Trending Now - Desantis Enacts Law to Designate Groups as Terrorists in Florida

WHO:

NBC News - William Johnson, PEN America's Florida director, stated that the new law “could chill education at every level” and described the implications as “fraught.”

NBC News - Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a measure into law.

NBC News - The Florida Cabinet includes the state attorney general, the chief financial officer, and the agriculture commissioner.

NBC News - PEN America is a free speech advocacy group.

NBC News - William Johnson is PEN America's Florida director.

WHAT:

ABC News - The law allows for the expulsion of state university students who support designated terrorist organizations.

NBC News - The law enables the dissolution of a designated terrorist organization, which will lose state funding through school districts or state agencies.

Newsweek - Florida has expanded its powers to designate groups as terrorist organizations, which includes a ban on Sharia law in courts.

NBC News - The law has been criticized by free speech advocates for its vague language, which could restrict education programs deemed to be “promoting” terrorism.

NBC News - The law allows Florida leaders to label groups as domestic or foreign terrorist organizations.

NBC News - The law enables the expulsion of state university students who support designated terrorist organizations.

NBC News - A top official at the Florida Department of Law Enforcement can designate a group as a terrorist organization, subject to approval by the governor and three Cabinet members.

NBC News - Once designated, a terrorist organization can be dissolved and will lose state funding through school districts or state agencies.

NBC News - Universities must report the status of expelled students on visas to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

NBC News - DeSantis previously designated the Council on American-Islamic Relations and the Muslim Brotherhood as foreign terrorist organizations.

WHERE:

NBC News - The law was signed in Tampa, Florida.

WHEN:

NBC News - A federal judge temporarily blocked the enforcement of DeSantis' executive order in March 2026.

NBC News - The law was signed on April 6th, 2026.

NBC News - A federal judge temporarily blocked the enforcement of DeSantis' executive order in March 2026.

NBC News - DeSantis designated the Council on American-Islamic Relations and the Muslim Brotherhood in December 2025.

WHY:

NBC News - DeSantis stated, “So this will help the state of Florida protect you. It’ll help us protect your tax dollars,” during a news conference in Tampa.

Fox News - DeSantis stated that the law is intended to protect Floridians and their tax dollars from activities he believes should not occur in the United States.

NBC News - DeSantis claimed the law will help protect Florida residents and tax dollars, and prevent activities that should not occur in the United States.

NBC News - DeSantis stated the law will help protect Florida residents and tax dollars, and prevent activities that should not occur in the United States.

HOW:

NBC News - The law allows a top official at the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to designate a group as a domestic or foreign terrorist organization, with the governor and three other members of the Florida Cabinet approving or rejecting the designation.

NBC News - The law allows for the designation of groups as terrorist organizations through a process involving the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and approval from the governor and Cabinet members.

(UPDATED April 8, 2026 01:21 UTC)

Florida has enacted a new law that permits the expulsion of state university students who support designated terrorist organizations and allows for the dissolution of such groups, resulting in the loss of state funding. During a news conference in Tampa, Governor DeSantis emphasized that this legislation is intended to protect Florida residents and their tax dollars. The law also grants a top official at the Florida Department of Law Enforcement the authority to designate organizations as terrorist entities, with the governor and three Cabinet members having the final say on these designations.

(UPDATED April 7, 2026 21:14 UTC)

Florida has expanded its powers to designate groups as terrorist organizations, which now includes a ban on Sharia law in courts. Governor Ron DeSantis emphasized that this law is aimed at protecting Floridians and their tax dollars from activities he believes should not take place in the United States. The announcement was made on Monday, and has drawn attention from various media outlets.

(UPDATED April 7, 2026 19:20 UTC)

A federal judge temporarily blocked the enforcement of Governor DeSantis' controversial law in March, which has drawn criticism from free speech advocates for its vague language that could restrict educational programs labeled as “promoting” terrorism. William Johnson, the Florida director of PEN America, expressed concerns that this law “could chill education at every level” and described its implications as “fraught.” The law empowers a top official at the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to designate groups as domestic or foreign terrorist organizations, with the final decision resting with the governor and three members of the Florida Cabinet.

(UPDATED April 7, 2026 17:25 UTC)

Governor Ron DeSantis signed a new law in Tampa on Monday, which allows Florida leaders to label groups as domestic or foreign terrorist organizations. This law enables the expulsion of state university students who support these designated groups, and once labeled as terrorists, organizations can be dissolved and lose state funding. DeSantis stated that the law aims to protect Florida residents and tax dollars while preventing activities that should not occur in the United States.