Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill banning counties and municipalities from funding or promoting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies while speaking during a press conference in Jacksonville this week.
The bill (SB 1134) also prohibits taxpayer funding to city officers enacting DEI polices.
"Honestly, some of this is a total scam. These people will be like DEI officers, they're making $400,000 a year, 500,000 because they'll get a contract for 100 grand from this city, this from that city, and all this other stuff, and the amount of money some of the people were making on this is really, really obscene," DeSantis said.
Gov. DeSantis added that violators of the law would be subject to removal from office.
Sen. Clay Yarborough (R-Jacksonville) sponsored the bill in the Senate. Rep. Dean Black (R-Jacksonville) championed a similar House version.
"When people know there's accountability, they're much more apt to toe the line and do what the law requires," DeSantis said. "They think they can get away with it, then they're more apt to want to signal and do some of those other things."
While speaking, Gov. DeSantis also signed a bill (HB 1217) prohibiting local governments from adopting or enforcing "net-zero" mandates, including carbon taxes, aimed at balancing greenhouse gas emissions.
"While we have been in compliance with that and we did really strong energy legislation a few years ago, we see some of the things that are still being done in local governments, including the City of St. Pete spending $300,000 on a consulting service for a sustainability action plan," DeSantis said.
Gov. DeSantis also called out Broward County for similar adoptions.
The bill, DeSantis added, "safeguards Floridians by prohibiting all levels of government from adopting or enforcing these radical climate policies, prevents the use of procurement or purchasing preferences to advance the Green New Deal, prohbits the use of taxpayer funds to pay dues, membership's fees, or contributions to NGOs and trade associations that are aligned with the radical policies, [and] prevents the institution of any tax, fee penalty or carbon offset to consumers or to businesses."
Reps. John Snyder (R-Stuart) and Berny Jacques (R-Seminole) sponsored the bill in the Senate. Sen. Bryan Avila (R-Hialaeh Gardens) championed a similar Senate version.
SB 1134 will take effect on Jan 1, 2027, while HB 1217 will take effect on July 1, 2026.
