Florida
Florida lawmakers push religious expression bills for 2026
The legislative session is set to begin Jan. 13.
Report: Florida No. 1for religious freedom
Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Monday that Florida is ranked No. 1 for protecting religious liberty by the First Liberty Institute. Kimberly Kuizon reports.
Fox – 13 News
The First Amendment’s freedom of religious expression is appearing among a variety of bills in Florida’s upcoming legislative session, set to begin Jan. 13.
Specifically, lawmakers filed bills for the 2026 session that would create new Florida law or amend the state’s Constitution in efforts to strengthen the right of religious expression.
No doubt some advocates will disagree.
For instance, one bill called the “Freedom of Conscience in the Workplace Act,” proposed by Rep. Rachel Plakon, R-Longwood, would ban employers from disciplining employees based on deeply held religious beliefs against “gender ideology.”
It was introduced last year and died in committee, and Equality Florida said at the time that the measure doubled down on “anti-transgender rhetoric.”
Some of these measures come in response to a conservative push to counter LGBTQ+ positions seen as in conflict with deeply-held religious beliefs. A notable decision for this cause came from the U.S. Supreme Court, after it said public school parents could exempt their children from discussions on LGBTQ+ issues in classrooms.
Republicans enter the 60-day session having an advantage of a supermajority in Florida’s House and Senate, since votes along party lines could advance the conservative-led push uplifting religious beliefs.
Religious expression bills filed for 2026 Florida legislative session
Here’s a list of bills and resolutions, as of Jan. 9, filed so far that include religious expression measures:
- HJR 583 (filed by Rep. Chase Tramont, R-Port Orange, and Berny Jacques, R-Clearwater): A resolution that would amend the state constitution to provide protection from discrimination for students and school personnel who express religious beliefs in public schools.
- HB 641 (filed by Rep. Rachel Plakon, R-Longwood): Would prohibit employers from disciplining employees or contractors due to “deeply held religious, moral, conscience-based, or biology-based beliefs against gender ideology.”
- HB 835 (filed by Rep. David Borrero, R-Doral): Would prohibit schools from discriminating against students or school personnel based on political, religious or ideological viewpoint expression.
- HB 1227 (filed by Rep. Vanessa Oliver, R-Punta Gorda): Would prohibit counties and municipalities from adopting or enforcing ordinances, regulations, resolutions or rules that could substantially burden free exercise of religion.
This reporting content is supported by a partnership with Freedom Forum and Journalism Funding Partners. USA Today Network-Florida First Amendment reporter Stephany Matat is based in Tallahassee, Fla. She can be reached at SMatat@gannett.com. On X: @stephanymatat.
The body of Alejandro Jacomino Gonzalez, 41 was discovered in coastal Georgia, according to FBI officials.
The body of a truck driver was discovered in Georgia nearly two weeks after he went missing from a Florida rest stop, officials said.
Alejandro Jacomino González, 41, of Miami, picked up vehicles in Georgia on April 16 and was transporting them to Miami. He stopped at a rest stop in Brevard County, Florida on April 17 about 1:21 a.m. and rested for several hours.
The truck’s GPS showed shortly before 8 a.m., the truck “traveled one exit south and then turned north toward Jacksonville, Florida,” according to the FBI.
“Shortly after, González stopped responding and the truck was reported missing,” the FBI said.
The truck, without some of the vehicles González was transporting, was located in Port Wentworth, Georgia. Three vehicles were recovered in Florida, FBI officials said.
González’s body was located in coastal Georgia. Details on how he died, when and how his remains were located were not provided.
FBI seeking help from public in case of killed Florida truck driver
The FBI is seeking anyone who has photos or video from the Brevard County rest area in Grant-Valkaria, Florida between 1 a.m. and 8 a.m. April 17.
Officials are especially interested in the southern portion of the rest stop, near the ramp reconnecting to Interstate-95. Images can shared through an online form.
