URGENT: Contact members of the Senate Appropriations Committee NOW to ask them to oppose House Bill 1!

House Bill 1 has passed the House and is now headed to Senate Appropriations-we need your calls to oppose this legislation before Friday, April 9th! 

HB 1 was created to silence and criminalize everyday Floridians from speaking out for justice. Governor DeSantis made this bill his top priority for 2021 legislation, despite an ongoing pandemic and social unrest. He would rather silence Floridians than offer real solutions. These bills are not needed.

Violence, destruction of property, and seditious acts are already prohibited by law. HB1 is overbroad and vague in defining an “unlawful assembly,” opening nearly endless possibilities for abuse.

Conservation organizations like ours use a variety of tools to carry out our respective missions to better Florida’s environment, including litigation, science, media, lobbying, and various forms of assembly. Floridians rally, protest, march, sign wave, and gather in vigils to better Florida’s environment. There is a rich history of public protest in the interest of protecting and restoring Florida’s natural resources. 

People travel from around the world to visit our springs, rivers, beaches, bays, forests, wetlands, parks, and preserves. We live and work here because we enjoy Florida’s natural environment. This legislation would undermine our ability to achieve our shared conservation goals and as a result would put at risk our very way of life. 

Please call these members of the Senate Appropriations Committee and tell them you OPPOSE HB 1 for these reasons and more: 

• This bill would undermine our ability to achieve conservation goals. 
• It would embolden bad actors who would violently harm peaceful protestors.
• It creates a chilling effect on participation in climate marches, justice protests, and gatherings in favor of solar energy.
• It would take away local decision making on law enforcement budgets and put natural resources at further risk of underfunding.

Call these Senators ASAP.

Tips for calling your representative or senator.  

Sen. Kelli Stargel: 850.487.5022 

Sen. Aaron Bean: 850.487.5004 

Sen. Ben Albritton: 850.487.5026 

Sen. Jeff Brandes: 850.487.5024 

Sen. Doug Broxson: 850.487.5001 

Sen. Manny Diaz: 850.487.5036 

Sen. George Gainer: 850.487.5002 

Sen. Ed Hooper: 850.487.5016 

Sen. Travis Hutson: 850.487.5007 

Sen. Debbie Mayfield: 850.487.5017 

Sen. Kathleen Passidomo: 850.487.5028 

Sen. Keith Perry: 850.487.5008 

Sen. Wilton Simpson: 850.487.5010 

Thank you for all you do to protect Florida's environment!