DeSantis Signs Law Allowing Florida to Label Groups as Terrorists

New measure gives state leaders power to designate organizations and expel student supporters from universities.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 1:27am

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A dynamic, fragmented painting featuring the symbols of government power and American patriotism - a gavel, scales of justice, and a burning flag - repeated in overlapping geometric waves of red, white, and blue, conveying a sense of political turmoil and upheaval.The new Florida law gives state leaders broad powers to designate groups as 'terrorists' and take punitive actions against them and their supporters.Today in Tampa

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has signed a new law that grants state officials the ability to label groups as domestic or foreign terrorist organizations. The law allows the governor and other 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 in Florida would also be required to report the status of any expelled students attending on visas to federal immigration authorities.

Why it matters

This new law has raised concerns from free speech advocates who argue the vague language could be used to restrict educational programs and target student protesters who criticize state officials. The law gives the governor and other elected leaders broad powers to designate organizations as 'terrorists' and take punitive actions against them and their supporters.

The details

The law allows the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to propose designating a group as a domestic or foreign terrorist organization, with the governor and three other members of the Florida Cabinet approving or rejecting the proposal. Once a group is labeled as a terrorist organization, it can be dissolved and prohibited from receiving any state funding. Universities in Florida would also have to report the visa status of any students they expel to federal immigration authorities.

  • Governor DeSantis signed the new law on April 7, 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.

The players

Ron DeSantis

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

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.

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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 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 new law in Florida represents a significant expansion of state power to target and punish organizations and individuals deemed to be 'terrorists' by the governor and other elected officials. While proponents argue it will protect public safety, free speech advocates warn it could be abused to stifle dissent and criticism of the state government.