A recent bill introduced in the Florida legislature has raised concerns over potential restrictions on free speech and press freedom. If passed, Florida Senate Bill 1316 would mandate that bloggers who write about Governor Ron DeSantis, his administration, or state legislators must register with state authorities or face fines.

Under the proposed legislation, bloggers falling under a broadly defined category would be required to register with either the Florida Office of Legislative Services or the Commission on Ethics within five days of publishing an article mentioning any of the aforementioned state officials. The bill specifically targets bloggers who receive compensation for their political reporting or commentary, excluding established newspapers and similar publications.

Furthermore, bloggers would be obligated to submit monthly reports to the state, due on the 10th day following each calendar month after publishing a blog post. These reports would need to include details about the individual or entity that compensated the blogger, as well as the amount of compensation received, regardless of the payment structure.

Failure to adhere to these registration and reporting requirements would result in fines ranging from $25 to $2,500 imposed by the state.

Critics argue that this legislation reflects a broader trend within Florida's Republican-dominated legislature to challenge existing legal precedents safeguarding journalists' rights in the United States. Governor DeSantis has been at the forefront of these efforts, aiming to mount a legal challenge to the landmark ruling of New York Times v. Sullivan, which limits public officials' ability to sue publishers for defamation. Additionally, DeSantis has advocated for legal changes that would compel journalists to disclose their sources, even in cases involving whistleblowers exposing government misconduct.

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 Yvon Lux is the editor of her Apple News channel. Her “blogazine” celebrates sisterhood and empowers women by focusing on women’s health, travel, lifestyle, and entrepreneurial news while also sharing the most coveted beauty news and style stories.

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