Friends,

For nearly four decades, the First Amendment Foundation has worked with the Florida Legislature to promote proposed laws that would benefit open government and free expression, while pushing back against those that infringed our rights. This year is no different. The 2024 Florida Legislative Session currently underway has many dreadful bills and a handful that are pretty good. 

Below you will see our updated 2024 Legislative Priority List. In addition, you will find a Legislative Action Folder, which includes the bills we don’t like and the bills we do, as well as instructions on how to contact your legislators, along with sample emails you can use to share your concerns and/or support. This is our fight every year. And to do it well - and to succeed - we need your help. I cannot stress this enough. 

Some of these bills - especially the ones trying to make it easier for rich and powerful people to sue their critics for what they write or say online, on the airways, and in print - are among the biggest threats to free expression in the nation. They join other bills that would criminalize student’s right to protest and would turn university administrators into secret police, requiring them to report students to the Department of Homeland Security. Others would try again to exempt the identities of law enforcement officers who hurt or kill suspects in the line of duty, claiming they are victims, not civil servants doing their job in your name.

Our representatives need to know that you think these are bad bills and should not be passed. Our list below will help you do exactly that and will help us as we fight for your voice to be heard. So please take a look at our lists and do your part. Of course, we are happy to help if you have any questions. Just reach out to us at info@floridafaf.org, and we will respond as quickly as we can.

In the meantime, I want to thank you for your involvement. We at FAF know you are busy with your own lives, but that you understand that this is the burden of a government of the people, by the people, and for the people.

Bobby Block

Executive Director

The First Amendment Foundation

bblock@floridafaf.org

FAF has proudly partnered with the Digital Democracy Project, an online platform where citizens can voice their opinions to their state lawmakers by voting on pending legislation, like public records exemptions and other bills targeting 1A rights. After bills are voted on, citizens will know whether their elected officials acted consistently with the opinions of the people they represent. This is a Florida-based project that will be expanding across the entire US in 2024. Join Today!