Miami-Dade County is preparing to implement Florida’s new anti-diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) legislation, known as Senate Bill 1134, which will take effect on January 1. The state mandate requires the county to dissolve several volunteer advisory boards focused on ethnic or racial groups and restricts funding for programs tied to ethnicity, sexual orientation, or gender. This legislative shift is already causing significant disruptions in local governance, forcing the cancellation of cultural celebrations like Haitian Flag Day and creating uncertainty for community charities that rely on municipal grants.
Dissolution of Advisory Boards
Mayor Daniella Levine Cava announced plans to purge county staff working for volunteer boards promoting diversity. According to a memo released Wednesday, 19 employees staffing these advisory bodies will be shifted to different departments. While Commission Chair Anthony Rodriguez stated that no one from the Office of Community Advocacy would lose their jobs, the boards themselves are being "sunsetting." Sources indicate the Hispanic Affairs Board, Asian American Board, Black Affairs Advisory Board, LGBTQIA+ Board, and the Commission on Women will all be dissolved by December 31.
Impact on Local Charities
The looming rules have raised concerns for organizations like Girl Power Rocks. Thema Campbell, president and CEO of the Miami-based charity, expressed worry that its girls-only tutoring programs might be deemed illegal under the new state law. Although a provision in Senate Bill 1134 exempts charities providing single-sex programs for at-risk youth, Campbell fears ambiguity could lead to severe cutbacks if county grant offices do not clear their funding after January 1.
Cultural Celebrations Canceled
The law’s impact extends beyond grants and boards. In North Miami, Mayor Alix Desulme confirmed that the city will no longer fund its annual Haitian Flag Day party or provide traditional pumpkin soup (joumou) for heritage month celebrations in 2027. Despite arguments that national origin differs from ethnicity under the law, officials are avoiding legal risks due to severe penalties, including removal from office, as this newspaper reported in Florida Voters Face Critical Choice on Property Tax Relief Amid Miami.
Legal Uncertainty Remains
Miami-Dade commissioners passed a resolution in July authorizing county lawyers to pursue legal action if necessary to clarify implementation. Commissioner Vicki Lopez emphasized that courts may be the only way to resolve sweeping consequences for local spending. Until detailed rules from Tallahassee are established, local governments remain cautious about how broadly to interpret the legislation.
