For Immediate Release: January 13, 2026

 President Julie Kent, Florida NOW, president@flnow.org

Orlando, FL — Just over a year ago, 57 percent of Florida voters cast their ballots in support of a constitutional amendment that would have overturned the state’s near-total abortion ban and protected reproductive freedom. Despite winning a clear majority, the amendment fell just short of the 60 percent supermajority required — after Governor Ron DeSantis spent nearly $40 million in taxpayer funds campaigning against it.

Today, Florida women are living with the consequences of that narrow loss.

As early as this week, the Florida House of Representatives is poised to pass legislation that would grant fertilized eggs and embryos some of the same legal rights as living children (SB 164, HB 289). This is part of a long-term strategy to establish fetal personhood — a legal theory designed to eliminate abortion access under any circumstance.

“Lawmakers are attempting to rewrite science, medicine, and constitutional rights to control women’s bodies,” said Julie Kent, President FL NOW. “This is an assault on personal freedom.”

Even if the personhood bills stall in the Senate, a wave of additional anti‑abortion legislation is already moving:

• $100,000 bounties on doctors, helpers, or anyone who assists a woman in obtaining abortion medication by mail (HB 663, SB 1374)
• Expansion of the abortion ban to include fetal‑reduction procedures used in IVF (HB 993, SB 1044)
• New restrictions on surrogacy and assisted reproduction, threatening access to IVF for thousands of Florida families (HB 1487, SB 1680)
• Bills blocking teens from accessing birth control or STI treatment without parental approval (SB 166, HB 173)
• Legislation making it harder for schools to teach safe sex and HIV prevention, while forcing them to show anti‑abortion propaganda cartoons (HB 1071, SB 1090)

“These bills are not isolated,” said Debbie Deland, VP FL NOW stated. “They are part of a coordinated, extremist agenda to strip away reproductive freedom, undermine bodily autonomy, and impose government control over the most personal decisions a person can make.”

FL NOW calls on lawmakers to:

• Reject all personhood legislation
• Oppose bounty-style enforcement schemes targeting doctors and women
• Protect IVF, surrogacy, and reproductive technologies
• Ensure teens have access to essential health care
• Keep medically accurate, evidence-based sex education in Florida schools

“Florida voters have already made their values clear,” said Debbie Deland, VP FL NOW. “Most Floridians support reproductive freedom. It’s time for lawmakers to listen — not launch a legislative crusade against women.”

Media Contact: Debbie Deland, 407 234-6408, vp@flnow.org

Orlando, FL — The Florida National Organization for Women (FL NOW) strongly condemns the administration’s decision to withdraw the United States from 66 international organizations, a sweeping move that accelerates the nation’s retreat from global cooperation at a moment when international collaboration is essential to addressing shared challenges.

According to public reporting, the United States is initiating withdrawal from organizations including the Partnership for Atlantic Cooperation, the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, the Global Counterterrorism Forum, and numerous UN‑related bodies. These organizations play critical roles in strengthening democratic institutions, coordinating global security efforts, advancing human rights, and fostering international problem‑solving.

“Walking away from institutions designed to promote cooperation, stability, and shared responsibility is a profound step backward for the United States and for the world,” said Julie Kent, President of Florida NOW. “These withdrawals undermine decades of bipartisan commitment to international engagement and weaken the global partnerships that protect women, families, and communities.”

FL NOW warns that abandoning these organizations will have far‑reaching consequences, including:

• Reduced global coordination on terrorism, migration, climate change, and public health
• Weakened democratic norms and diminished U.S. credibility in defending human rights
• Greater instability in regions where multilateral cooperation is essential
• Loss of U.S. influence in shaping global standards and policies
• Increased isolation at a time when interconnected crises demand collective solutions

“International cooperation is not optional in the twenty‑first century,” said Debbie Deland, VP FL NOW. “From climate disasters to global security threats, no nation can solve these challenges alone. Retreating from the world does not make the United States safer — it makes us more vulnerable. Without participation in world forums, women’s issues and oppression will not get addressed. We can’t allow this isolationism!”

FL NOW calls on Congress, civil society, and allied organizations to oppose this mass withdrawal and to reaffirm the United States’ commitment to global engagement, democratic values, and multilateral problem-solving.

“Women and families in Florida and across the country are directly affected by global instability,” said Debbie Deland, VP FL NOW. “We need leadership that strengthens international cooperation, not dismantles it.”

### Media Contact: Debbie Deland, VP FL NOW, vp@flnow.org, 407 234-6408

For Immediate Release: January 8, 2026 by President Julie Kent, Florida NOW, president@flnow.org

Orlando, FL —The Florida National Organization for Women (FL NOW) is horrified and outraged by the killing of a 37-year-old woman by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent in Minnesota. According to publicly available reports, the woman was shot and killed while in her car during an ICE operation. This devastating and unconscionable act demands immediate transparency, accountability, and justice.

“This is a profound violation of human rights,” said Julie Kent, President FL NOW. “A woman lost her life at the hands of a government agency that is supposed to protect the public. Instead, she was met with lethal force. We refuse to accept a system where women — especially immigrant women and women of color — are treated as disposable.”

FL NOW calls for:

• A full, independent investigation into the circumstances of the shooting
• Immediate public release of all body‑camera footage, reports, and evidence
• Accountability for all agents involved, including administrative and criminal consequences were warranted
• A federal review of ICE use‑of‑force policies, particularly in operations involving women, families, and non-violent encounters
• Investment in humane, community-based alternatives that do not rely on militarized enforcement

This tragedy is part of a broader pattern of violence and abuse that immigrant communities — especially women — have been sounding the alarm about for years. FL NOW stands firmly with immigrant‑rights organizations, community leaders, and the victim’s family in demanding justice and systemic change.

“Women deserve safety, dignity, and the right to live without fear,” said Debbie Deland, VP FL NOW. “We expect a full investigation. We will not look away. We will not be silent.”

Media Contact: Debbie Deland, vp@flnow.org, 407 234-6408