Florida's Black lawmakers denounce attorney general's opinion

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier issued an opinion saying around 80 state laws and programs that support minority contracting and other race-based provisions violate the Fourteenth Amendment; members of the Florida Legislative Black Caucus denounced the opinion, saying it ignores ongoing racial discrimination and could harm Black residents.

An opinion from Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier questioned the constitutionality of about 80 state laws and programs that support minority contracting, loans to Black businesses and other race-conscious measures. Uthmeier said those provisions "mandate discrimination based on race" and announced he would no longer enforce or defend them. Democratic members of the Florida Legislative Black Caucus held a news conference and denounced the opinion as disregarding continuing racial discrimination and as potentially harmful to Black residents. The opinion was released near the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday and comes as Uthmeier, who was appointed last year, is running for election. Key points: - The attorney general issued an opinion asserting that around 80 Florida laws and programs violate the Fourteenth Amendment. - He said he would not enforce or defend the provisions he described as "discriminatory." - Members of the Florida Legislative Black Caucus publicly denounced the opinion, saying it ignores ongoing racial discrimination and could harm Black residents. - The article does not specify a next legal or procedural step in response to the opinion. Summary: Lawmakers say the opinion challenges decades of race-conscious state policies and raises concerns about effects on Black Floridians and minority-serving programs. Undetermined at this time.