Orlando, FL: Governor Ron DeSantis has vetoed three criminal justice bills. Each was bipartisan and supported by organizations of diverse political backgrounds. They include:
Senate Bill 62 / Final Bill Analysis
- The bill would have helped formerly incarcerated Floridians afford college, by ensuring that they cannot lose their eligibility for in-state tuition solely because they were imprisoned
- Losing Florida resident status creates a big barrier to access for formerly incarcerated people who want to continue their education, as they must now pay more expensive out-of-state tuition rates
- The bill was bipartisan: Passed the House 109-5 and the Senate 38-0
- Everyone from the NAACP to the Florida Chamber of Commerce supported it
House Bill 1241 / Final Bill Analysis
- The bill would have continued ongoing reforms meant to insure people aren’t automatically sent back to prison for technical, non-violent parole violations like being late to a meeting with a parole officer
- The sponsors were Republican (John Snyder and Corey Simon)
- The bill passed unanimously: 111-0 in the House and 39-0 in the Senate
- Conservative groups like the Christian Coalition supported it
House Bill 133 / Final Bill Analysis
- The bill would have prevented the board that licenses barbers and hair stylists from denying someone a license solely because they have an old, non-violent criminal conviction on their record
- It also would have required the licensing board to recognize educational credits earned through barber and cosmetology training programs that inmates can go through while they are in prison
- It was pushed the conservative, Koch-backed Institute for Justice and the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition
- The only people who opposed it: The Florida Retail Federation
- Another bipartisan bill (Rachel Plakon was a prime co-sponsor in the House)
- And another bill that passed unanimously: 114-0 in the House and 31-0 in the Senate
Below is Representative Anna V. Eskamani’s statement in response to these vetoes.
Governor Ron DeSantis vetoed three bipartisan bills that would have made Florida safer for all people and saved money for taxpayers by helping people who have served their prison sentences get back on their feet, provide for themselves and their families, and reduce recidivism rates.
The bills – some of which were sponsored by Republicans and all of which passed the Legislature by overwhelming margins – would have reduced the barriers that formerly incarcerated people face when trying to obtain an education or start a career. They also would have ensured that people aren’t suddenly thrown back in prison for years just for being late to a meeting while on parole.
These ideas drew support from across the ideological spectrum, from the Koch-backed Institute for Justice and the Christian Coalition to the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition. It’s incredibly disappointing to see these bipartisan pro-public safety bills get vetoed, especially during a time where they are so desperately needed to move Florida into the future.