The Rollins College Democracy Project “prepares students with the knowledge and skills to actively engage in our democratic processes.”
New Florida Laws
- Open carry became legal after a 1987 law banning the open display of firearms was struck down on September 25th.
- The ruling that overturned the precedent was McDonald v. State of Florida, establishing that the Second Amendment protected the open carry of firearms in the state, and that arrests on open carry alone could no longer be legal.
- H.B 1205 – Bars non-U.S. residents from collecting signatures for petitions.
- Unregistered circulators with more than 25 petition forms can also face a third-degree felony.
- A Florida ID or some other form of official identification becomes required when signing a petition form.
Federal Developments
- October 1st: The federal government officially entered its longest shutdown in history after Congress failed to pass a funding resolution before the fiscal year ended on September 30th.
- The shutdown stems from disagreements over Affordable Care Act funding, proposed Medicaid cuts, and conflicting budget priorities among lawmakers.
- Over 750,000 federal employees have been furloughed, causing nationwide disruptions to essential services – especially air travel and food assistance programs, which have been hit hardest and disproportionately affect vulnerable populations.
- The Democracy Project recently hosted Civic Conversations: One Big Beautiful Bill with Prof. Matthew Rice from the Economics Department and Stephanie Palacios, Director of Advocacy and Government Relations at Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida. They discussed the impact of the federal “Big Beautiful Bill,” specifically the suspension of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.
- This suspension, which began on November 1st due to the lapse of federal funding, will have dire implications for over 40 million Americans who rely on these benefits for their daily nutrition needs.
- Currently, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has not provided a contingency plan to mitigate the impact, leaving many individuals and families in a precarious situation without a clear path forward.
- Local food banks are already beginning to feel the heavy financial and resource strain. Even in Florida, politicians are arguing about whether the state can, and should, fill the benefit gap.
- On November 1st, several new federal sentencing guideline amendments took effect.
- These changes refine how judges calculate sentences for crimes such as fraud, drug offenses, and firearm violations.
- The updates aim to make federal sentencing more consistent and better aligned with current criminal-justice reform goals in the federal government.
- First-time defenders are now also given more adaptable guidelines with the reform, such as reduced overall sentences and superior opportunity for different justice avenues.
The government shutdown is now in its fourth week. Here’s what to know.
Government shutdown heads into another week with no deal in sight
Federal SNAP benefits won’t be paid in November: What happens next?
Political Fun Facts
Two Founding Fathers died on the same day – Independence Day, 1826
- Thomas Jefferson and John Adams both passed away on July 4, 1826 – the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence
- Once political rivals, the two reconciled later in life. Their deaths on the nation’s birthday added a poetic touch to their shared legacy.
George Washington loved ice cream
- George Washington reportedly spent about $200 in the 1790s (over $6,000 in today’s currency) on ice cream and the equipment to serve it at his Mount Vernon estate.
- His fondness for the dessert remains one of the more charming details about the first president.
Coming Up in DP!
- Dinner with Uncle Cranky (November 11th, 6-8 PM): Build your dialogue and communication skills for difficult family conversations over the holidays! RSVP on GetInvolved required (dinner will be provided).
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