Groveland Four bill is stuck in House as Democrats vow to keep fighting

House Democratic Leader Fentrice Driskell says the Senate unanimously passing the Groveland Four bill should send a “strong signal” of bipartisan momentum to House leaders. But the clock is ticking for the measure to be passed this Session.

“I know that the chambers are fighting, but when it comes to some things, we really should transcend chamber and we should transcend party,” Driskell said as she acknowledged the tough challenge ahead during a virtual press conference.

So far, the House companion (HB 6523) has been referred to three Committees but has yet to be called for a single vote.

House Speaker Daniel Perez did not respond to Florida Politics’ questions last week on the likelihood of the lower chamber advancing the bill.

“There is still time on the clock, which means that there are procedural mechanisms that can be used to try to get that piece of legislation across the finish line,” Driskell said. “I know I’ve had conversations with legislative leadership about it to see if we can get it unstuck.”

If the bill does die in the House this Session, Driskell vowed to keep fighting.

“Whether we get it across the finish line this Session or whether it takes another opportunity, another bite at the apple, we’ll continue to push forward because that’s what’s right,” Driskell said.

With a 38-0 vote, the Senate passed SB 694 last week to give $4 million to the descendants of the Groveland Four, a group of young men who were falsely accused of rape in 1949 in Lake County by a White teenager, then were killed, beaten or imprisoned. 

“I hope that legislative leadership here in the House watched the beautiful bipartisan moment that was shared on the Senate floor,” Driskell said. “The Groveland Four, those young men we know were wrongfully accused, wrongfully convicted, wrongfully killed, and to be able to bring some peace and just justice to that community and to that family means so much.”

Sen. LaVon Bracy Davis sponsored the Senate version (SB 694), while Rep. RaShon Young filed the House companion. The two Central Florida Democrats are both first-term lawmakers in their respective chambers.