Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced Wednesday that the state is putting a new law into effect that allows Florida to officially designate both domestic and foreign terrorist organizations.
Among the first groups identified under the new law are the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the Muslim Brotherhood, and Antifa. The move marks the first use of the authority created by House Bill 1471, which took effect on July 1.
Speaking in Tampa, Governor DeSantis explained the law gives Florida permanent authority to identify and respond to organizations the state considers security threats while safeguarding constitutional rights.
“Today, we are officially designating terrorist organizations under Florida law. In addition to CAIR and the Muslim Brotherhood, we are adding Antifa to the list—along with more than 90 Foreign Terrorist Organizations, including cartels,” said Governor DeSantis.
State officials also said they plan to designate more than 90 foreign terrorist organizations, including several international drug cartels that have already been recognized by the federal government. Under the law, recommendations begin with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s chief of domestic security before moving through the state’s formal designation process.
According to Governor DeSantis, the designations will influence how state and local governments allocate taxpayer dollars, award public contracts, and provide other forms of government support. Organizations placed on the state’s terrorist list could be barred from receiving those benefits.
The governor said the action builds on a 2025 executive order directing state agencies to withhold public funding and support from organizations identified as promoting terrorist ideologies.
