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NewsNBC 6 South FloridaJuly 1, 2026Florida

Florida Governor Designates Groups as Terrorist Organizations Under New Law

Governor Ron DeSantis has initiated the process to label several groups, including the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and antifa, as terrorist organizations under a new state law (HB 1471). The law also mandates the expulsion of students who promote these groups and restricts state funding for affiliated programs.

terrorismcivil rightshigher educationlaw enforcementFlorida politics
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Why It Matters

The law grants the state authority to label organizations as terrorist entities, which triggers mandatory student expulsions, restricts state funding for associated programs, and prohibits the enforcement of foreign or religious laws in state courts.

Key Facts

  • HB 1471 allows the state to designate domestic and foreign groups as terrorist organizations.
  • The law mandates the expulsion of Florida College System students who 'promote' designated terrorist organizations.
  • Promotion is defined as actions that threaten violence, disrupt learning, infringe on rights, or offer material support/recruitment.
  • Public universities and colleges are prohibited from using state or federal funds to support programs or activities promoting designated groups.
  • Schools affiliated with designated terrorist organizations are barred from receiving state K-12 scholarship funds.
  • The law prohibits courts from enforcing provisions of foreign or religious laws, with specific emphasis on Sharia law.
  • The Florida Cabinet (Attorney General, CFO, Agriculture Commissioner) must approve the designations proposed by the Governor.
  • The Chief of Domestic Security (FDLE Commissioner) is authorized to designate terrorist organizations.
  • HB 1473 creates a public records exemption for documents related to how a 'terrorist' designation is reached.
  • The bill passed the Florida Legislature with a vote of 80-25 in the House and 25-11 in the Senate.
  • CAIR has announced plans to challenge the designation in court.

Who's Mentioned

organizationantifa“Targeted for terrorist designation.”organizationMuslim Brotherhood“Targeted for terrorist designation.”personMark Glass“Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner and Chief of Domestic Securit”personMark Walker“U.S. District Court Judge who issued a preliminary injunction against a previous”personBlaise Ingoglia“Florida Chief Financial Officer and member of the Florida Cabinet.”personJames Uthmeier“Florida Attorney General and member of the Florida Cabinet.”personRon DeSantis“Governor of Florida who initiated the terrorist designations.”personWilton Simpson“Florida Agriculture Commissioner and member of the Florida Cabinet.”organizationCouncil on American-Islamic Relations“A civil rights nonprofit targeted for terrorist designation.”personScott McCoy“Deputy legal director of the Southern Poverty Law Center representing CAIR.”