Three US civil rights groups are warning black, Latino and LGBTQ Americans not to travel to Florida, where Governor Ron DeSantis last week signed new laws that critics say are creating a hostile climate in the Sunshine State.
Among those issuing travel advisories is the National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People, established more than 100 years ago to push for civil rights for black people.
The travel advisory comes in direct response to Mr DeSantis's “aggressive attempts to erase black history and to restrict diversity, equity and inclusion programmes in Florida schools”, the NAACP said.
Their formal travel notice states: “Florida is openly hostile toward African Americans, people of colour and LGBTQ+ individuals.
“Before travelling to Florida, please understand that the state of Florida devalues and marginalises the contributions of, and the challenges faced by African Americans and other communities of colour.”
The NAACP was joined by the League of United Latin-American Citizens and Equality Florida, a gay rights advocacy group, in issuing travel advisories for the southern state, which relies heavily on tourism.
Mr DeSantis last week signed bills that ban gender-affirming care for minors, heavily regulate drag shows, restrict discussion of personal pronouns in schools, and force people to use male or female toilets according to their biological gender.
“Taken in their totality, Florida’s slate of laws and policies targeting basic freedoms and rights pose a serious risk to the health and safety of those travelling to the state,” Equality Florida said.
The governor is this week expected to announce his candidacy for the Republican Party nomination to run against President Joe Biden in 2024.
Along with Florida's Republican-majority statehouse, Mr DeSantis has also pushed for measures that ban state colleges from having programmes on diversity, equity and inclusion as well as critical race theory.
He also passed the Stop Woke Act that restricts certain race-based conversations and analysis in schools and businesses.
In its warning for Hispanic travellers considering a visit to Florida, Lulac cited a new law that prohibits local governments from providing money to organisations that issue identification cards to people in the country illegal and invalidates out-of-state driver’s licences held by undocumented immigrants, among other things.
The law also requires hospitals that accept Medicaid to include a citizenship question on intake forms, which critics have said is intended to dissuade immigrants living in the US illegally from seeking medical care.
“The actions taken by Governor DeSantis have created a shadow of fear within communities across the state,” said Lydia Medrano, Lulac vice president for the south-east region.
Florida is one of the most popular states in the US for tourists. More than 137.5 million tourists visited Florida last year, marking a return to pre-pandemic levels, according to Visit Florida, the state's tourism promotion agency.
Tourism supports 1.6 million full-time and part-time jobs, and visitors spent $98.8 billion in Florida in 2019, the last year figures are available.
Several of Florida's Democratic mayors were quick to say that their cities welcomed diversity and inclusion.
“Everyone is always welcome and will be treated with dignity and respect,” tweeted St Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch on Sunday.
The Associated Press contributed to this report
The bio:
Favourite film:
Declan: It was The Commitments but now it’s Bohemian Rhapsody.
Heidi: The Long Kiss Goodnight.
Favourite holiday destination:
Declan: Las Vegas but I also love getting home to Ireland and seeing everyone back home.
Heidi: Australia but my dream destination would be to go to Cuba.
Favourite pastime:
Declan: I love brunching and socializing. Just basically having the craic.
Heidi: Paddleboarding and swimming.
Personal motto:
Declan: Take chances.
Heidi: Live, love, laugh and have no regrets.
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
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