ACLU Sues Florida Over SB 1890

With a wave of legislation in the country to enforce election integrity, the Americal Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), just launched a lawsuit against the state of Florida over SB 1890.

The suit was filed for, "unconstitutionally abridges First Amendment freedoms of speech and associations by limiting contributions to committees sponsoring statewide ballot initiatives."

The ACLU of Florida is dissatisfied with the limitations on proposing amendments in statewide elections in the new campaign financing law, that could potentially rule out future votes on medical marijuana and a minimum wage increase.

The bill is also said to limit contributions to political committees to $3,000, however that measure would no longer apply if the Florida Secretary of State sees that enough people have signed onto sponsoring a measure (8% of the voting population). The ACLU wrote in response that the contribution limit, "unduly burdens Plaintiff’s First Amendment right to associate with others."

Although the ACLU commonly fights for the civil rights of others, this fight is for themselves.  The advocacy group is concerned that this bill could bar many of their functions.  The Union stated, "If SB 1890 stands, the ACLU of Florida will not be able to propose and support future initiatives, because such initiatives will not be viable under SB 1890’s contribution limit."

While the judicial action sounds promising, Republicans in Florida, and abroad, won't let this legislation go so easily.

Furthermore, the ACLU won't be the only attacks the Florida House will have to battle, as the Biden Administration has also vowed to shoot down their transgender athlete bill, keeping Florida at the center of the American political arena.