Tallahassee, FL - New bills filed in Tallahassee could lead to guns on college campuses and a new bar to jump for proposed amendments to the Florida Constitution.
CAMPUS GUNS BILL EMERGES IN HOUSE
In a move that could refuel a long-running debate, a House Republican on Thursday proposed a measure that would allow people with concealed-weapons licenses to carry guns on college and university campuses.
Rep. Anthony Sabatini, R-Howey-in-the-Hills, filed the bill (HB 6007) for consideration during the 2019 legislative session, which starts March 5.
Under current law, people are barred from carrying guns on college and university campuses.
Gun-rights supporters have lobbied the Legislature in the past to end the prohibition for people with concealed-weapons licenses. But the proposals have died amid heavy opposition from many higher-education officials and other opponents of the idea.
SENATOR WANTS TO MAKE IT TOUGHER TO CHANGE CONSTITUTION
Mirroring a measure filed in the House, Sen. Dennis Baxley, R-Ocala, filed a proposal Thursday that would make it harder to amend the state Constitution.
Baxley’s proposal (SJR 232) would require support from two-thirds of voters for passage of constitutional amendments. That would be up from the current 60 percent threshold.
Rep. Rick Roth, R-Loxahatchee, filed an identical proposal (HJR 57) in November in the House.
Both measures are filed for the 2019 legislative session, which starts March 5.
The measures are proposed constitutional amendments because the 60 percent threshold was put into the Florida Constitution in 2006. If approved by lawmakers, the higher threshold would go on the 2020 ballot.
The proposals come after voters approved 11 of 12 constitutional amendments on the Nov. 6 ballot.
