Senate Bill 184 Has Passed on the Senate Floor, Allowing for a Lack of Accountability and Transparency by Enforcement

Florida – The Florida National Organization for Women (NOW) strongly condemns the Senate’s passage of Senate Bill 184, which seeks to hinder accountability and transparency by law enforcement officers. The bill creates a first-degree misdemeanor charge for anyone who “impedes” police or other first responders when they’re working. This bill not only endangers Floridians’ First Amendment right to film the police on public property but it also raises alarm with its vague definitions and specified 14-foot distance requirements.

Denying citizens in Florida the right to scrutinize law enforcement officers and first responders allows them to be effectively silenced and creates the potential for arbitrary enforcement and confusion.

Florida NOW calls on all citizens to stand against Senate Bill 184 and contact their Representatives in the House to express their opposition. We must protect the First Amendment rights of individuals and defend the core aspects of our democracy that call for transparency and accountability from public officials. Together, we can ensure that individuals are not severely hurt by this bill, and related bills, that criminalize the rightful assessment of police and first responders.

For media inquiries, please contact Florida NOW President Debbie Deland at 407-234-6408.