House Seeks to Expand DeSantis's State Guard

TALLAHASSEE – Last year, the state legislature approved the reactivation of the Florida State Guard, a force comprised of armed volunteers, despite concerns that it would essentially become a private army controlled by the governor. Appropriation measures moving through the Florida House that would see a massive expansion of the program have many Floridians concerned.

House Bill 1285 would grow the force from 400 to 1,500 while its budget would jump from $10 million in the current budget year to a whopping $107.5 million in the next one. Nearly $50 million would be used for one "large" airplane and four helicopters, while $3.9 million more is used for vehicles and boats.

The unit would also no longer be under the Adjutant General, who is typically a career military officer, and the State Guard's director would be required to have only five years of military experience at any rank.

The legislation would exempt the State Guard's rules from review under the Administrative Procedures Act, and the unit would be independent of both the National Guard and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. It would have the very broad mandate to "protect and defend the people of Florida from all threats to public safety and to augment all existing state and local agencies," leading to concerns that it could be weaponized to disrupt protests critical of the governor or his party.

At least some members of the specialized unit would be authorized to arrest people. There is no companion bill in the Senate. However, because the measures are in House appropriations, they could very well be on the table during reconciliation.