DeSantis signs bill banning Florida agencies from doing business with companies using forced labor

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill preventing state agencies from doing business with companies using forced labor to produce commodities.

The bill, already passed by the House and the Senate, creates a "Forced Labor Vendor List" that will be updated by the Department of Management Services.

The federal Tariff Act of 1930 defines forced labor as all work or service exacted under threat and without the worker's voluntary consent.

The list will be updated every quarter and companies included will be banned from submitting bids, proposals or replies to state agencies for a year unless an administrative review determines they can be removed from it.

The law also mandates that all state contracts that go into effect after July 1 or are renewed after that date must include a termination clause if authorities determine the contractor uses forced labor.

Companies that submit false certifications or are tied to products made with forced labor will be imposed a fine of $1,000 or 20% of the contract's value, whichever is higher.

The Capitolist outlet notes that Florida already has a Suspended Vendor List and a Convicted Vendor List, which seek to prevent companies with problematic histories from securing state contracts.