TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) 鈥 A political committee behind the campaign to pass a constitutional right to abortion in Florida has filed a lawsuit against a state health care agency that it alleges is carrying out a taxpayer-funded 鈥渕isinformation鈥 campaign against the November ballot measure.
Critics say the state-backed messaging push is the latest 鈥渄irty trick鈥 by Republican officials in Florida to thwart the to protect abortion in the country鈥檚 third-largest state. Nearly a million Floridians to get the measure known as Amendment 4 on the ballot, surpassing the more than 891,500 signatures required by the state.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Florida and Southern Legal Counsel filed the lawsuit in a Leon County circuit court on Thursday on behalf of Floridians Protecting Freedom, Inc., the organization behind Amendment 4.
The lawsuit targets a website, television and radio ads created by Florida鈥檚 Agency for Health Care Administration to give Floridians 鈥渢he truth鈥 about the proposed constitutional amendment. If approved by at least 60% of Florida voters, Amendment 4 would make abortions legal until the fetus is viable, as determined by the patient鈥檚 health care provider.
The website launched this month states that 鈥淎mendment 4 threatens women鈥檚 safety" and defends Florida鈥檚 current law, which bans most abortions after , under a banner that reads 鈥淔lorida is Protecting Life鈥 and 鈥淒on鈥檛 let the fearmongers lie to you.鈥
In the legal filing, attorneys for the abortion rights campaign called on the court to immediately halt the messaging push and what they argue is the unlawful use of taxpayer funds by state officials in service of a political campaign, actions which they claim are infringing on the rights of Florida voters.
鈥淔lorida鈥檚 government has crossed a dangerous line by using public resources to mislead voters and manipulate their choices in the upcoming election,鈥 ACLU of Florida attorney Michelle Morton said in a statement. 鈥淭his lawsuit aims to stop these unconstitutional efforts and restore integrity to our electoral process.鈥
Representatives for AHCA did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
In a post on the social media platform X before the lawsuit was filed, AHCA Secretary Jason Weida touted the agency鈥檚 new website.
鈥淭o combat the lies and disinformation surrounding Florida鈥檚 abortion laws, @AHCA_FL has launched an improved transparency page,鈥 Weida鈥檚 post reads. 鈥淭o see more please visit our website.鈥
Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis has defended the agency鈥檚 messaging push 鈥 and a into tens of thousands of petition signatures that were used to get Amendment 4 on the ballot. As a part of that probe, police have been of some of the people who signed the petition to question them.
Speaking to reporters before the lawsuit was filed, DeSantis said the AHCA page is not political but is giving Floridians 鈥渇actual information鈥 about the amendment.
鈥淓verything that is put out is factual. It is not electioneering,鈥 DeSantis said at a news conference, adding, 鈥淚 am glad they are doing it.鈥
___ Kate Payne is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
