Ideas

Fentrice Driskell
Representative | Hillsborough County, FL

Equity Initiative: Representative Fentrice Driskell Introduced Legislation to Uncover and Restore Forgotten African American Cemeteries

Idea Category: Equity & Opportunity

Florida House Minority Leader Fentrice Driskell introduced a bipartisan Abandoned African American Cemeteries bill that would help uncover, maintain, and record forgotten African American cemeteries in the state. She created the task force after learning of a forgotten cemetery in Tampa buried beneath a city-owned housing development and continued to learn of the historic disregard for Black cemeteries that were often unregulated and sold without regard to who was buried there. The bill gained growing support from both Democrats and Republicans. Despite its unanimous support in all of its House committees, HB 1215 did not advance out of the Senate. Driskell was able to secure $750,000 in funding to ensure the topic is taught throughout the state’s curriculum and pledged to continue advocating for and educating the public about abandoned Black cemeteries.

More Idea’s From Fentrice Driskell

Equity Initiative: House Minority Leader Driskell Backs Bipartisan Police Reform Bill

Idea Category: Equity & Opportunity, Public Safety | Funding Source: ARP