During Capitol chaos, Florida Republicans push rioting bill. Critics question timing Ana Ceballos, The Miami Herald Jan. 7—TALLAHASSEE — Hours after a mob of President Donald Trump loyalists stormed the U.S. Capitol, Republican lawmakers in the Florida House and Senate on Wednesday night filed legislation that would create harsher penalties for people involved in "riots." The proposal, which critics are calling "un-American" and politically motivated, is a top priority of Gov. Ron DeSantis. The governor first rolled out the idea last summer in the wake of police-brutality protests and in the heat of the 2020 presidential election as he tried to deliver Florida to Trump.