First Amendment

The vote this week comes after a controversial advocate challenged the district by invoking Satan on banners to hang in schools. He sued the district after it denied his request, citing it is viewpoint discrimination and a violation of religious freedom.

Florida's new law takes effect at the beginning of the year and critics are already calling the law unconstitutional.

Protesters at Crossbridge Church have created disturbances that affected neighborting St. Agnes Roman Catholic Church. The leader has been charged with criminal offenses.

A federal judge has blocked education officials from enforcing a law requiring a transgender Hillsborough County teacher to use pronouns that align with her sex assigned at birth, saying the law violated her First Amendment rights.

The Florida House passed a bill in January banning kids under 16 from making social media accounts. Supporters say the measure would protect children from harm on social media platforms, while opponents say it would infringe on First Amendment rights.

Arguing the law is "entirely incompatible with the First Amendment," two industry groups urged the U.S. Supreme Court to uphold a ruling that blocked key parts of a 2021 Florida law placing restrictions on large social-media companies.

Gov. Ron DeSantis directed universities to "deactivate" chapters of the group "Students for Justice in Palestine." The ACLU says he can't do that.

The U.S. Supreme Court said Friday it will take up a First Amendment fight about a 2021 Florida law that placed restrictions on major social-media companies.

Miami now prohibits "disorderly conduct" and "loud and aggressive" behavior in public parks with a newly passed ordinance, despite concerns that the law may infringe on First Amendment activity.

Gov. Ron DeSantis wanted to weaken the laws and legal precedents that protect journalists who publish criticism of public figures. The measure failed after media of all ideological stripes opposed it.

A Florida House committee has advanced a bill that would make it easier for journalists and their media outlets to be sued.

Florida lawmakers will consider a proposal to re-write rules around who is considered a public figure, and what circumstances would constitute a defamation claim against media outlets. The proposals are raising concerns about their constitutionality and whether they violate free speech rights.