No, DeSantis didn't sign bills about Bible Day or official gender | Fact check
The claim: Image shows DeSantis signing bills on Bible Day, state gender, alcohol in hospitals
A June 26 Instagram post (direct link, archive link) shows what appears to be a screenshot of a television news segment featuring Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.
“Gov. DeSantis Signs 3 New Bills,” reads the chyron.
A list on the screen says “June 27th is now Bible Day | Certifies ‘Male’ as the official state gender of Florida | Hospitals can sell beer & wine.”
The post was shared more than 100 times in two days. Other versions were shared on X, formerly Twitter.
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Our rating: Altered
The image doesn't show a real broadcast, and those aren't real bills. A screenshot from a television news report was edited to include the fabricated bills.
DeSantis signed bills on antisemitism, balloons, Jewish school security
On June 24, DeSantis signed bills into law that established $20 million in funding for security at Jewish day schools and preschools, revised the definition of antisemitism in the state’s constitution and tightened a prohibition on balloon releases to protect wildlife and the environment.
But what wasn’t on his desk that day were bills creating a Bible Day, certifying "male" as the official state gender or allowing hospitals to sell alcohol. Those were edited into the screenshot of a report from 10 Tampa Bay News in Florida.
There is no evidence that such bills exist. USA TODAY reached out to DeSantis but did not receive a response for comment.
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The earliest version of the altered image appears to come from an X post by comedian Keaton Patti, whose bio states that he has written for publications including The New Yorker, Marvel, The Onion and Comedy Central.
USA TODAY reached out to Patti but did not receive an immediate response.
Snopes also debunked this claim.
Our fact-check sources:
Office of Governor Ron DeSantis, June 24, Governor Ron DeSantis Signs Three Bills
The Florida Senate, accessed June 28, HB 1109: Security for Jewish Day Schools and Preschools
The Florida Senate, accessed June 28, HB 187: Antisemitism
The Florida Senate, accessed June 28, CS/HB 321: Release of Balloons
10 Tampa Bay (YouTube), June 25, DeSantis signs bill banning balloon releases and two related to antisemitism
@KeatonPatti, June 25, X post
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: No Florida bills on Bible Day, hospital alcohol sales | Fact check
