Bill Claiming to Address Public Disorder Achieves Final Passage

On April 15, the full Senate passed HB 1 ( 23-17). In response to recent riots, the bill purports to address public disorder by creating new riot-related crimes and enhancing penalties on existing offenses. The FCCB opposes the bill as it is unnecessary and potentially harmful. Any violence committed during a riot, or at any time, is already prosecutable, and it is unnecessary to raise penalties for those crimes. Additionally, some broad terms in the bill could potentially criminalize some of our ministries' public activities such as praying in front of an abortion facility, sidewalk counseling, and prayer vigils to end the use of the death penalty. FCCB's concerns with the measure are further outlined in a  letter. The proposal passed the House ( 76-39) on March 26. A top priority of Governor Ron DeSantis, the measure will be sent to him for his signature.