Tallahassee, FL – HB 1205, a bill to restrict citizen-led amendments, was approved by the Florida House of Representatives earlier today. 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.

If this bill or its companion in the Senate, SPB 7016, becomes law it will give only ten days to turn in petitions, and create unnecessary and burdensome fines on volunteers, preventing everyday Floridians from being able pass policies that improve our lives and strengthen our communities when politicians refuse to act.

State Voices Florida opposes this legislation and urges the Senate to reject both HB 1205 and SPB 7016. 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.

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

“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.  We must protect this vital tool for collective decision-making and ensure that the will of the people prevails. 

“Unfortunately, state leaders do not like having a check on their power and have aggressively sought to make it even harder for Floridians to pass policies that improve our lives and strengthen our communities. These attacks limit our freedom to vote on the policies that govern our lives, consolidating power among special interests and the political establishment.”

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.