Leon County commissioners rejected recommendations to remove four Black-focused conferences from approved taxpayer-funded travel and voted 5-2 to accelerate funding for the Commission on the Status of Women and Girls. County attorneys warned the decisions could expose commissioners to removal from office and the county to lawsuits under Florida’s new anti-DEI law.
LEON COUNTY, Fla. — Leon County commissioners are pushing back against Florida’s sweeping new restrictions on diversity, equity and inclusion — voting to preserve funding for Black-focused conferences and accelerate financial support for women’s programs despite warnings of serious legal consequences.
The debate Tuesday centered on Senate Bill 1134, which takes effect Jan. 1, 2027, and restricts how local governments can spend taxpayer money on certain DEI-related activities…