JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – This week, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed even more bills into law, adding to the growing list of new rules set to take effect this year.
He signed one of these bills — SB 1134 — during a news conference in Jacksonville on Wednesday, explaining that it will get rid of DEI programs at the local level.
More specifically, the law prohibits local governments from funding, promoting or implementing any DEI initiatives.
When asked to define DEI — “diversity, equity and inclusion” — DeSantis stated the following:
“I would say it’s an ideological construct that is designed to promote a particular political agenda, particularly to the detriment of disfavored groups. I would think with DEI, the disfavored groups, No. 1, obviously, would be White males, and I think they’ve been discriminated against.
And it’s like, a lot of people would be like, ‘Oh, that’s fine, that’s fine.’ No, that’s not fine. It’s wrong. So you do that, but you also see with some of these universities that have done it, you’ve seen discrimination against Asian American students.
They’re picking winners and losers, and I think the proper approach is to treat people based on merit and not try to divvy them up into various different groups."
Ron DeSantis
SB 1134 is set to take effect on Jan. 1, 2027, though it’s not the only new law passed this week.
Below is the full list of bills DeSantis signed on Tuesday and Wednesday.
SB 118 — R.V. Park Assessments
Senate Bill 118 revises how special assessments may be levied against R.V. parks.
The bill does this by prohibiting local governments from levying special assessments against areas over 400 square feet for each R.V. parking space or campsite.
The law took effect upon being signed.
HB 441 — Conservation Lands
House Bill 441 requires that when a water management district considers selling conservation lands, the governing board publish the following information at least 30 days before meeting:
- The district-owned parcels of land for sale or proposed for exchange
- The privately owned parcels proposed for exchange
- The portions of those parcels that will be preserved in a permanent conservation easement
- A statement from the district explaining why those lands are no longer needed for conservation purposes
The law takes effect on July 1.
SB 488 — Transportation
Senate Bill 488 amends various provisions related to topics like motor vehicle registration, licensing and tax-related requirements. These new rules include the following:
- Creates penalties for counterfeiting or illegally altering fuel tax licenses and the related permits
- Revises penalties and interest calculations for delinquent tax payments
- Provides penalties for specific offenses related to the misuse of motor fuel-tax related documents and establishes detailed requirements for recordkeeping by motor carriers
- Increases the amount of estimated damage resulting from a crash that is required to be reported to law enforcement from $500 to $2,000
The law takes effect on Oct. 1.
SB 490 — Public Records (FLHSMV)
Senate Bill 490 expands a public records exemption for email addresses collected by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.
This expansion includes email addresses that are used to provide customers with general notifications.
The law takes effect on Oct. 1.
SB 1134 — DEI Policy Ban
Senate Bill 1134 prohibits local governments from funding, promoting, or enacting any DEI policies, initiatives, and programs.
The law takes effect on Jan. 1, 2027.
HB 1137 — Alcoholic Beverage Taxes
House Bill 1137 allows alcoholic beverage distributors to take a deduction from alcoholic beverage excise taxes for standard product losses, including breakage, spoilage, evaporation, and expiration.
The law took effect upon being signed.
HB 1217 — Greenhouse Gases
House Bill 1217 prohibits the state and local governments from adopting or enforcing net-zero greenhouse gas emissions policies, including carbon taxes.
The law takes effect on July 1.