DeSantis inks law giving him 'all-clear' to run for president. Here's what else is inside

Editor's note: This story was updated to remove information indicating that the bill made harassing election workers in Florida a felony. That part of the bill was stricken from its final iteration.

Florida made headlines in April when the Senate fast-tracked and passed a bill (SB 7050) that included an amendment that gave Gov. Ron DeSantis the “all-clear” to run for president while maintaining his status as governor. DeSantis inked the bill into law hours after he announced that he entered the 2024 presidential election.

But the bill’s co-sponsor and the author of Florida’s original 2018 “resign to run” law, Republican Sen. Travis Huston of St. Augustine, believes that the law already allowed DeSantis to run without resigning.

“But it’s been talked about so much … that I thought, ‘Why don’t we just clarify this one step further?’” said Hutson. “I think he’s done a great job as our governor, and I think he should stay here as our governor.”

Florida's 'resign to run': 'Resign to run' fix, sweeping election bill heads to DeSantis' desk

DeSantis' presidential announcement: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis will kick off 2024 presidential bid with Elon Musk on Twitter

How to listen: Elon Musk will host Ron DeSantis on Twitter Spaces. How to listen on iPhone, tablets or desktop PC

Hidden beneath those headlines were the details of the 98-page bill the amendment was attached to, outlining sweeping changes to voter registration regulations that voter advocates call crippling.

Democrats questioned how DeSantis could simultaneously govern and campaign, calling it special treatment while voting rights groups said the bill would restrict votes from communities of color, which skews Democratic.

Florida SB 7050 proposed 27 changes to the state’s Elections Code

The bill makes changes to election laws that Democrats and voting rights groups say are unnecessary, harmful and would restrict votes from communities of color, which skews Democratic. And proposes 27 changes to the state’s Elections Code.

Their most loud concerns are about the changes to third-party voter registration organization regulations.

"Nonpartisan third-party voter registration organizations have worked in Florida for years, helping our neighbors join the democratic process by getting them onto the voter rolls and involved in their government," said House Democratic Leader Fentrice Driskell of Tampa. "Black and brown voters are far more likely than white voters to get registered by a third-party voter registration organization.

Florida's 2023 legislative session: DeSantis-dominated legislative session: The priorities that sailed, struggled and sank

'Make America Florida': Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis poised to make presidential bid, Florida could be his blueprint

"That is one important reason why it is problematic to attack nonpartisan voter registration organizations through the policies in this bill."

Proponents say it's geared at bad actors, protecting voters and making sure the groups are meeting high standards.

"We are putting a priority on that voter's personal information. It should be the most sacred part of the entire interaction," said Rep. Lawrence McClure, R-Dover, a sponsor of the legislation. "This bill protects the Florida voter, while making sure our elections remain the best in the nation."

Here’s a quick look at some of the highlights

• First-time voters without a verified social security number or Florida ID are required to vote in person.

• Third-party voter registration organizations are required to reregister with the state every election cycle.

• The bill expands the required list of maintenance activities.

• Reduces the frequency of reporting from monthly to quarterly until the qualifying period.

• Increases election law violation fines.

• Eliminates requirements that supervisors publish certain information in a local newspaper's legal ads, instead allowing the supervisors to post those notices on their website or the county's website.

• Expands training for signature verification of vote-by-mail ballots by mandating it for staff whose job duties include signature verification.

• Shortens the amount of time voter registration groups have to return completed forms to election offices from 14 days to 10 days.

• Increases penalties for returning forms late from $50 for each late application to $50 for every day it is late.

SB 7050 reduces frequency of campaign finance reports

Statewide candidates and political action committees, sometimes referred to as PACs, must by law file monthly contribution and expenditure reports until 60 days before the primary election when the deadlines move up to weekly. The reports must be filed daily starting on the 10th day before a general election, with the last report due on the fifth day before the election. The bill proposes reducing the frequency of reporting from monthly to quarterly until the qualifying period, at which time the current deadlines will resume.

Fueling presidential run: Ron DeSantis’ Florida power play fueling a presidential run: Who's benefited, who's targeted

First-time voters without ID or social security number now required to vote in person

First-time Florida voters who have not gotten a state-issued driver's license, ID card or Social Security number would be required to vote in person, according to a legislative analysis. The only exception is "unless a federally mandated exception applies," the analysis states.

Election law violation fines are increased

Fines against political committees for campaign finance reports filed late are set at a maximum of $1,000 per violation. The bill would increase that maximum to $2,500 per violation and allow the Florida Elections Commission or an administrative law judge to triple that fine if a person commits three counts of the same category of offense.

SB 7050 places heavy burdens on third-party voter registration organizations

Citizens can register to vote directly with their county's Supervisor of Elections Office, or they can sign up through an organization whose mission is to promote voting. These third-party organizations have operated in Florida for years under rules requiring them to register with the state and deliver to the elections supervisors every application they collect within 14 days.

Who is Sandra Atkinson? Did DeSantis appoint a Jan. 6 Capitol rioter to regulate your massage? Here's what we know

The new bill proposes to require those organizations to reregister with the state for every general election cycle they plan to collect applications rather than a one-time registration. It also proposes to decrease the number of days in which they must deliver a registration application from 14 to 10 days, increases fines for late delivery, and requires the organization to give applicants receipts, to create a measure of accountability, according to Sen. Danny Burgess, R-Zephyrhills, chair of the Ethics and Elections Committee, who added that more than 3,000 registrations were submitted late in 2022. "I believe that 10 days is not only reasonable but critically important to make sure that it gets into the right hands and that it's secure," Burgess told the committee.

Public messages no longer need to be published in local newspapers

The bill proposes the elimination of requirements that supervisors publish certain information in a local newspaper's legal ads, instead allowing the supervisors to post those notices on their website or the county's website. These include notice of a special election or referendum 30 days prior and information on how a voter may update a signature.

Contributors: Mark Harper, The Daytona Beach News-Journal and Douglas Soule, USA TODAY Network-Florida

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: DeSantis signs sweeping new election laws. What's inside HB 7050