STATEMENT: Equality Florida Responds to Florida Senate Passing Sweeping “Anti-Diversity in Local Government” Bill

Florida Senate Passes Sweeping “Anti-Diversity in Local Government” Bill

Legislation Threatens Pride Festivals, Cultural Events, Public Health Programs, and Local Officials; Final House Vote Expected Before Measure Heads to Governor

Tallahassee, FL — Today, the Florida Senate passed one of the most sweeping and punitive bills of the 2026 legislative session, the “Anti-Diversity in Local Government” bill (HB 1001 / SB 1134), by a vote of 25–11. After hours of debate, Senator Alexis Calatayud (R-Miami) joined Senate Democrats and a bipartisan coalition of local elected leaders opposing the broad and vague bills. The legislation now heads to the Florida House for a final vote before being sent to Governor Ron DeSantis’ desk.

If signed into law, the bill would ban, repeal, and defund any local government programming, policy, or activity that provides “preferential treatment or special benefits” or is “designed or implemented” with respect to race, color, sex, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or gender identity. It would repeal existing programs, prohibit public funding for initiatives deemed to fall under that definition, and threaten city and county officials with removal from office for activities vaguely labeled as DEI, with only limited exceptions.

Equality Florida’s Senior Political Director Joe Saunders provided the following response:

“Once again, Governor DeSantis and Florida lawmakers are advancing one of the most sweeping and extreme bills in the country—this time threatening decades of local progress supporting diverse communities, including the LGBTQ community. Sponsor Senator Clay Yarborough acknowledged that he has no idea how many existing ordinances, policies, and programs would be repealed by this legislation. He also made clear that while engineered carve-outs exist for some communities, he could identify no basis for broadly protecting the LGBTQ community.

This legislation is a sledgehammer aimed at cities and counties that dare to recognize and address the diversity of the people they serve. DeSantis and his allies are willing to sacrifice the critical support and inclusion that strengthen local communities to distract from his administration’s inaction, scandals, and corruption. A commitment to equity and inclusion makes us better. And our LGBTQ community will not be erased. As the bill heads to the House, lawmakers should reject this agenda of censorship and government overreach.”

The bill has drawn bipartisan criticism for its breadth and ambiguity. During its final House committee stop, State Representative Michelle Salzman (R-Escambia) described the legislation as “all over the place” and “incredibly vague.”* When HB 1001 was voted out of committee, State Representative Chip LaMarca (R-Broward) broke ranks and joined Democrats in opposition.

Republican Miami-Dade Commissioner Vicki Lopez also publicly warned that the bill could prevent counties from providing grants to nonprofits, including organizations like the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

The Florida House is expected to take up the bill for a final vote tomorrow. If it passes, the legislation will head to Governor DeSantis for his signature.

Equality Florida is urging House members to reject the bill before it becomes law.

*Rep Salzman’s debate in the House Commerce Committee on 2/26/2026 starts at the 2:57:00 timestamp.