Florida's New Petition Law Creates Hurdles for Ballot Initiatives

Florida's new petition law (HB 1205) has created significant challenges for groups attempting to place initiatives on the 2026 ballot, particularly those focused on Medicaid expansion and recreational marijuana legalization. The legislation, signed by Governor DeSantis on May 2, 2024, imposes stricter requirements on petition gatherers, including Florida residency requirements and increased verification costs. These changes have prompted legal challenges from affected organizations, though courts have largely allowed the law to remain in effect.