Florida antisemitism bill moves forward after addressing First Amendment concerns

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (CBS12) — Legislation aimed at fighting anti-Jewish hate is making its way through the legislature, but the idea to clearly define criminal antisemitism has been running into some roadblocks.

HB 187 sailed through the House with only three no votes and is currently going through the process in the Senate with a similar bill called SB 148.

But those three representatives who voted against it aren’t pro-hate, they’re worried about First Amendment concerns within the language of the bill.

“Antisemitism has been slowly on the rise. And it's about time that Florida recognized that," said bill sponsor State Representative Michael Gottlieb, (D) District 102.