Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a pair of bills Thursday, including one that expands on a 2023 law to protect customers who believe they've been targeted by financial institutions for political reasons.
DeSantis signed the bills at a news conference in Jacksonville.
The first piece of legislation, HB 989, covers multiple issues but the main component discussed by DeSantis will create a complaint process for customers who feel they've been politically discriminated against by financial institutions.
DeSantis said it's part of the state's effort to fight the environmental, social, and corporate governance, or ESG, movement.
Get South Florida local news, weather forecasts and entertainment stories to your inbox. Sign up for NBC South Florida newsletters.
The Republican governor signed a bill in 2023 that prohibits financial institutions from discriminating against customers based on political, religious or social beliefs.
DeSantis said the conservative group Moms for Liberty having its account frozen by one institution and other groups having bank accounts closed as reasons for the legislation.
Also signed Thursday was HB 1291, a bill related to teacher preparation programs.
