Senate approves measure to establish Antisemitism Task Force

The Senate has unanimously passed a bill to establish an Antisemitism Task Force.

Sen. Alexis Calatayud, a Miami Republican sponsoring the measure (SB 1072), said there were more than 9,300 antisemitic incidents in the U.S. in the past year. And in June 2024, there was a coordinated bomb threat targeting 54 Florida Jewish centers.

Calatayud said the Task Force will “make sure Florida remains the second-safest place” for Jewish people outside of Israel.

Calatayud acknowledged there was pushback from critics during the Committee process that the measure would allow Floridians to be punished if they criticized the state of Israel.

Calatayud had emphasized during some of those challenges that is not the intent of the bill. But she also provided an amendment Wednesday, approved by her colleagues, that specifically states there are no penalties for criticizing Israel.

Boca Raton Democratic Sen. Tina Scott Polsky said she was relieved the stipulation was added.

“This covers all the critics,” Polsky said. “You’ve listened to the people and clarified the language.”

The Task Force would be established within the Attorney General’s Office of Civil Rights. It’s designed to strengthen community relations and advise law enforcement on how to investigate antisemitic hate crimes. The body would also provide guidance to the state on what qualifies as an antisemitic hate crime, as well as possible changes in laws governing hate crimes.

The panel would disband Oct. 1, 2029, unless the Legislature approves an extension. Each of the 18 members would serve two-year terms.

A similar bill in the House (HB 111), sponsored by Rep. Mike Gottlieb, a Davie Democrat, cleared only the House Government Operations Subcommittee. It’s not clear whether it will be considered by the full chamber.