Michelle Spitzer is a journalist for The USA TODAY NETWORK-FLORIDA. As the network’s Rapid Response reporter, she covers Florida’s breaking news. You can get all of Florida’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday day by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY, at https://floridatoday.com/newsletters.
Isa Torres, Lonni Alameda talk about beating UF in playoff-like atmosphere
Isa Torres led FSU softball with a two-home run performance. She embraced the playoff-like atmosphere in 3-1 win over Florida. Lonni Alameda talks about the victory.
No. 8 Florida handed No. 10 Florida State a narrow midweek loss, edging the Seminoles 4-3 Tuesday night at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.
It was FSU’s first loss at Gainesville in five years.
FSU (43-8, 18-3 ACC) matched UF hit for hit for much of the game but could not overcome a pair of early deficit swings, falling to the Gators (46-8, 16-5 SEC) for the second time this season.
The Seminoles scored three runs on seven hits and drew three walks. Ashtyn Danley and Kennedy Harp each went 2-for-3, and five different FSU players recorded hits.
FSU struck first in the second inning. Singles by Bella Ruggiero and Harp, along with a walk to Shelby McKenzie, loaded the bases. Hayley Griggs followed with a soft single to left to plate Ruggiero, and Isa Torres added a sacrifice fly to score McKenzie and give the Seminoles a 2-0 lead.
Florida answered with two runs on two hits in the bottom of the third to tie the game, then pushed ahead 3-2 in the fourth on an RBI single.
The Seminoles responded in the fifth, again loading the bases. Anna Hinde lifted a sacrifice fly to deep right, allowing Torres to tag and score to tie the game at 3.
Florida regained the lead in the bottom half of the inning with a solo run and held the Seminoles scoreless the rest of the way to secure the 4-3 victory.
Bella Dimitrijevic started for FSU and worked three innings, allowing two earned runs on three hits with one strikeout in her 13th start of the season. Marlee Gaskell (2-1) relieved in the fourth, pitching 2 1/3 innings and striking out three while surrendering five hits. Makenna Reid entered in the sixth and recorded two flyouts to keep the Seminoles within a run.
Florida State will resume ACC play with a road series at Boston College beginning Friday, May 1, in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts.
How to watch FSU softball vs. Boston College
- Date: Friday, May 1
- Time: 4 p.m. EST
- Where: Harrington Athletics Village, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts
- TV/Stream: ACC extra
Peter Holland Jr. covers Florida State athletics and Big Bend Preps for the Tallahassee Democrat. If you like to pitch a story on a high school athlete, don’t hesitate to get in touch with him via email at PHolland@Gannett.com or on X @_Da_pistol.
Florida
FBI asking for help locating missing truck driver after suspected car hauler hijacking in Florida
BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. – The FBI is investigating the suspicious disappearance of truck driver Alejandro Jacomino Gonzalez and is asking for the public’s assistance in locating him.
On April 16, investigators say Gonzalez picked up multiple vehicles from the Port of Brunswick, in Georgia. He departed the Brunswick port headed South for Miami, Florida, the drop off location for the vehicles.
Timeline of disappearance
At approximately 1:21 a.m., the FBI says Gonzalez arrived at a truck stop in Brevard County, Florida, where he rested for several hours. At 7:49 a.m., GPS from the truck driven by Gonzalez indicates the truck drove South one exit and then turned North towards Jacksonville. Soon after, Gonzalez became unreachable and the truck was reported missing.
On April 17, the truck was located in Port Wentworth, Georgia, however Gonzalez was not located in the truck. Additionally, several vehicles were missing from the hauler. Since the discovery of the truck, three vehicles have been located in Florida. Others are still missing, along with Gonzalez.
The FBI is seeking photos and video footage from any people located in or around the Brevard County Rest Area in Grant-Valkaria, Florida, between the hours of 1 a.m. and 8 a.m., on Friday, April 17, specifically focusing on the southern portion of the rest area near the ramp that enters back onto I-95 South.
The public is encouraged to share those photos and videos here.
Copyright 2026 by WJXT News4JAX – All rights reserved.
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