Moving quickly on what supporters call the “Heartbeat Protection Act,” Gov. Ron DeSantis late Thursday signed a bill that would prevent abortions after six weeks of pregnancy.

Committee Sues State Agency Over Alleged Misinfo Campaign On Florida Abortion Rights Amendment

Moving quickly on what supporters call the “Heartbeat Protection Act,” Gov. Ron DeSantis late Thursday signed a bill that would prevent abortions after six weeks of pregnancy.
Heartbeat Protection Act, Signing: Gov. Ron DeSantis

A political committee, Floridians Protecting Freedom, filed a lawsuit against the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) on Thursday, accusing the agency of spreading “misinformation” about a proposed abortion rights amendment, known as Amendment 4, through its website and ads.

The lawsuit filed in Leon County Circuit Court seeks a temporary injunction to stop the agency from continuing these actions.

Read: Florida Supreme Court Hears Arguments On Congressional Redistricting Plan

The lawsuit argues that the AHCA is violating state law by engaging in political advocacy, claiming that its website and ads contain misleading statements aimed at influencing the outcome of the vote. One of the statements on the website says, “Current Florida Law Protects Women, Amendment 4 Threatens Women’s Safety,” and questions the amendment’s use of terms like “healthcare provider.”

Governor Ron DeSantis defended the agency’s actions, likening them to public service announcements by other government agencies and insisting that the information is factual.

Read: Florida Gov. DeSantis Allocates $122 Million To Boost Infrastructure In Small Counties, Rural Areas

The amendment, which aims to protect abortion access before viability, comes in response to a law passed last year that restricts abortions after six weeks.

The case could influence public perception ahead of the November vote.

Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.

Android Users: Download our free app to stay up-to-date on the latest news.

Connect with us: Follow the Tampa Free Press on Facebook and Twitter for breaking news and updates.

Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox.

Login To Facebook To Comment