Diversity, equity and inclusion are taking the spotlight at the upcoming commission meetings for both Leon County and the city of Tallahassee thanks to a new state law cracking down on local government DEI initiatives.
The governor signed into law (SB 1134) a measure that will get rid ofdiversity, equity and inclusion programsin counties and municipalities, another step in state GOP leaders' efforts to eliminate DEI initiatives statewide. The measure also prohibits local governments from funding or passing a resolution in support of programs deemed diverse or inclusive.
The law won't go into effect until Jan. 1, 2027, but both the county and city are looking to get ahead of the curve by combing through their ordinances and programs, even potentially bringing an end to the Tallahassee-Leon County Office of Economic Vitality's (OEV) Minority, Women & Small Business Enterprise (MWSBE) Division.
The city is scheduled to meet on May 13, the county on May 12 and both have a handful of DEI items set to take center stage.
City looking to comb through ordinances and more to check for compliance
As part of the city commission's agenda regarding policy formation, city staff are asking the commission to vote to allow staff to "to conduct a comprehensive review of all city ordinances, resolutions, policies, programs, events, sponsorships, grants, and contracts to identify any that may be affected by SB 1134."
City staff already have identified a number of categories they believe could be in peril:
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City‑sponsored or funded programs, trainings, initiatives, or communications that expressly reference DEI or that expressly seek to affect participation or outcomes based on the characteristics referenced in the statute
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City sponsorship of or support for certain community events and celebrations that could be characterized as DEI‑focused
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Economic development support programs that use classifications tied to protected characteristics, as distinguished from race‑neutral, generally applicable criteria such as income, geography, or small‑business status
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Contracts with and grants awarded to providers who exclusively serve a population based on the characteristics defined in the statute (e.g., CHSP recipients);
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Ordinances, resolutions, and administrative policies that contain DEI‑specific language or directives, or that adopt goals or metrics explicitly framed in DEI terms (e.g., Fair Housing ordinance).
County to take up reparations charter amendment
Leon County commissioners are set to take up theircontroversial DEI charter amendmentwhich has been an uphill battle for the group.
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At their April 14 meeting, commissioners voted 6–1, with Commissioner Brian Welch dissenting, for staff to bring back yet another agenda item focused on righting longstanding historical wrongs, but that is focused on all people rather than a specific race or demographic. Staff started entirely from scratch on a version that was "state legislative proof," that is, able to withstand new anti-DEI laws.
At their March 10 meeting, commissioners resuscitated a politically-chargedcharter amendment addressing “historic harms”that died in February on a 9-9 no-majority vote of the citizen charter review committee. (Leon County has a charter government, meaning voters OK'd a local home rule document, a sort of constitution, that serves as the county’s governing framework.)
The committee wrestled with the proposal, which as originally written would have required the county to conduct impact studies and create a community restoration fund to support programs for people whose ancestors were enslaved or otherwise affected by Jim Crow laws and other policies. A later version deleted references to slavery and segregation.
Ahead of the April meeting, county staff urged commissioners to leave well enough alone and let the amendment rest so the commission isn't caught crosswise with the state and federal government crackdown on DEI initiatives.
The new version crafted by county staff, rather than looking to start anything new, reinforces the work that the county is already doing to address historically underserved areas. And the new language says, "We further affirm Leon County’s commitment to addressing the needs of historically underserved areas and vulnerable populations in our community."
Arianna Otero is the trending and breaking news reporter for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact her via email atAOtero@tallahassee.comand follow her on X:@ari_v_otero.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat:Florida's anti-DEI law impacts Leon County, Tallahassee
