Florida Enacts HB 1471: Novel Powers to Designate Domestic Terrorist Organizations

Governor Ron DeSantis signed HB 1471 into law on Monday, April 6, 2026, granting the state significant new authority to identify and penalize terrorist organizations operating within Florida. Signed during a ceremony at the University of South Florida’s Tampa campus, the legislation creates a state-level framework for designating domestic terrorist organizations and restricts the application of foreign or religious laws that conflict with constitutional rights.

Key Provisions of HB 1471

The new law establishes a specific process for identifying threats and implementing sanctions against groups deemed dangerous to the state. The core components of the legislation include:

Designation Process

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s (FDLE) Chief of Domestic Security is authorized to recommend the designation of domestic terrorist organizations. For a designation to take effect, it must be approved or rejected by the governor and three other members of the Florida Cabinet: the state attorney general, the chief financial officer, and the agriculture commissioner.

Penalties and Restrictions

Once a group is officially designated as a terrorist organization, the state can implement several severe restrictions:

• Dissolution: The designated group can be dissolved.
• Funding Cuts: Groups are barred from receiving state funding through state agencies or school districts.
• Legal Restrictions: The law reinforces that Florida courts cannot enforce foreign or religious laws—specifically including Sharia law—if doing so violates constitutional rights. It also blocks foreign contracts or judgments that attempt to bypass these protections.

Impact on Higher Education

The legislation introduces strict mandates for state universities. Institutions are required to expel students who provide support for designated terrorist organizations. Universities must report the status of any expelled students attending on visas to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Context and Legal Background

HB 1471 serves as a legislative backup to a December executive order issued by Governor DeSantis. That order had previously designated the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and the Muslim Brotherhood as foreign terrorist organizations. But, a federal judge blocked the enforcement of that executive order last month, ruling it unconstitutional.

Governor DeSantis framed the new law as a necessary measure to protect taxpayers and state institutions. “To uphold the rule of law, our state must operate under one legal system,” DeSantis stated, emphasizing the necessitate to defend the education system from infiltration by terrorist organizations.

Key Takeaways

Looking Ahead

Although Republican lawmakers argue the bill is essential for public safety, the law has already drawn criticism from free speech advocates. As the law takes effect on July 1, the state will likely face legal challenges regarding the balance between national security and constitutional protections for speech, and assembly.