In a bold move aimed at preventing religious anarchy in the State of Florida, United States, Governor Ron DeSantis has signed a bill aimed at prohibiting the application of foreign or religious laws, including Sharia Law, within Florida courts.
Tagged HB 1471, the law comes into effect on July 1, 2026 after the governor assented to the legislation, which also empowers state officials to designate domestic and foreign terrorist organizations and restricts state funding to schools affiliated with them. The bill passed with an 80-25 vote in the State House and backed by the Senate.
Key Features
According to the new law, courts within Florida are banned from applying Sharia law if it conflicts with constitutional rights. Additionally, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement is now empowered to designate “domestic terrorist organizations”, with approval from the governor and cabinet.
Other key aspects of the law include allowing the expulsion of college students who promote or provide material support to designated terrorist organizations, prohibits state funding for schools associated with designated groups. It is also targeted at curbing the spread of campaigns by Islamists in the U.S. to make Sharia Laws part of the laws of that country.
This law comes against the backdrop of the protests that rocked several parts of the U.S. in support of Hamas in Gaza as well as attacks on Jews.
The HB 1471 strengthens an executive order in December 2025 that designated the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and the Muslim Brotherhood as terrorist organizations, which a federal judge had previously blocked.
Already, individuals and organisations such as the CAIR-Florida, have criticised the new law, arguing that it targets Muslims, threatens freedom of speech and religious practice. But according to Governor DeSantis, the law ensures that “the Constitution must remain the law of the land.”
One Nation Under God
Other states in the U.S. have been urged to take similar steps to curb the Jihadist tendencies, especially attempts to intimidate the public and force conversion to Islam.
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump has announced that the U.S. will be rededicated to God as a Christian nation at a national gathering at the National Mall on May 17, 2026. The event is planned as part of the nation’s 250th anniversary, aiming to emphasize religious faith and the theme: “One Nation Under God”.
Recently, various countries in Europe such as Sweden, Poland and Italy have enacted laws banning certain practices by immigrant Muslims in their countries which promote violence, especially against non-Muslims, and attempts to impose Islamic religious laws on their people.