improve infrastructure while increasing capacity for all of our partners.