State Senator Erin Grall, a Republican representing Vero Beach, is spearheading legislation in Tallahassee that would significantly restrict the financial interactions between public officials and groups designated by the state as foreign terrorist organizations. The proposal comes in the wake of Governor Ron DeSantis’s December move to designate the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) as a foreign terrorist organization.
Senator Grall’s measure, filed as SB 1178, aims to codify restrictions that would prevent candidates for legislative office and public officials from receiving “anything of value” from entities on the state’s designated list. While the bill applies broadly to any group on the list, the current discourse surrounds its immediate application to CAIR, the nation’s largest Muslim advocacy and civil rights group.
Defining “Anything of Value”
The legislation is specific regarding what constitutes a prohibited exchange. If passed, the bill would ban the acceptance of various forms of support from designated organizations, including:
It is important to note that the bill does not prohibit public officials or candidates from speaking at events hosted by these organizations. However, the financial logistics of such appearances would be strictly regulated, preventing the organization from covering travel expenses.
“If there are organizations that are added to a list, specifically the designated foreign terrorist list, then they would be impacted by certain provisions of the bill,” Grall stated regarding the scope of the legislation.
Constitutional Questions and Pushback
The bill has sparked a debate regarding the legal authority of individual states to designate groups as foreign terrorist organizations—a power traditionally held by the federal government. Legal experts and First Amendment advocates have raised concerns that Florida may be overstepping its jurisdiction.
CAIR-Florida has pushed back strongly against the narrative, with attorney Omar Saleh describing the measure as legislation designed to support what he terms an “illegal executive order” by the Governor. The organization maintains that it has no foreign affiliation or support and argues that the administration’s actions violate the First Amendment rights of a group exercising protected expression on public concerns.
Conversely, supporters of the bill argue that state-level designations are necessary to close loopholes in federal law. Kelley Currie, representing the global security organization State Armor, noted that lobbyists for foreign entities often do not have to register with the Department of Justice if their lobbying efforts are confined to the state level.
University Programs and Legislative Status
Beyond the restrictions on public officials, SB 1178 also addresses “linkage institutes” within the state’s university system—programs designed to foster cultural and academic ties between Florida and foreign nations. The bill proposes removing the institute associated with China. Additionally, it would eliminate in-state tuition benefits for the approximately 25 students per year who come from host countries to study at these specific institutes.
The bill has already cleared its first hurdle, passing unanimously through the Senate Ethics & Elections Committee. It must pass through two additional committees before it can be voted on by the full Senate. A companion bill in the House, HB 905, has been filed but has not yet been heard in committee.
