Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced on July 1, 2026, the state's intention to utilize a new law to designate over 90 groups as terrorist organizations, pending approval from the Florida Cabinet. The law, known as HB 1471, went into effect on the same day and allows the state to identify and combat terrorist organizations operating in Florida.
The proposed designations include groups such as the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the Muslim Brotherhood, and Antifa. Governor DeSantis stated that the law aims to eliminate the influence of radical ideologies and strengthen protections against terrorism while upholding citizens' constitutional rights.
Under HB 1471, the Chief of Domestic Security can designate organizations as domestic or foreign terrorist groups, but these designations require majority approval from the governor and Cabinet before being published. The law also prohibits public support and funding for designated groups and establishes penalties for providing material support to them.
CAIR has condemned the state's actions, asserting that it does not engage in terrorist activity and plans to challenge the designations in court. Critics, including civil liberties groups, argue that the designations threaten First Amendment rights and are politically motivated. The designations, if approved, would differ from federal foreign terrorist organization designations made by the U.S. State Department.