Under a new law signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis in Miami — at a newly opened museum remembering a failed U.S. invasion of Cuba to overthrow the communist regime — public officials or candidates running for legislative office won’t be able to get anything of value, including money, from a designated foreign terrorist organization.
That includes the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the country’s largest Muslim advocacy and civil rights group, which the governor designated a foreign terrorist organization in December. Although a federal judge said DeSantis can’t do that without violating First Amendment rights to free speech, the governor then signed a law empowering him to designate foreign and domestic terror groups in April.
“We have worked together with members of the Florida Legislature for many, many years to combat pernicious foreign influence in Florida institutions,” DeSantis said on May 8. “This is not just an issue that Florida has to deal with, an issue that has become, unfortunately, nationwide.”
The measure (HB 905) is a comprehensive bill adding multiple provisions limiting the access and interaction of foreign countries of concern with Florida’s government. It goes into effect July 1.
One part limits candidates from receiving “anything of value” from designated foreign terrorist organizations, including a “gift, loan, reward, promise of future employment, favor, or service.”
Another contentious part of the bill would stop people from adopting children or using a surrogate if any party involved is a citizen or resident of a foreign country of concern. Under the law, foreign countries of concern include China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Cuba, Venezuela and Syria.
Rep. Jenna Persons-Mulicka, R-Fort Myers, said that provision came in response to “Chinese nationals exploiting our surrogacy and immigration laws.” Persons-Mulicka sponsored the bill in the House. “That is a serious national and state security risk,” she said.
Additionally, the bill also removes a “linkage institute” with China along with in-state tuition from the 25 students annually from host counties who study at these universities. Linkage institutes are university programs between a state and a foreign country.
The bill signing comes just after the 65th anniversary of the Bay of Pigs invasion on April 17, 1961, in which Cuban exiles backed by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) tried to invade Cuba, attempting to overthrow the communist government under dictator Fidel Castro.
DeSantis spoke first about how this law would impact Cuba, saying it authorizes local governments and tax collectors to revoke business tax receipts for businesses operating in Cuba.
Another part of the law, titled “Support for a Free and Independent Cuba,” is meant to be preparation for when the federal government changes Cuba’s diplomatic status. It would allow Florida’s governor to suspend certain restrictions to interact with Cuba while state lawmakers review long-term policy decisions.
This reporting content is supported by a partnership with Freedom Forum and Journalism Funding Partners. USA Today Network-Florida First Amendment reporter Stephany Matat is based in Tallahassee, Fla. She can be reached at SMatat@usatodayco.com. On X: @stephanymatat.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: DeSantis signs new Florida law on foreign influence, terror groups
Reporting by Stephany Matat, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida / Tallahassee Democrat
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
