Speaker Chris Sprowls

With opponents calling it an unconstitutional overreach and supporters claiming it protects peaceful protesters while punishing rioters, the Florida House on March 26 passed HB 1, called the Combating Public Disorder bill.

The bill passed 76-39 on a party-line vote after almost four and a half hours of impassioned and sometimes emotional debate that once saw House Speaker Chris Sprowls, R-Clearwater, step in and tell speakers to keep their comments directed to the bill.