Eight months after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a 2018 ban on bump stocks that enable semiautomatic rifles to fire at machine gun-like speeds, Florida should do the same, says state Rep. Toby Overdorf.

Overdorf, a Palm City Republican, has filed legislation (HB 6013) to repeal a ban on the controversial gun accessories, which have been illegal in Florida for nearly seven years.

It’s the first — and, so far only — bill he’s filed for the 2025 Legislative Session.

Overdorf said the measure, which does not yet have a Senate analog, is necessary to align Florida Statutes with federal law. As of now, he said, gun shops in the state risk losing their license if they sell bump stocks, also called bump-fire stocks, despite a national repeal of the ban.

“The state law does not currently comply with federal law,” he told Florida Politics. “I would like for state law to comply with federal law.”

Florida’s ban on bump stocks went into effect March 9, 2018, less than one month after the deadliest school shooting in the state’s history. It was part of a sweeping gun safety package, the “Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act,” the Republican-controlled Legislature approved. The law also added a three-day waiting period for gun purchases and hiked the age limit to buy long rifles to 21.

President Donald Trump’s first administration imposed a national bump stock ban nine months later. The move, while close to the Marjory Stoneman Douglas shooting, was more in response to the October 2017 massacre in Las Vegas, where a shooter used the device. The high school shooter did not.

But on June 14, the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that Trump’s administration did not follow federal law in effectuating the ban and that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives overstepped its authority.

Democratic U.S. Rep. Jared Moskowitz, a Marjory Stoneman Douglas alum who advocated passionately for the state’s gun control bill in 2018, said Trump was right to ban bump stocks and that the three conservative Justices he appointed were “dangerously wrong” to repeal it.

The law still on Florida’s books bans the import, sale, transfer, distribution or possession of bump stocks, which is defined as “a conversion kit, a tool, an accessory, or a device used to alter the rate of fire of a firearm to mimic automatic weapon fire or which is used to increase the rate of fire to a faster rate than is possible for a person to fire” without such an attachment.

Violating that restriction, per Florida Statutes, is a third-degree felony punishable by up to five years in prison and up to $5,000 in fines.

Overdorf said Florida law should comport with federal law when it comes to bump stocks. It’s something “several different folks who (he works) with across the state that sell a variety of things” have asked him to do.

“I’m a strong supporter of the Second Amendment,” he said. “This is an infringement upon the Second Amendment.”

Asked whether law enforcement has shown support for the bill, Overdorf said he hasn’t spoken with any organization, like the Florida Sheriffs Association, but he expects them to support legislation that follows federal law.

He added that Gov. Ron DeSantis has advocated for reversing the ban, including during his brief run for President.

The measure would become effective upon ratification. Florida is among 15 states today that ban bump stocks, according to World Population Review. The District of Columbia also prohibits them.

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Imagine a world where every child can access an education unique to their aspirations and talents.

Florida’s universal Education Savings Account (ESA) program is turning this vision into reality, empowering families to transform their children’s futures. Education is not a one-size-fits-all endeavor; Florida’s school choice programs have enabled countless families to tailor their children’s education to best meet their particular needs and goals.

Reflecting on last week’s National School Choice Week, it’s a good time to recall that Florida has been a leader in school choice for more than two decades. It was one of the first states to adopt a school choice scholarship program in 2001, offering a limited number of scholarships to low-income families to attend private schools. Over the years, though, our state’s school choice programs have transformed, so now the same kind of quality education is accessible to families from all income levels and is not limited in the number of scholarships given out.

Two years ago, Florida took a monumental step forward when the Legislature passed a landmark measure establishing a universal ESA program. This groundbreaking system gives families the financial resources to choose the best education options for their children. During the current school year, students receive scholarships averaging approximately $8,000 each, empowering families to invest in private schools, tutoring, home-school materials, and other vital educational resources. Today, over 500,000 students are utilizing scholarships in Florida, and over 300,000 benefit from the Florida Empowerment Scholarship.

Florida’s universal ESA program has expanded access to quality education and has become an essential pillar of educational freedom in the state. Keeping this program intact is critical to ensuring that every family, regardless of ZIP code or income, can make the best decisions for their children’s future. Protecting universal ESAs means safeguarding a child’s right to a tailored education, reinforcing Florida’s commitment to innovation, and maintaining its leadership in school choice nationwide.

Beyond academic metrics, school choice embodies the fundamental principle of freedom. By easing the financial constraints that often drive family education decisions, these programs empower parents to choose the schools and resources that align with their values and their children’s needs.

No one knows a child better than their parents; school choice recognizes and respects this fundamental truth. It enables families to make informed decisions that allow their children to thrive.

The success of Florida’s school choice programs would not have been possible without the foresight of legislative leaders and Gov. Ron DeSantis, as well as the leadership of state Education Commissioner Manny Diaz and the dedicated team at the Department of Education, which is implementing them.

Their hard work and commitment have ensured these opportunities reach the families and students who need them most. There is clear momentum on the federal and state levels to prioritize and expand funding for school choice.

Last week’s recognition of National School Choice Week underscored the profound impact these programs have had on hundreds of thousands of students across Florida. The universal ESA program has improved academic outcomes and expanded freedom for families, fostering an education system that prioritizes excellence and individual success. We’re excited to continue sharing its success stories, ensuring that every Florida student can succeed in the educational environment that best suits them.

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Skylar Zander serves as the state director for Americans for Prosperity-Florida.

