DeSantis' Cruel Anti-Immigrant Bills
Here’s another one and it is being heard today in the House, tomorrow in the senate. Cruelty and hatred for undocumented immigrants is just wrong!
DeSantis' cruel anti-immigrant bills -- HB 1617/SB 1718 Immigration -- are starting to move through committees and it is imperative that we let legislators know that we OPPOSE them. If passed, these bills would make it almost impossible for undocumented people to receive critical resources such as healthcare, prevent them from becoming employed, defund important community programs, and make it a felony for anyone to house, transport, employ or shield an undocumented person, including churches! Specifically, these bills would:
Enhance fines and penalties on Florida businesses that hire illegal immigrants in the state and could ultimately revoke their business licenses;
Authorize law enforcement to conduct random audits of businesses for compliance with the immigration law;
Enhance criminal penalties for those concealing, harboring, or shielding illegal immigrants;
Invalidate out of state licenses of illegal immigrants driving in Florida, issue citations for driving with invalid licenses, and maintain a list that is reported to the state;
Prohibit local governments from funding any person or non-profit organization to create identification cards for illegal immigrants;
Authorize Sheriffs in county jails to take DNA samples when an illegal immigrant is arrested and an ICE detainer is issued;
Mandate that hospitals receiving Medicaid dollars from the state start tracking and regularly reporting the numbers and costs of care of illegal immigrants to the Governor and Legislature; and
Remove the law that allows illegal immigrants to get a law license in the State of Florida after November, 2026.
It was just posted late this afternoon that the House bill will be heard in its first committee today at Noon in the Commerce Committee. Please contact the following House legislators TODAY and tell them to VOTE NO on HB 1617.
Bob Rommel (R), Chair (850) 717-5081
Patt Maney (R), Vice Chair (850) 717-5004
David Borrero (R), Whip (850) 717-5111
Bruce Antone (D) (850) 717-5041
Kristen Aston Arrington (D) (850) 717-5046
Webster Barnaby R) (850) 717-5029
Christopher Benjamin (D) (850) 717-5107
Kimberly Daniels (D) (850) 717-5014
Wyman Duggan (R) (850) 717-5012
Mike Giallombardo (R) (850) 717-5077
Dotie Joseph (D) (850) 717-5108
Chip LaMarca R) (850) 717-5100
Thomas J. "Tom" Leek (R) (850) 717-5028
Lauren Melo (R) (850) 717-5082
Toby Overdorf R) (850) 717-5085
Joel Rudman, Dr., (R) (850) 717-5003
Tyler I. Sirois (R) (850) 717-5031
Kevin Steele (R) (850) 717-5055
Allison Tant (D) (850) 717-5009
Chase Tramont (R) (850) 717-5030
Bradford Troy "Brad" Yeager (R) (850) 717-5056
Bob.Rommel@myfloridahouse.gov; Patt.Maney@myfloridahouse.gov; David.Borrero@myfloridahouse.gov; Bruce.Antone@myfloridahouse.gov;
Kristen.Arrington@myfloridahouse.gov; Webster.Barnaby@myfloridahouse.gov; Christopher.Benjamin@myfloridahouse.gov; Kimberly.Daniels@myfloridahouse.gov;
Wyman.Duggan@myfloridahouse.gov; Mike.Giallombardo@myfloridahouse.gov; Dotie.Joseph@myfloridahouse.gov; Chip.LaMarca@myfloridahouse.gov;
Tom.Leek@myfloridahouse.gov; Lauren.Melo@myfloridahouse.gov; Toby.Overdorf@myfloridahouse.gov; Joel.Rudman@myfloridahouse.gov;
Tyler.Sirois@myfloridahouse.gov; Kevin.Steele@myfloridahouse.gov; Allison.Tant@myfloridahouse.gov; Chase.Tramont@myfloridahouse.gov;
Brad.Yeager@myfloridahouse.gov
The Senate version has passed its first committee and will be heard Tuesday in the Fiscal Policy Committee. If passed, it will move to the floor for a full Senate vote. Please contact the following Senators before Tuesday and tell them to VOTE NO on SB 1718, the cruel and hateful anti-immigrant bill.
Senator Travis Hutson (R), Chair (850) 487-5007
Senator Linda Stewart (D), Vice Chair (850) 487-5017
Senator Ben Albritton (R) (850) 487-5027
Senator Lori Berman (D) (850) 487-5026
Senator Jim Boyd (R) (850) 487-5020
Senator Colleen Burton (R) (850) 487-5012
Senator Alexis Calatayud (R) (850) 487-5038
Senator Jay Collins (R) (850) 487-5014
Senator Nick DiCeglie (R) (850) 487-5018
Senator Ileana Garcia (R) (850) 487-5036
Senator Shevrin D. "Shev" Jones (D) (850) 487-5034
Senator Debbie Mayfield (R) (850) 487-5019
Senator Rosalind Osgood (D) (850) 487-5032
Senator Ana Maria Rodriguez (R) (850) 487-5040
Senator Corey Simon (R) (850) 487-5003
Senator Geraldine F. "Geri" Thompson (D) (850) 487-5015
Senator Victor M. Torres, Jr. (D) (850) 487-5025
Senator Jay Trumbull (R) (850) 487-5002
Senator Tom A. Wright (R) (850) 487-5008
Senator Clay Yarborough (R) (850) 487-5004
Hutson.Travis.web@flsenate.gov; Stewart.Linda.web@flsenate.gov; Albritton.Ben.web@flsenate.gov; Berman.Lori.web@flsenate.gov; Boyd.Jim.web@flsenate.gov;
Burton.Colleen.web@flsenate.gov; Calatayud.Alexis.web@flsenate.gov; Collins.Jay.web@flsenate.gov; DiCeglie.Nick.web@flsenate.gov; Garcia.Ileana.web@flsenate.gov;Jones.Shevrin.web@flsenate.gov; Mayfield.Debbie.web@flsenate.gov; Osgood.Rosalind.web@flsenate.gov; Rodriguez.AnaMaria.web@flsenate.gov;
Simon.Corey.web@flsenate.gov; Thompson.Geraldine.web@flsenate.gov; Torres.Victor.web@flsenate.gov; Trumbull.Jay.web@flsenate.gov;
Wright.Tom.web@flsenate.gov; Yarborough.Clay.web@flsenate.gov
Thank you,
Jean Siebenaler
LEGISLATIVE CHAIR, DEMOCRATIC WOMEN'S CLUB OF FLORIDA