Florida just gave one unelected official the power to brand any nonprofit a "domestic terrorist organization." The companion bill makes sure you'll never see why.
Pinellas County has 85+ progressive organizations listed in our directory. Mutual aid groups. Tenants' rights orgs. Climate advocacy. Reproductive freedom. Faith communities organizing for immigration justice.
Under Florida's HB 1471, signed by Gov. DeSantis on April 6, 2026, any of them could be designated a "domestic terrorist organization" by a single state official — and dissolved by the Secretary of State as a result.
The companion bill, HB 1473, makes the underlying evidence exempt from public records.
That second part is the part you should be thinking about. (Florida Phoenix, April 6, 2026)
⚖️ What the Law Actually Does
HB 1471 created a new role: the Chief of Domestic Security, appointed by the governor. Powers include:
- Designate any organization "operating in the state" as a "domestic terrorist organization"
- Recommend the designation to the Florida Cabinet (governor + AG + CFO + Ag Commissioner) for approval
- Trigger corporate dissolution by the Secretary of State once approved
- Create new felonies for "assisting" a designated organization
- Block private schools from state funding if students "promote" a designated group
Once designated, the organization has limited recourse. Its records are gone. Its bank accounts can be frozen. Its leaders face criminal liability for ordinary fundraising. (JURIST, April 2026)
🔒 Why HB 1473 Is the Quiet Part Out Loud
If the designations are based on credible evidence of terrorist activity, you'd expect the state to want to show that evidence. Public trust comes from transparency.
HB 1473 went the opposite direction. It exempts from public records:
- The Chief of Domestic Security's report to the Cabinet
- Any documentation related to the designation
- Any information the Chief deems "critical to state or national security"
That last clause is wide enough to fly an F-35 through. The bill's defenders argue it protects ongoing investigations. The bill's critics — including civil rights orgs that submitted formal opposition — argue it's the standard playbook for chilling speech: make the law vague, make the evidence secret, and let everyone wonder if they're next. (CAIR Florida, 2026)
🎯 Why It Matters in Pinellas County
Tampa Bay has one of the most active progressive ecosystems in Florida. Activate Pinellas's directory alone tracks:
- 22 climate and environmental groups
- 18 reproductive freedom and gender-equity orgs
- 15 immigrant justice organizations
- 12 mutual aid networks
- 9 Black-led civic organizations
The law doesn't have to be enforced against any of these to do its work. The threat is the work. Volunteer recruitment gets harder. Donors get nervous. Coalition partners pull back. That is the function — even if the formal designation never lands.
🏛️ The "We Have to Pass It to See It" Vote
The bill cleared the House on March 3 and the Senate later that month. It moved with limited public hearing time. The full text of the implementation rules will be drafted by the Department of Law Enforcement after the law takes effect — meaning the rules everyone will be expected to follow don't exist yet.
DeSantis paired the signing with a separate Sharia law ban signed the same day, making the messaging clear: this is about which groups the state finds politically inconvenient. (Executive Office of the Governor, April 6, 2026)
✊ What You Can Do From Pinellas County
1. Know your reps' votes. Look up how your state legislators voted on HB 1471. If they voted yes, ask them to explain.
2. Call the Florida Cabinet. The Cabinet has to approve every designation. Pressure here matters.
- Attorney General: (850) 414-3300
- Chief Financial Officer: (850) 413-3100
- Agriculture Commissioner: (850) 617-7700
Suggested script:
"Hi, I'm a constituent in Pinellas County. I'm asking the [office] to commit publicly to opposing any HB 1471 designation that lacks transparent, public evidence. Florida nonprofits deserve due process. Thank you."
3. Donate to civil-liberties orgs. They're the ones who will sue first.
4. Document everything. If your organization receives any state communication referencing HB 1471, keep records. Public records requests work both directions.
5. Share this post. The law works through silence. Break the silence.
Sources: Florida Phoenix — DeSantis signs | JURIST | Florida Senate — HB 1471 text | Executive Office of the Governor | House passage coverage