JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Florida Governor Ron DeSantis visited JAXPORT Tuesday, signing a bill into law to combat "environmental social governance standards," standards which he has dubbed "ESG."
ESG standards are used to assess an organization's business practices and performance, based on sustainability and ethical issues.
DeSantis proposed this legislation, House Bill 3, last year.
He says he wanted to take action to protect Floridians from ESG, which he feels threatens the American economy and economic freedom.
This bill would prohibit banks, credit card companies, and money transmitted from discriminating against customers for their religious, political, or social beliefs.
It also will prohibit state board of administration and managers from considering ESG factors when investing the state’s money
And it would require Small Business Administration fund managers to only consider maximizing the return on investment on the behalf of Florida's retirees.
“It's really an elite driven phenomenon. The ESG is just a way to kind of dress it up. But at the end of the day they are trying to exercise power over our society. They are trying to change society. They are trying to change policy.”
DeSantis says he wants to have an economy that’s based on value and the best interest of beneficiaries.