WHAT RON HAS WROUGHT

IT’S BEEN A BUSY YEAR for Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who has worked hard to position his state—and himself—as a leader in the cultural wars against a “woke” left. Here’s a look at key, often controversial, laws and regulations recently passed on his watch that are helping to define DeSantis for the nation’s voters.

APRIL 2021

Desantis signs the Combating Public Disorder Act, a meacreates sure that new definitions of rioting that allow the arrest of people for being at a protest where violence occurs, even if they were peaceful. The law also protects Confederate statues and makes it harder for localities to reduce police budgets. The protest part of the measure was struck down by a federal judge in September 2021.

MAY 2021

Desantissignsa voting bill—the signing aired exclusively on Fox News—that creates new ID requirements for mailin voting, restricts the use of ballot drop boxes and puts new limits on who can pick up and return a voter’s ballot.

JUNE 1, 2021

On the first day of LGBTQ Pride Month, Desantis signs a bill that bans transgender women and girls from playing in women’s sports from middle school through college, including intramurals and club teams. “In Florida, girls are going to play girls sports and boys are going to play boys sports,” he said.

JUNE 10, 2021

At Desantis’ urging, the Florida Board of Education bans teaching certain topics related to race in public schools, including critical race theory and use of The New York Times’ “1619 Project,” a program aimed at educating students about slavery and Black history. In a fundraising email, the governor wrote, “I will NOT allow this Cultural Marxism to Gain a Foothold in Florida Schools.”

DECEMBER 2021

Desantis announces introduction of the Stop the Wrongs to Our Kids and Employees (WOKE) Act, which restricts how classrooms and workplaces handle discussions of race, gender and discrimination. He calls it the “strongest legislation of its kind in the nation” and says it “will take on both corporate wokeness and Critical Race Theory.” The measure became law four months later.

MARCH 28, 2022

Desantis signs the Parental Rights in Education bill—referred to by critics as the “Don’t Say Gay” bill—prohibiting instruction related to sexual orientation or gender identity in public schools from kindergarten to third grade.

MARCH 29, 2022

Desantis vetoes legislature-approved congressional redistricting, then calls a special session to get authority to redraw district lines. His new map eliminated two heavily Black districts. A state judge appointed by Desantis has struck down the map as unconstitutional—“it diminishes African-americans’ ability to elect the representative of their choice”— but Desantis has vowed to appeal.

APRIL 14, 2022

Florida joins a growing list of states restricting access to abortion as Desantis signs a new law banning the procedure after 15 weeks of pregnancy without exceptions for rape, incest or human trafficking. The new measure, which goes into effect July 1, replaces a law that allowed abortions until 24 weeks of pregnancy.

APRIL 22, 2022

Angered at Disney CEO Bob Chapek’s statement that the company would work to repeal the “Don’t Say Gay” law, Desantis signs a law to revoke the company’s special tax status, which essentially has allowed it to self-govern its 25,000-acre Disney World complex in Orlando.

APRIL 25, 2022

Desantis signs SB524 into law, an “election integrity” measure that, among other things, creates an election security force within the Florida Department of State to probe voting fraud and increases penalties for violations of election laws.

MAY 6, 2022

Desantis signs a $1.2 billion tax relief bill, reducing the cost of diapers, school supplies, gas and other items. “We have done more than any other state to step up against Bidenflation headwinds, to give relief to our citizens, and we are going to keep on doing that,” he says.

MAY 16, 2022

HB1571, which bans protests in front of private residences, is passed. The bill was motivated by GOP anger over demonstrations in front of the homes of Supreme Court justices, after a draft of the Roe abortion decision was leaked.