The ACLU is crying foul over a webpage on a state government site that advocates against Amendment 4, the ballot initiative that aims to expand abortion rights in Florida.

The Florida Agency for Health Care Administration unveiled a new page this week that warns against the citizen-led initiative aiming to legalize abortion up until viability.

The webpage reads: “Florida is protecting life. Don’t let the fearmongers lie to you.”

“It is the use of state resources for a political campaign,” said Bacardi Jackson, the executive director of the ACLU of Florida. “While it may not specifically say vote no, it is mere propaganda and it is also misinformation that’s being peddled to voters.”

The state agency said in a statement the new page serves to educate Floridians on the state’s current abortion laws and proposed policy changes that would impact care across the state.

The ACLU calls the move disturbing and an abuse of power.

“Instead of going through the proper political process, where each side raises money and garners support, the government is stepping in with this bully platform with this misinformation and undermining a political process that should be more fair than this,” Jackson said.

Charles Zelden, a political science professor at Nova Southeastern University, says it is unusual and improper for a state agency to be advocating in such a way.

“It’s one thing if a member of the state legislature or the governor takes the stance. It’s another thing when it’s the health department,” he said. “You begin to question whether this is a valid use of their authority to try and convince people to vote against an amendment.”

Zelden says he’s not sure what the Health Care Administration is doing is illegal.

The ACLU says it’s looking at whether using taxpayer dollars for political campaigns is lawful and if there are any actions they can take.

TAMPA, Fla. – In November, Floridians will vote on an amendment to make school board elections partisan.

Amendment 1 would make school board elections partisan beginning in the November 2026 general election and for primary elections nominating party candidates for the 2026 election.

Candidates would be nominated for the general election through party primaries, and would have a label of “Democrat” or “Republican” next to their name on the ballot.

“Students are not partisan, and certainly, our children are not partisan,” Hillsborough County school board member Lynn Gray said.

READ: DeSantis-backed school board candidates defeated in several counties in Florida primaries

The amendment has received strong support and opposition from parents, teachers and legislators.

“There’s so much politics in schools already right now being pushed in,” Julie Gebhards, a mother in Tampa Bay said.

Florida is currently one of 41 states with laws allowing non-partisan school board elections.

Florida had partisan school board elections until an amendment was approved in 1998.

READ: Florida Dept. of State re-examining abortion rights amendment signatures

“If you put a stamp on someone, ‘Oh, you’re Republican, so therefore you’re thinking that way’, there’s a huge range of thoughts within the Republican arena. And Democrats, the same,” Gray said.

Some Hillsborough County school board members who are also former teachers believe this would influence what’s being taught in the classroom every day.

“I think the most important information you need to have is what that person is about and what they represent and who they are as a person, and not about politics,” Hillsborough County school board member Nadia Combs said.

However, some parents who are in support of Amendment 1 believe politics are already infiltrating schools on a day-to-day basis.

READ: Former Tampa middle school teacher, assistant principal arrested after student put in chokehold: HCSO

“I think it just provides a baseline for us to go into an election understanding the platform that the candidate is coming from, and knowing that those values are going to align closer with my own,” Gebhards said.

The Florida Education Association says a partisan race would shift the focus of the school board.

“Rather than the focus on, ‘Hey, what do our kids need? Do we have the right music and art programs? Are our career and tech programs being funded appropriately?’” Florida Education Association President Andrew Spar said.

Dr. Joshua Scacco, the Director of the Center for Sustainable Democracy at USF, says the separation of politics and education isn’t necessarily clear, because school boards deal with political issues.

READ: Several cases of ‘sloth fever’ confirmed in Florida: Here’s what to know

“All the issues that come before the school board are, indeed, political,” Scacco saod. “And that’s just because these are public entities. They’re funded by taxpayer dollars. So, inherently, they are political. Whether it’s taxing, whether it’s the content that children receive in schools or young adults receive in schools, it’s political.”

Scacco says a partisan label could encourage more political polarization, which could make the decision-making by a school board a challenge.

“Education is political,” Scacco said. “You can’t necessarily draw this sort of firewall between education being nonpolitical and what that looks like and what that means.”

READ: Hillsborough County student in custody after making school shooting threat: HCSO

Gebhards says this amendment would only help voters make the most educated decision.

“And let people vote according to their values, you know, and whether that’s an ‘R’ or a ‘D’ next to the name, you can choose,” Gebhards said.

Amendment 1 is on the ballot in the general election in November. If it passes, it would go into effect starting in 2026.

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The No. 4 Alabama Crimson Tide will host the South Florida Bulls at 7 p.m. ET Saturday.

Great Start For Crimson Tide

Alabama (1-0) defeated the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers, 63-0, to open the season last week. First-year Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer said the Tide settled in through their fast drive:

Alabama starting quarterback Jalen Milroe passed for 200 yards in the game.

Two Tide players received Week 1 SEC Player of the Week honors: Ryan Williams and Keon Sabb.

Williams, a five-star freshman receiver, started his collegiate journey with 139 yards and two touchdowns last week.

The Tide defense showed a good performance with leaders such as Sabb, with two interceptions, and Deontae Lawson, with a total of the nine tackles. While the team struggled with some penalties throughout the game, DeBoer is focusing on these challenges and finding ways to improve.

USF entered the season with a good win against Bethune Cookman, 48-3. While Bulls quarterback Bryum Brown didn’t face pressure on the field in this game, it’s expected to test his decisions throughout this upcoming game.

Last Matchup

Last season, Alabama beat South Florida, 17-3. With the change in leadership, DeBoer and Milroe’s  performance will be significantly evaluated.

Saban Honored

Prior to the game, Alabama will rename the Crimson Tide’s home venue to Nick Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Saban won six national championships while in Tuscaloosa. The game kicks off at 7 p.m. Saturday with TV coverage on ESPN.