Florida lawmakers are advancing HB 1471 and its Senate companion — legislation that would grant sweeping new powers to designate groups as “foreign or domestic terrorist organizations” at the state level.

Under this proposal, the head of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, appointed by the governor, could label a group as a terrorist organization, subject to approval by the governor and Cabinet. Public colleges and universities would be barred from providing funding or support to designated groups, and students who “promote” such organizations could face immediate expulsion. Records related to these decisions could also be shielded from public disclosure.

Public safety is essential. No one disputes that real threats of violence must be addressed. But laws of this magnitude demand extraordinary clarity, transparency, and constitutional safeguards.

The First Amendment protects not only popular speech, but controversial and dissenting viewpoints. The Supreme Court has drawn a clear distinction between providing material support to terrorist organizations and engaging in independent advocacy or expression. When legislation uses broad terms like “promotion” or defines terrorism to include influencing government policy through “intimidation,” it raises serious concerns about how peaceful protest, campus activism, or even labor strikes could be interpreted.

Students should not face expulsion for expressing political views. Workers should not fear that organizing for change could be weaponized. And Floridians deserve transparency when the government exercises extraordinary authority to label organizations as terrorists.

We call on the Florida Legislature — and Governor Ron DeSantis — to reject or substantially amend HB 1471 and its Senate companion to ensure robust due process protections, clear and narrow definitions, transparency in designation decisions, and ironclad safeguards for constitutionally protected speech and association.

Florida can protect public safety without compromising civil liberties. Our state should stand firmly for both security and freedom — not sacrifice one for the other.