The bill now heads to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' desk for his signature after the Republican-led Florida Senate approved the bill Thursday on a near party line vote of 23-17. Florida Republicans insist the bill is about enhancing safety and preventing violence, while Democrats argue that peaceful protesters could be wrongly detained and claims it targets minority communities. But Democratic state Sen. Perry Thurston argued, "House Bill 1 is not and never has been aimed at the insurrection. 1 becomes law, this legislation will silence dissent and infringe upon the public's First Amendment right to peacefully protest and assemble.

Source: CNN April 16, 2021 20:37 UTC