The end of Florida Citizens initiatives?
To the editor:
Did you know that Citizen initiated Constitutional Amendments may become a thing of the past in the State of Florida? Here’s what is brewing in Tallahassee:
HB (House Bill) 1205 and SB (Senate Bill) 7016 add new challenges to the citizens initiatives process. (There are 15 pending citizen initiatives besides Florida Right to Clean Water) :
-$1 Million Bond: SB requires donations to first cover election office costs and then secure the bond.
— Stricter Rules for Petition Circulators: Anyone collecting petitions must register and complete training.
— More Voter Information Required: Petition forms must include a Florida driver’s license/state ID number or the last four digits of a Social Security number, replacing the current date-of-birth option.
— Legal Challenges to Amendments: SB allows voters to challenge an adopted amendment in court over eligibility.
— Hosts of fines, civil penalties, and crimes are added
— Impact on Current Petitions: Both bills apply to petitions for the 2026 election.
— Timeline: The bills take effect immediately upon becoming law. A final compromise bill could be passed in April before the session ends on May 2.
The roadblocks in these two bills will eliminate any possibility of citizen-based changes to be put on voting ballots. Contact your senator & representative to stop these efforts to end our voter participation in changing the future direction of the State of Florida.
Links to both bills are below.
flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2025/1205flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2025/7016
David Bortell
North Fort Myers