Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill into law on Monday that strengthens protections against the application of foreign and religious laws.
HB 1471 reinforces that Florida courts may not apply or enforce foreign or religious law, including Sharia law, that violates constitutional rights. It blocks foreign judgments, contracts or legal provisions that attempt to bypass those protections.
“To uphold the rule of law, our state must operate under one legal system, the Constitution must remain the law of the land, and we must defend our institutions from those who would harm us — especially terrorist organizations that seek to infiltrate and subvert our education system,” DeSantis said.
The bill prohibits the use of taxpayer funds to support or promote terrorist organizations. Students who promote terrorist violence face disciplinary action. Institutions that violate the provision could lose state funding.
Finally, the bill authorizes the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s chief of domestic security to recommend the designation of domestic terrorist organizations and ensures that foreign terrorist organizations recognized at the federal level can be enforced at the state level.
DeSantis directed state agencies in December to take all lawful measures to prevent unlawful activity by terrorist organizations, and Florida has strengthened oversight of foreign influence in education.