DeSantis Signs HB 1205: New Rules for Florida Ballot Access

DeSantis has officially signed House Bill 1205 (HB 1205), a new law that changes how signatures for constitutional ballot initiatives are gathered and verified. While critics argue it could make citizen-led initiatives harder, supporters see the measure as a safeguard to protect Florida’s constitution from being reshaped by out-of-state interests.

This legislation comes just as Florida gears up to vote on a high-profile marijuana legalization initiative this fall.

Key Takeaways

• HB 1205 tightens rules for how petition signatures are verified and counted for statewide ballot initiatives.
• The law requires stricter alignment between a voter’s address on file and the petition form.
• Backers say it helps preserve the integrity of Florida’s constitution by preventing outside groups from manipulating the process.
• Critics warn it may make it harder for grassroots campaigns, including those related to marijuana reform, to qualify for the ballot.
• The bill was signed into law by Governor Ron DeSantis in late April 2025.

A Timing That Raises Eyebrows—But Has Context

The passage of HB 1205 raised concerns among marijuana advocates because it closely followed the Florida Supreme Court’s decision to allow a marijuana legalization measure on the 2024 ballot.

But state leaders argue the bill is about something bigger: protecting the amendment process itself.

Florida’s constitution has been amended more than 100 times since 1968. Lawmakers say it’s time to safeguard the process from well-funded national campaigns trying to “buy” their way into state law through signature drives.

What HB 1205 Actually Does

HB 1205 doesn’t eliminate the citizen initiative process—it fine-tunes it. Here’s what the bill changes:

• Signature validation: Petitions now require the signer’s address to match exactly with what’s on file in the voter registration system.
• Verification threshold: The new standards raise the bar for how many signatures are deemed valid.
• Administrative consistency: All 67 Florida counties are now required to follow the same signature-checking rules, reducing loopholes.
• Fewer “maybe” signatures: This cuts down on ballots that fall into a gray area, making it harder for campaigns to squeak past thresholds with borderline validations.

These updates are framed by supporters as closing technical gaps in the system—not dismantling it.

A Defense Against Outsider Influence

Supporters of HB 1205 say the new rules will help keep Florida’s amendment process in the hands of actual Floridians—not deep-pocketed interest groups from out of state.

Amendments in Florida must clear a 60% threshold to pass, but getting them on the ballot has long been viewed as the true bottleneck. National organizations often pour millions into signature collection and campaign operations.

This new law makes it clear: if you want to change Florida’s constitution, you’ll need to actually connect with Florida voters.

Impact on Cannabis Legalization?

While Florida’s 2024 marijuana legalization initiative made it onto the ballot before these new rules, HB 1205 will apply to all future campaigns—including any efforts to expand legalization or change existing cannabis laws.

Still, cannabis advocates worry HB 1205 sets a precedent that could make future reforms harder. Others believe it could motivate voters to show up in larger numbers, knowing they may not get as many chances to vote on issues directly in the future.

How Florida Compares to Other States

Florida’s updated requirements might seem strict, but they’re far from the most rigid in the country. In fact, many other states have their own guardrails designed to keep initiatives local and prevent outside influence.

Here’s how Florida stacks up:

Compared to these, Florida’s rules aim to keep the process accessible—while still making sure proposals have broad, statewide support.

Conclusion

Florida’s new law doesn’t overturn past ballot initiatives—but it definitely raises the bar for future ones. HB 1205 is a calculated move to make sure constitutional amendments come from broad grassroots support, not just deep pockets. While some worry it could chill direct democracy, others see it as a safeguard against outside influence. In the bigger picture, it’s another signal that as cannabis reform grows more mainstream, so does the political strategy around it.