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Jacksonville council passes ordinance tightening use of city funds for noncitizen services after lengthy debate
Summary
Councilman Rory Diamond (District 13) introduced an ordinance (No. 2025-0138) to restrict or better track the use of city funds for people who are not in the country legally; after amendments creating exemptions for UF Health indigent-care contract, trafficking victims and a one-year pause for Kids Hope Alliance, the Rules Committee passed the measure 5–3.
Councilman Rory Diamond (District 13) introduced an ordinance (No. 2025-0138) aimed at restricting city-funded services for people who are not in the country legally and establishing reporting requirements for recipients of city funds. After two hours of discussion and several amendments, the Rules Committee passed the bill 5–3.
Diamond said the ordinance is intended to “figure out what’s going on” and to ensure taxpayer funds are spent on people legally in Jacksonville. “This bill starts to get at those questions,” he said, describing what he called a crisis tied to federal border policy and saying the city has “no idea” how many noncitizen residents are receiving city-funded services.
Supporters said the measure sets a legislative standard and reporting framework. Councilman Terrence Freeman (At-large, Group 1) said he would support the bill after negotiating…
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