For Immediate Release: May 1, 2025

Tallahassee, FL – HB 1205, a bill to restrict citizen-led amendments, was approved by the Florida Senate earlier today. State Voices Florida opposes this legislation. The citizen-led amendment process in Florida is the strictest in the nation, requiring nearly one million signatures to get on the ballot and 60% support from voters to pass. The process should be made easier…not harder.

Floridians have used citizen-led amendments to pass transformative policies, such as the $15 minimum wage, legalizing medical marijuana, restoring voting rights to returning citizens and prohibiting gerrymandering when drawing Congressional Districts.  

The following is a statement from Larry Hannan, communications and policy director at State Voices Florida. 

“The citizen-led amendment process is one of the most direct ways Floridians can shape the future we all deserve. It embodies the collective power of Floridians, uniting us across race, zip code, and income to address the issues that matter most to our communities. This is direct democracy at its best—a system where the will of the people drives progress and shapes a better future. We call on legislators to abandon efforts to make this process harder.” 

Contact: Larry Hannan/State Voices Florida
lhannan@statevoicesfl.org /(239) 253-8952

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.  You can learn more about the organization here.