Florida lawmakers passed HB1205, legislation that substantially restricts the citizen-led amendment process, on the final day of their legislative session. Critics argue that the bill will make it significantly harder for ordinary citizens to bring amendments to the ballot.
The bill now awaits a decision from the Governor, who has prioritized restricting citizen-led amendments, consistent with his stance against similar initiatives presented in the previous year.
Amy Keith, Executive Director of Common Cause Florida, stated, “The Florida Constitution gives citizens in our state the right to place issues on the ballot for the people of Florida to vote on, but this legislature has once again chosen to restrict this right and further concentrate power in their own hands. Floridians must take action by calling the Governor’s office and demanding a veto. We cannot stand by quietly while they attempt to silence us. Our Governor claims we are the ‘free state of Florida,’ but with policies like HB1205 we are increasingly becoming the corporate state of Florida where only the ultra wealthy are able to have their voices heard.”
Adora Obi Nweze, President of the NAACP Florida State Conference, expressed her concerns by saying, “The power of governing resides with the people. The Florida Constitution belongs to the people of Florida and it gives the people of Florida the ability to directly govern themselves by engaging in a citizen-led amendment process. Today, the Florida Legislature voted to severely restrict our right of self-governing. We won’t stand for extreme restrictions on our right to amend our own constitution. Expect us to show up to fight to bring change when our legislature refuses to serve us and represent us.”
Leydi Amador, a Florida Student Power Democracy Organizer, highlighted the reaction from young people: “Young people across Florida are outraged. HB1205 passed its final hearing today, and our lawmakers chose political self-interest over the will of the people. They’re afraid of the collective power we’ve shown in recent years—power that has successfully placed citizen-led amendments on the ballot. Now, once again, the Citizen-Led Amendment process is being systematically restricted, making it harder for everyday Floridians to participate in their democracy. We call on the Governor to veto this bill and stand with the people who elected him.”
