Florida Group Sues Over New Ballot Initiative Restrictions

Progressive advocacy groups, led by Florida Decides Healthcare, have filed a federal lawsuit challenging a new Florida law that imposes additional restrictions on citizen-driven ballot initiatives. The law, recently signed by Governor Ron DeSantis, introduces felony charges and fines for unregistered petition circulators and other measures that critics argue make it prohibitively difficult and expensive for grassroots campaigns to qualify initiatives for the ballot. Opponents, including the Southern Poverty Law Center, claim the law undermines Floridians' First Amendment rights and is designed to suppress citizen participation in constitutional amendments, especially on issues lawmakers have declined to address. Supporters of the law argue it is necessary to prevent fraud and ensure the integrity of the amendment process, citing past concerns around initiatives like efforts to overturn abortion restrictions. The lawsuit reflects broader concerns that the new rules could chill volunteer activity and limit the public's ability to influence major state policies through direct democracy.