Shortly after Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) signed Florida’s version of the SAVE America Act into law, pro-voting groups* moved swiftly to challenge the severe new voting restrictions, asking a federal court to block the state from requiring voters to prove their citizenship status. 

With the GOP locked in a bitter struggle over the national SAVE America Act, Florida Republicans last month took matters into their own hands and easily approved a state version of the bill — much to the delight of DeSantis, who lauded its passage in a social media post: “Florida SAVE Act on the way!”

Two weeks later, he signed the bill into law. But his elation may have been premature. 

Immediately after the legislation was signed, the Florida chapter of the NAACP and the Florida Alliance for Retired Americans brought a lawsuit challenging the legislation. They argue that the law harms voters and will face an uphill battle in court.

Florida lawmakers are poised to approve sweeping new restrictions that would require voters to prove their citizenship status, as well as remove student ID as an acceptable form of voter identification.

In a 27-12 vote, the state Senate on Thursday passed its own version of the SAVE America Act, a piece of national anti-voting legislation pushed by President Donald Trump. 

The state House, which approved the legislation last month, must now approve the amended version of the bill. After that, it will head to Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) for signature.

The House voted 83-31 on the bill (HB 991), which contains wide-ranging changes to the state election code, including new proof-of-citizenship requirements when registering to vote, reductions to the kind of photo identification cards that can be used at polling locations, and requiring an individual’s legal citizenship status to be posted on drivers’ licenses and ID cards issued by the state.