This op-ed was first published in Tallahassee Democrat.

For nearly 60 years, Florida’s citizen-led amendment process has been a beacon of direct democracy — a powerful tool that lets us, the people, shape the laws that govern our lives.

Through this people-powered process, we have passed reforms that improve the lives of all Floridians — like raising the minimum wage, protecting our environment, and restoring voting rights. These aren’t just policies—they’re progress.

They’re proof that when everyday people have a seat at the table, we create a state that works better for everyone.

We’ve accomplished this despite steep hurdles to having our voices heard. Florida already has the most restrictive ballot initiative process in the country. It takes nearly 1 million signatures just to make it on the ballot—and a supermajority of 60% of the vote to win. That’s not easy, but it’s possible when communities organize, collaborate, and demand a better future.

Now, some out-of-touch politicians in Tallahassee want to attack our ability to participate in direct democracy. Two bills — SB 7016 and HB 1205 — have made their way through the Legislature, and SB 7016 is up for a Senate floor vote April 30. Make no mistake: These bills are a direct attack on our constitutional right to propose amendments. These bills would make the process so expensive, legally risky, and burdensome that ordinary Floridians would be effectively shut out.

This would turn a people-powered process into one controlled by special interests and deep pockets. These bills will further rig the system to benefit politicians and their corporate elite donors while silencing the rest of us.

And to be clear, this is not a partisan issue. In fact, Republican voters don’t support these restrictions. Earlier this year, President Donald Trump’s pollster asked Florida Republican primary voters about Gov. Ron DeSantis’ plan to restrict the citizen-led amendment process and found the move is wildly unpopular, even with DeSantis’ own base. That should say it all.

But that hasn’t stopped politicians from pushing forward. Why? Because they’ve seen what happens when we come together — when we organize, when we vote, when we win. And that scares them. So they’re changing the rules in the middle of the game. Not because it’s what the people want, but because it helps them hold on to power.

Make no mistake — SB 7016 and HB 1205 are designed to take away our freedom to vote on the issues that matter to us. These bills are not about transparency or accountability. They’re part of a calculated strategy to silence everyday Floridians, while consolidating power in the hands of a few. If passed, they would gut one of the last remaining tools we have to hold our government accountable and protect our most fundamental rights.

This is bigger than politics. It’s about whether we believe in a Florida where the people — not just politicians, lobbyists, or wealthy donors — have the power to create change. It’s about whether we allow fear and control to replace fairness and freedom. The Florida Constitution promises us that right. And we intend to protect it.

There’s still time to stop this.

Call your lawmakers. Show up. Speak out. Tell them: Hands off our constitution. Oppose SB 7016 and HB 1205. Our future depends on it.