Since Republicans took control of the Legislature two decades ago, several high-profile measures have made their way to the ballot despite widespread opposition from GOP lawmakers. | AP Photo Ahead of 2020, Florida GOP tries to rein in ballot measures

TALLAHASSEE — Florida’s Republican-controlled Legislature, which for decades has chafed under voter-approved policy initiatives on school class size, medical marijuana use and other hot-button issues, is pushing a bill to make it more difficult for groups to get amendments on the ballot.

If the legislation becomes law, it could throw up roadblocks for groups already gathering signatures to get constitutional policy questions on the ballot in 2020, a presidential election year that will drive voter turnout. One such campaign, being pushed by the same Orlando attorney who won an amendment legalizing medical marijuana, would raise Florida’s minimum wage.


The House Judiciary Committee approved the sweeping bill today on a vote divided along party lines. A Senate committee is scheduled to consider a companion measure early next week.

Rep. James Grant (R-Tampa), one of the sponsors, said the bill will improve transparency so Floridians know whether “Russian oligarchs” or “partisan billionaires” are trying to buy their way into the state Constitution.

“We are completely vulnerable to anyone funding the amending of the Constitution,’’ said Grant, who warned of an “arms race that should scare everybody of every ideology in a republic.”

The state Legislature has the power to put amendments on the ballot, as do panels such as the Constitution Revision Commission, which meets every 20 years.

But with signatures from nearly 800,000 registered voters — and a review from the state Supreme Court — citizen groups, too, have the power to put a constitutional amendment question to Florida voters. In 2018, Floridians approved citizen-led ballot initiatives to reinstate voting rights for felons and make it more difficult for the state to expand gambling.



The Republican bill moving through the Legislature would require anyone gathering voter signatures to be a Florida resident and register their name and date of birth with the state. Groups that hire people to gather signatures — a common practice — would not be allowed to pay them based on how many signatures they collect.

The new mandates, if adopted, would not apply to signatures that have already been gathered.

The bill would also require that additional information about the amendment be placed on the ballot, including what share of its financial support came from Florida residents versus out-of-state interests. Voters would be told, in bold capital letters, if approving the amendment would result in higher taxes or reduced funding for other programs.

Since Republicans took control of the Legislature two decades ago, several high-profile measures have made their way to the ballot despite widespread opposition from GOP governors, lawmakers and business leaders. Former Gov. Jeb Bush unsuccessfully campaigned against a 2002 measure to limit school class sizes, saying the cost would “blot out the sun.”

Measures dealing with environmental land purchases and medical marijuana triggered lawsuits from groups complaining that lawmakers failed to carry out the will of voters.

The session started nearly a month ago, but the ballot legislation was released just this week, drawing fire from critics who said the timing was designed to limit public response to the far-reaching bill.

Sierra Club lobbyist Dave Cullen chided legislators, saying the measure was designed to discourage initiatives that don’t represent the “ideology” of the GOP majority.

“To us, this bill is transparent,” Cullen told the Judiciary Committee. “The Legislature wants sole authority to put stuff on the ballot and it also always wants the outcome to be in line with the current majority’s opinions. Have a little respect for future voters who may disagree with you. That’s the essence of democracy.”

Democratic legislators quickly lined up in opposition. State Sen. Oscar Braynon (D-MiamI Gardens) said Republicans want to move the “goal line” and are “afraid” of what might get passed in the future.

Other Democrats said the restrictions, such as requiring someone to register with the state to gather signatures, could run afoul of free speech protections.