House Adds Homeless to Hate Crimes Laws

With two weeks left in the session, the House added homeless individuals to the Florida hate crime statues on a vote of 80-28.

Sponsored by Rep. Ari Porth, D-Coral Springs, proponents of the measure said it was needed because of a wave of violence against the homeless in Florida. According to the National Coalition for the Homeless, there were 106 attacks on homeless people due to their living conditions, with 30 of those incidents in Florida.

Emotions ran high during the debate and after Speaker Pro Tempore Ron Reagan, R-Bradenton, revealed there were dozens of legislators lined up to speak during debate, incoming Minority Leader Ron Saunders of Key West moved to limit it. Saunders' motion passed.

I understand what it means to wash off in a public bathroom and hope nobody knows where you live, said Darryl Rouson, D-St. Petersburg, invoking his personal experiences of sleeping in an office building in St. Petersburg during a move.

Opposition focused on granting the homeless more rights than are afforded to other Floridians.

This bill is about a new protected class of people, said Paige Kreegel, R-Punta Gorda, who led opposition to the measure.

(It) treats people unequally, said Matt Gaetz, R-Fort Walton Beach. This bill punishes people for their thoughts.