5 Bold Laws Governor DeSantis Is Using to Protect the Free State of Florida

From election integrity to food safety to national security — here’s what’s happening and why it matters to every Floridian.

No other governor in America is pushing laws like this right now. Governor Ron DeSantis is systematically locking down Florida’s elections, protecting its food supply, pushing back against ideology in local government, and blocking hostile foreign nations from buying land near U.S. military bases. Here’s a breakdown of five major moves shaping Florida’s future.

1. Florida’s Election System Just Got a Major Overhaul

Florida’s election problems didn’t start yesterday. Back in 2000, the Bush vs. Gore recount made Florida a national embarrassment — punch card ballots, hanging chads, a 537-vote margin decided by the Supreme Court. But Florida fixed it. In 2024, while states like California were still counting ballots days after the election, Florida had results before 10 p.m.

Now DeSantis is taking it further with HB991. Under the new law, voter citizenship is verified against DMV records — no more simply checking a box. Election officials must verify legal status and citizenship, and the proof used gets recorded. Unverified voters receive only provisional ballots. The bill also requires candidates to disclose dual citizenship and stock trading activity — building transparency directly into the system.

2. Cracking Down on DEI in Local Government

A new bill on DeSantis’s desk targets DEI — diversity, equity, and inclusion programs — in local governments, school boards, and universities. The law defines DEI as any program giving special treatment based on race, gender, ethnicity, or identity, and bans local governments from funding, promoting, or running such programs.

The spending numbers tell the story: Broward County spent $890,000 on DEI training since 2020. Hillsborough County spent $572,000 on unconscious bias training. The city of St. Petersburg redirected $258,000 from utility and EMS funds to promote Pride events. When the law passed, one St. Petersburg mayor tried renaming his DEI offices to avoid compliance — the bill’s sponsor made clear it goes after behavior, not titles. Officials who ignore the law can be removed from office, and residents can sue.

3. Lab-Grown Meat Is Banned — and Florida Won in Court

Florida is the 10th largest cattle-producing state in the nation and the number one producer in the entire Southeast, with over 1.6 million head of cattle generating billions annually. When a California company called Upside Foods tried to force lab-grown meat into Florida, DeSantis said no.

Senate Bill 1084, pushed by then-Senator Jay Collins, banned lab-grown meat in Florida and was signed into law in May 2024. Upside Foods sued. The case went through the courts and in 2026, a federal appellate court ruled in Florida’s favor. The ban stands. DeSantis subsequently appointed Jay Collins as Lieutenant Governor — and Collins is now running for governor.

4. China Is Buying Land Near U.S. Military Bases. Florida Banned It.

China has been quietly purchasing farmland across the United States — including land adjacent to military bases in Florida. In 2023, Jay Collins introduced Senate Bill 264 targeting foreign ownership of land by hostile nations including China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Cuba, and Venezuela. The law bans these countries from buying farmland and prohibits purchases near critical infrastructure and military installations.

DeSantis signed it into law on May 8, 2023. As Lt. Gov. Collins put it: “Food security is national security. There is no reason for China, Russia, or Iran to buy anything adjacent to a military base.”

5. Why DeSantis Is Being Watched as a 2028 Presidential Contender

During COVID, DeSantis kept Florida open while other states shut down. It turned out to be the right call. Now, with a string of bold legislative wins — election reform, DEI rollback, food safety, and national security — political observers across the country are taking notice. These aren’t popular moves for the sake of popularity. They’re principled decisions made on behalf of the people who live here.

Florida is paradise. And it’s laws like these that are keeping it that way.

Tim Steeves — Your Southwest Florida Real Estate Guide — TimSteevesHomes.com