Governor Ron DeSantis announced on Wednesday that Florida is moving forward with a new statutory authority to identify and designate terrorist organizations operating within the state. The move marks the first official use of powers established under House Bill 1471, a law passed earlier this year to create a permanent state-level counter-terrorism framework.
The state intends to formally designate the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the Muslim Brotherhood, and Antifa under Florida law. The state has also received recommendations to apply the designation to more than 90 foreign organizations.
This list includes international drug cartels such as the Cartel de Sinaloa, Tren de Aragua, Cartel del Noreste, and Cartel del Golfo, alongside groups like the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
“Last December, I signed an Executive Order to eliminate the influence of radical terrorist ideologies and the organizations that promote them in Florida. This year, I signed legislation to strengthen those protections and give Florida permanent statutory tools to combat terrorism while defending the Constitutional rights of our citizens,” DeSantis said. “Today, we are officially designating terrorist organizations under Florida law. In addition to CAIR and the Muslim Brotherhood, we are adding Antifa to the list—along with more than 90 Foreign Terrorist Organizations, including cartels.”
Under the framework of HB 1471, the Governor and the Florida Cabinet make these designations based on recommendations from the Chief of Domestic Security within the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE). This process allows the state to recognize existing federal terrorist designations while independently identifying other groups deemed a threat to state security.
Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Mark Glass emphasized the role of local and federal cooperation under the new framework.
“Keeping our community safe starts with identifying the threat,” Glass said. “The safety of our community is strengthened by that knowledge every day, and reinforced by the collaboration between our officers, our federal partners, and—most importantly—the people we serve.”
The designations will carry the full force of state law once they are officially confirmed by the Florida Cabinet. After confirmation, all state and local government agencies will be barred from providing public funds, contracts, or employment support to the named groups.
The restrictions also extend to public education, prohibiting state colleges, universities, and school districts from using any public resources to promote or support the designated organizations.
Beyond funding restrictions, the law introduces legal and criminal consequences. Organizations designated by the state may face statutory dissolution. Additionally, individuals who knowingly provide material support or resources to these groups will face state-level criminal penalties. The law also dictates that foreign or religious legal codes cannot override the United States or Florida Constitutions in state courts.
This statutory implementation builds on previous actions taken by the administration. Last December, an executive order directed state agencies to deny public support to CAIR and the Muslim Brotherhood. The state has also previously barred public higher education institutions from entering into agreements with entities tied to foreign countries of concern and restricted taxpayer funding for programs that benefit foreign adversaries.
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