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Last Call – A prime-time read of what’s going down in Florida politics.

First Shot

The Governor’s budget recommendation has landed.

The plan, released just before the deadline late Sunday, calls for $115.6 billion in overall spending. That’s a slight decrease from the current-year budget, which weighed in at $116.5 billion post-vetoes.

The Republican seems to have his eye on austerity, naming his proposal “Focus on Fiscal Responsibility. A chunk of the year-over-year decrease comes from slashing positions at a handful of state agencies.

The Department of Health would see the largest reduction, with DeSantis’ proposal nixing a net 484 positions as he slashes the total budget by more than 10.7%. He also wants 325 fewer positions in the Department of Children and Families, though he wants to increase its budget in dollars by almost 1.5%. But he wants to increase the budget for the State Court System by about 4.6%, while increasing staffing by a net 112 positions.

The Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is also in the crosshairs amid the Governor’s ongoing feud with Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson.

The FDACS cuts equate to a 13% ($398 million) reduction from the current-year budget, recommending overall funding of $2.68 billion for the department. Much of the reduction is directed at the Agriculture Department’s executive direction and support services, which would be slashed by a staggering 73%, lowering it from the currently budgeted $126.3 million to just $33.6 million.

DeSantis’ recommendation also redirects some health care spending, providing more than $266.9 million for cancer research advancement. This includes $132.5 million for the Casey DeSantis Cancer Research Program, $60 million for the Florida Cancer Innovation Fund, and another $30 million for the launch of the Cancer Connect Collaborative Incubator, which focuses on pediatric cancer research.

Visit Florida Politics for further coverage of DeSantis’ budget recommendation. 

Evening Reads

—”Donald Trump moves to wrest control of USAID as Elon Musk says, ‘We’re shutting it down’” via John Hudson, Ellen Nakashima, Missy Ryan, Mariana Alfaro and Faiz Siddiqui of The Washington Post

—”Purging the government could backfire spectacularly” via Rogé Karma of The Atlantic

—“The legal theory that would make Trump the most powerful president in U.S. history” via Ian Millhiser of Vox

—”Trump’s trade move could increase costs for many online goods” via Ana Swanson and Keith Bradsher of The New York Times

—”Trump followed through on tariffs. Is he ready for the fallout? Are Americans?” via Bill Barrow of The Associated Press

—”Gov. Ron DeSantis proposes $116B budget, wants focus on ‘fiscal responsibility’” via Jacob Ogles of Florida Politics

—”DeSantis wants cuts to Agriculture Department amid feud with Wilton Simpson” via Gabrielle Russon of Florida Politics

—”Live Local Act backlash growing in Fort Lauderdale. But some say give state’s affordable housing law a chance.” via Susannah Bryan of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel

—”Everyone’s rattled by the rise of DeepSeek — except NVIDIA, which enabled it” via Raffaele Huang, Stu Woo and Asa Fitch of The Wall Street Journal

—“Grammys finally delivers the Beyoncé victory we’ve been waiting for” via Rob Sheffield of Rolling Stone

Quote of the Day

“We know what works, and we need to continue to double down on those efforts. We’re showing that you could be fiscally responsible, respect taxpayers and yet still deliver on the main promises that you made and the main public needs of our people.”

— Gov. Ron DeSantis, on his 2025-26 budget recommendation.

Put it on the Tab

Look to your left, then look to your right. If you see one of these people at your happy hour haunt, flag down the bartender and put one of these on your tab. Recipes included, just in case the Cocktail Codex fell into the well.

Oysters have a rich tradition in both Florida and the art of mixology. By recommending $30 million to restore the Sunshine State’s oyster reefs, the Governor earned his pick of top Oyster-Based Cocktails.

Despite cuts in other areas, the “Focus on Fiscal Responsibility” budget pitches $3.2 billion for environmental proposals. That means an Everglades Special in order.

With the Governor recommending major cuts at FDACS, Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson could use a Bull Shot.

Breakthrough Insights

Tune In

Bethune-Cookman looks to stay perfect at home

Bethune-Cookman tries to match the team’s longest winning streak of the season tonight as the Wildcats host Alabama A&M (7 p.m. ET, CatEye Network).

Bethune-Cookman (8-13, 5-3 SWAC) has not won more than two consecutive games all season but has been outstanding at home, winning all four games at Moore Gymnasium in Daytona Beach. The Wildcats enter the week tied with Florida A&M for fourth place in the SWAC standings. On Saturday, BCU defeated Alabama State 67-64. Trey Thomas led the Wildcats with 19 points and a season-high 10 rebounds, while Daniel Rouzan added 17 points in 23 minutes of play. 

A challenging non-conference schedule helped to prepare Bethune-Cookman for the SWAC campaign. Road losses to Texas Tech, Nebraska, Minnesota, Virginia, West Virginia, and Mississippi State hurt the overall record, but the lessons learned have paid off against SWAC opponents. 

Alabama A&M (4-18, 3-6) has lost five of their last six games, including a 95-79 loss at Florida A&M on Saturday. The Bulldogs have yet to win a road game this season. Only two players average double figures in scoring this season for Alabama A&M. AC Bryant (14.8 ppg), and Chad Moodie (11.0) lead a squad with nine players averaging more than five points per contest.

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Last Call is published by Peter Schorsch, assembled and edited by Phil Ammann and Drew Wilson, with contributions from the staff of Florida Politics.

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