Florida 'anti-riot' bill headed to Gov. DeSantis' desk after being passed by the Senate

After hours of debate, Florida lawmakers passed a controversial bill known as the "Combating Violence, Disorder, and Looting and Law Enforcement Protection Act" Thursday afternoon in the state's Capitol.

HB 1 has also become known as an "anti-rioting" bill.

The bill expands who can be charged as a felon during protests and gives law enforcement broader arresting powers. It also makes it harder for local governing bodies to “defund” the police.

Senator Danny Burgess (R - Zephyrhills), who sponsored the bill, said it "does not protect violence" and still gives demonstrators the ability to exercise their first amendment right.

Gov. Ron DeSantis first introduced this legislation last September at a news conference with law enforcement officers from around the state. He says state law needs to be tougher when it comes to violent protestors and those who would consider defunding the police.

[mikehigh]

It's okay to protest, but it's not okay to riot, they have no grounds to destroy things, put them in jail

[lauradvorak]

Thank you Governor Ron DeSantis Thank you for protecting the good people and WARNING the bad ones.

[stevens]

Love it!! Thank you Governor DeSantis!!! Your better than I expected!!! Standing up to protect us, hats off to you, sir!

[MrBurns-tfif]

Battery isn't a 1st amendment right.

[karennadeau]

Peaceful protest, not burning building we all pay for.

[BUTTONS]

I love living in FLORIDA we don't take any crap

[lukepascal]

I'm really disappointed by this law. I'm even more concerned by the overwhelming support in this comment section.

This is clearly our government trying to prevent people from protesting. I'm concerned for our future my fellow Floridians. :(

[martysmith]

The right to protest is one thing. But don't get in the way of me living my life. You want chaos? Move to Portland, L.A., or Seattle!

[williamP]

The PURPOSE of this bill is to protect the law abiding business/property owners!

[josephinewatson]

Blocking road is infringing entire community's first amendment rights'.

[judypa]

A waste of time???? What? This guy wants Florida to turn into Portland and other blue cities. DeSantia - God Bless you.

[cjgenners]

Sadly, a necessary bill. This does not encroach on people’s First Amendment rights but punishes those who use violence against others, our police, and protects the Infrastructure. This bill also protects the peaceful protesters. The bill does NOT specifically refer to protecting ANYTHING Confederate - that was horse manure - just people and public and private property. THANK YOU FOR LEADING THE WAY, Gov. DeSantis.

[arturoalvarezkawai]

Have the feeling this might be the start of an unprecedented migration flow from Washington State and Oregon towards Florida.

[marlon]

The consequences for blocking a road is definitely needed

[jesseflynn]

It's about time for the Government stands up.

[mikehigh]

Finally if you do the crime, you do the time, dont let the lying criminal activists try and make it about race,

[ikennasmash]

I've been seeing Florida as a bastion of sanity lately. Keep it up! Love from Arizona

[kariendonadieu]

Hahaha love it guarantee it will help the community enough is enough tired of them destroying everything and not being held accountable take all their funding away and give it to the businesses that they have destroyed

[MrObliviousegg]

It's your constitutional right to protest. However, it is not your constitutional right to block the road, attack police or citizens, vandalise property, loot stores or set fires in urban communities.

[fallenangel]

We need this bill. I guess you had no problem with people that did nothing wrong at the capital being arrested. Just more hypocrisy