DeSantis Signs Law Allowing Florida to Designate Groups as Terrorists

New legislation gives state leaders power to label organizations and expel student supporters from universities.

Apr. 6, 2026 at 7:09pm

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A photorealistic painting of a stately Florida state capitol building in warm, golden light, with deep shadows casting an ominous mood over the scene, conceptually representing the political tensions surrounding the new anti-terrorism legislation.The new Florida law granting state leaders broad powers to designate groups as terrorists has raised concerns about the erosion of civil liberties in the state.Today in Tampa

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has signed a new law that grants state officials the ability to designate domestic or foreign groups as terrorist organizations. The law allows the governor and other top state leaders to approve or reject these designations, which would then result in the groups being dissolved and prohibited from receiving any state funding. Universities would also be required to report the status of any expelled students attending on visas to federal immigration authorities.

Why it matters

The new law has drawn criticism from free speech advocates who argue the vague language could be used to restrict educational programs and target student protesters who criticize state officials. There are concerns the legislation could have a chilling effect on free expression and dissent in Florida.

The details

Under the new law, a top official at the Florida Department of Law Enforcement can propose designating a group as a domestic or foreign terrorist organization. The governor and three other members of the Florida Cabinet would then vote to approve or reject the designation. Once labeled a terrorist group, the organization can be dissolved and barred from receiving any state funding. Universities would also have to report the visa status of any students expelled for supporting these designated groups to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

  • Governor DeSantis signed the new law on April 6, 2026.
  • In December 2025, DeSantis had previously designated the Council on American-Islamic Relations and the Muslim Brotherhood as foreign terrorist organizations, but a federal judge temporarily blocked the enforcement of that executive order last month.

The players

Ron DeSantis

The governor of Florida who signed the new law allowing the state to designate groups as terrorist organizations.

Florida Cabinet

A group of four statewide elected officials, including the governor, attorney general, chief financial officer, and agriculture commissioner, who must approve or reject any terrorist designations proposed by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

Florida Department of Law Enforcement

The state agency that can propose designating a group as a domestic or foreign terrorist organization under the new law.

PEN America

A free speech advocacy group that has criticized the new law, arguing its vague language could restrict educational programs and target student protesters.

William Johnson

The Florida director for PEN America, who has warned the law could have a 'chilling effect' on free expression and dissent in the state.

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What they’re saying

“So this will help the state of Florida protect you. It'll help us protect your tax dollars. It'll help us protect things that should not be happening in the United States of America, but certainly shouldn't be happening in the free state of Florida.”

— Ron DeSantis, Governor of Florida

“The implications are fraught. The new law could chill education at every level.”

— William Johnson, Florida Director, PEN America

What’s next

A federal judge has already temporarily blocked the enforcement of Governor DeSantis' previous executive order designating the Council on American-Islamic Relations and the Muslim Brotherhood as foreign terrorist organizations. It remains to be seen if the new law will face similar legal challenges.

The takeaway

This legislation represents a significant expansion of the governor's power, allowing him and other state leaders to unilaterally label groups as terrorists and take punitive actions against their supporters, including expelling students from public universities. Critics warn the law's broad and vague language could be used to suppress free speech and dissent, raising concerns about the erosion of civil liberties in Florida.