Ron DeSantis’ Unnecessary Anti-Protest Bill Would Cost Florida Taxpayers Tens of Millions of Dollars
Originally published as "Ron DeSantis’ Unnecessary Anti-Protest Bill Would Cost Florida Taxpayers Tens of Millions of Dollars," Florida Politics, April 8, 2021.
HB 1 Will Increase Public Spending on Incarceration
Florida House Bill 1, Gov. Ron DeSantis’ legislative response to the largely peaceful Black Lives Matter protests in Florida in 2020, has drawn political opposition from those who say it undermines the constitutional right of all Floridians to stage peaceful political demonstrations.
But that is not the only aspect of HB 1 that should concern state voters — Republicans, Democrats and independents. If it becomes law, this unnecessary legislation will cost Florida taxpayers tens of millions of dollars to implement, potentially have a negative impact on state businesses, and not make Florida any safer.