Florida Gov. DeSantis Signs Bill Weakening Ethics Laws

Jun 21, 2024, 11:57 PM

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has signed SB 7014, a bill that weakens the state's ethics laws. The new legislation will require all future ethics complaints to be based on 'personal knowledge' and will prevent local government ethics offices from self-initiating investigations. Critics argue that this bill will restrict the ability of ethics boards to launch their own investigations, potentially increasing public corruption in a state already facing numerous corruption scandals. The bill was signed late on a Friday night, a move seen by some as an attempt to minimize media coverage.