Florida passes bill to make changing constitution harder

It would become more difficult for Floridians to change the state constitution through a petition drive under a bill the House sent to Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday.

The House passed the bill on a 73-45 vote. The legislation would require signatures from 25% of voters in at least half the state’s congressional districts before the Supreme Court reviews an initiative for placement on the ballot. Right now, that review is triggered once a petition has signatures from at least 10% of voters in at least one-eighth of the state’s congressional districts. Florida has 27 congressional districts.

Democrats opposed the bill, saying it’s an effort to silence Florida voters.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.