Florida legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Florida H6523: Descendants and Estates of Charles Greenlee, Walter Irvin, Samuel Shepherd, and Ernest Thomas
Status: Failed, March 13, 2026
Provides that certain facts are found & declared to be true; provides that sum is appropriated from General Revenue Fund to DOS for specified relief; provides that specified persons are ineligible for further compensation. CLAIM WITH
What the bill says
An act relating to compensation of the descendants of Charles Greenlee, Walter Irvin, Samuel Shepherd, and Ernest Thomas; providing that certain facts are found and declared to be true; providing that a sum is appropriated from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of State for specified relief; providing that specified persons are ineligible for further compensation; providing an effective date.
From the introduced text, December 2, 2025:
An act relating to compensation of the descendants of Charles Greenlee, Walter Irvin, Samuel Shepherd, and Ernest Thomas; providing that certain facts are found and declared to be true; providing that a sum is appropriated from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of State for specified relief; providing that specified persons are ineligible for further compensation; providing an effective date. WHEREAS, on July 16, 1949, a 17-year-old white woman and her estranged husband reported to police that they had been attacked and that she had been raped by four black men after the car that she and her husband were riding in broke down on a rural road outside Groveland, in Lake County, and WHEREAS, despite the lack of physical evidence in the case and the established alibis of the accused, Charles Greenlee, Walter Irvin, Samuel Shepherd, and Ernest Thomas, the four men were presumed guilty, and WHEREAS, Mr. Irvin and Mr. Shepherd, both World War II veterans, acknowledged that they had stopped by the broken-down vehicle to see if they could assist the couple, but denied any involvement in the alleged rape, and WHEREAS, Mr. Greenlee, who was only 16 years old at the time, and Mr. Thomas denied ever meeting the alleged victim and HB 6523 2026 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. …
Sponsors
- Young, RaShon (D, HD-040) · primary sponsor
- Campbell, Daryl (D, HD-099)
- Driskell, Fentrice (D, SD-016)
- Eskamani, Anna (D, HD-042)
- Harris, Rita (D, HD-044)
- Hinson, Yvonne (D, HD-021)
- Hinson (D, 21)
- Robinson, Felicia (D, HD-104)
- Rosenwald, Mitch (D, HD-098)
- Tramont, Chase (R, HD-030)
- Tramont (R, 30)
Latest actions
- : Died in Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee
- : 1st Reading (Original Filed Version)
- : Now in Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee
- : Referred to Judiciary Committee
- : Referred to Budget Committee
- : Referred to Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee
- : Filed
Common questions
- What is H6523?
- H6523 is a bill in the Florida Legislature (2026 Regular Session): Descendants and Estates of Charles Greenlee, Walter Irvin, Samuel Shepherd, and Ernest Thomas.
- What does H6523 do?
- In its own words: An act relating to compensation of the descendants of Charles Greenlee, Walter Irvin, Samuel Shepherd, and Ernest Thomas; providing that certain facts are found and declared to be true; providing that a sum is appropriated from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of State for specified relief; providing that specified persons are ineligible for further compensation; providing an effective date.
- What is the status of H6523?
- Failed as of March 13, 2026. Latest action: Died in Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee (March 13, 2026).
- Who sponsored H6523?
- Young, RaShon (D, HD-040), with 10 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for H6523?
- On the Florida Legislature website: https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/6523
Source: official Florida record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.