Gov. DeSantis signs domestic terrorist bill that Democrats fear will lead to crackdown on college liberals

Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed legislation that gives him new authority to designate domestic terrorist organizations and allows colleges to expel students involved in those groups.

DeSantis signed HB 1471 during a press conference in Tampa.

“This will help the state of Florida protect you. It’ll help us protect your tax dollars. It’ll help us protect things that should not be happening in the United States of America, but certainly shouldn’t be happening in the free state of Florida,” DeSantis said, calling the new law “a big deal” that “spans finance, spans political, spans culture.”

DeSantis added that “the federal government does this all the time.”

“We need to be doing that here,” he said.

The Legislature passed the bill in a partisan vote, with Democrats worrying DeSantis could weaponize the language to attack liberal college students or Islamic schools getting taxpayer-funded vouchers.

DeSantis predicted the state will be sued again over the controversial law, which takes effect July 1. “They’ll sue us like they do on everything,” DeSantis said. “We’ll almost always win on appeal.”

Last week, two federal lawsuits were filed the same day that DeSantis signed legislation to overhaul voting ID requirements.

Lt. Gov. Jay Collins said the new law “creates a state terrorist designation process with real teeth.” Per the measure, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s (FDLE) Chief of Domestic Security can flag domestic terrorist organizations. Ultimately, DeSantis and his Cabinet must sign off on the FDLE list. The law adds that groups can challenge their domestic terrorist labels in Leon Circuit Court.

Under the state law change, public schools are not allowed to spend taxpayer money on organizations considered domestic terrorists. The State Board of Education and the Florida Board of Governors can also withhold state funds to colleges and universities promoting those groups.

For students, the new law brings serious consequences.

Students promoting the groups can be immediately expelled from their state colleges or universities and then charged an out-of-state fee.

Higher education institutions will also be required to report the visa status of a student who is involved with designated domestic terrorists.

“HB 1471 is not about politics. It’s about keeping our people safe,” said Collins, who joined DeSantis’ side at the press conference.

DeSantis, who is term-limited, still has not endorsed Collins’ campaign for Governor.