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.