AGP Executive Report

Big Tech & Kids Online: Florida AG James Uthmeier sued TikTok, alleging HB3 violations for minors and “addictive” design features that keep kids scrolling. Education & Rights: A St. Johns County school district was accused of unlawfully firing an intersex teacher after he was perceived as transgender, with the case heading to the EEOC. Reproductive Policy: A coalition of 14 Republican attorneys general urged the EPA to treat the abortion pill mifepristone as a water contaminant, warning about wastewater impacts. Elections & Courts: The Florida Supreme Court refused to suspend or disbar election-lawyer Kenneth Chesebro, issuing a public reprimand instead. Local Government & Public Safety: Osceola County’s property tax overhaul debate continues, with officials warning road work and emergency response could take hits. Justice System: A teen accused in a Carnival Cruise killing was ordered detained after a judge revoked pretrial release once the case moved to adult court. Accountability & Investigations: Miami Herald and WLRN won top honors for a Brightline “Killer Train” investigation into the rail line’s deadly record. Law Enforcement Pressure: Southwest Florida agencies reported multiple swatting hoax calls, raising concerns about cascading emergency delays. Health Care Jobs: Sanitas Medical filed a WARN notice for 211 layoffs statewide, citing restructuring and budget limits.

Child Safety & Tech Regulation: Florida AG James Uthmeier sued TikTok under the state’s online child protections law, alleging minors can open accounts without parental consent and that the app downplays mature content. Gun Violence Watch: A Jacksonville pop-up party shooting left four people injured, marking Florida’s 12th mass shooting of 2026 and putting the state on pace to top last year’s total. World Cup Security & Local Politics: As Miami’s FIFA matches begin at Hard Rock Stadium, officials are emphasizing strict clear-bag rules and cashless entry, while activists push back on fears of ICE involvement around games. Hate Speech & Public Funding: Florida U.S. Sen. Rick Scott and Jewish community leaders rallied to oppose Ye’s Tampa-area concerts, arguing public dollars shouldn’t platform antisemitic rhetoric. Animal & Agriculture Protection: Florida expanded screwworm-related restrictions, blocking rescue pets from Texas and New Mexico to protect livestock and wildlife. Insurance & Disaster Readiness: Florida’s insurance landscape update includes USAA refunds to policyholders, changes to how regulators handle claim complaints, and Citizens managing policy counts heading into hurricane season. Local Government Accountability: Leon County touted its 36th straight Distinguished Budget Presentation Award, highlighting long-term fiscal planning. Wildfire Response: Crews battled a 600-acre wildfire in Volusia County’s Lake Woodruff National Wildlife Refuge area, with drought and lightning cited as key factors.

Animal Cruelty Law Push: A federal bill dubbed the LEASH Act would expand Florida’s “Dexter’s Law” model into a nationwide animal abuser tracking database, after a Pinellas County case helped spur state action. Florida Politics & Elections: In Broward’s 20th District Democratic primary, four Black candidates are still trying to consolidate behind one challenger to Debbie Wasserman Schultz before the Friday qualifying deadline. State Courts & Maps: The Florida Supreme Court kept GOP-backed congressional districts in place for 2026, rejecting last-minute map challenges. Public Safety & Seniors: St. Johns County’s Sheriff’s Office is hosting a Seniors vs Crime fraud and scam awareness event tied to AG James Uthmeier’s program. Veterans Infrastructure: Collier County’s veterans’ nursing home groundbreaking is set for July 10 after officials clarified state control over soil remediation. Cuba Policy Fallout: Miami-area Cuban-Americans are reportedly sending food and medicine to Havana as U.S. pressure tightens, with families bearing the cost of survival logistics. National Tech Fight: Republicans, including Florida Gov. DeSantis, are clashing over AI regulation and federal moves aimed at preempting state rules.

Florida Politics & Courts: A federal judge ordered the immediate release of an immigration detainee after the government ignored a prior court order, underscoring fresh friction between Florida’s detention system and federal judges. State Government & Elections: Former Florida House Speaker Ralph Haben, a top Democratic dealmaker and procedural power in the early 1980s, died at 84, marking the loss of a major Capitol figure. Public Safety & Water Policy: Water First North Florida may be stalled, but related aquifer-recharge research continues, with officials warning the plan needs more public input and stronger science. Health & Environment: Republican AGs, including Florida’s, urged the EPA to classify the abortion pill mifepristone as a water contaminant, despite experts saying there’s no proof of harm from wastewater. Insurance & Disaster Readiness: Palm Beach County emergency management and partners ran a major hurricane preparedness exercise, as residents brace for another active season. Congressional Race Watch: Miami-Dade Commissioner Oliver Gilbert qualified for the Democratic primary to replace retiring Rep. Frederica Wilson, pitching his local-government record as his edge. Tech & AI Governance: Lawmakers are still struggling to rein in AI data centers, with major tech firms lobbying hard against federal limits while states move ahead.

AI & Public Safety: Florida’s Perry-Lecompton school district is using ZeroEyes AI to spot weapons on campus and quickly alert law enforcement with location data and images. Tech Regulation: OpenAI is facing a multistate probe into ChatGPT’s impact on users as it prepares for an IPO; Florida’s AG previously sued after alleged links between ChatGPT questions and shootings. Elections & Courts: Florida’s Supreme Court kept GOP-drawn congressional maps in place for 2026, rejecting last-minute challenges. Campaign Trail: Attorney General James Uthmeier endorsed Scott Singer in Florida’s crowded CD 25 GOP primary. State Politics & Policy: Florida is rolling out new laws taking effect July 1, while debates continue over property taxes and local government costs. Local Governance: Volusia County high school football programs Atlantic and Pine Ridge are returning to FHSAA as independent, non-playoff members. Public Remembrance: Pulse survivors and community leaders marked the 10th anniversary with vigils and renewed calls to fight hate.

U.S. Politics & Culture Clash: Democrats blasted President Trump’s endorsement of a far-right Colombian candidate as an “insult” to Colombia’s sovereignty, arguing U.S. lawmakers are trying to tip the runoff. Florida Church & Community: U.S. Catholic bishops meeting in Orlando put the Sacred Heart at the center of their spring assembly, while also pushing to strengthen the Church’s mission. Property Tax Fight: Florida economists say a proposed homestead exemption increase could cost local governments nearly $12 billion a year, setting up fresh pressure for counties and services. Public Safety & Accessibility: A Florida bill would create a blue “autism” card/envelope for drivers to help during police encounters and expand autism training for law enforcement recruits. Education Politics: Miami-Dade’s school board election drew little interest, leaving three incumbents effectively reelected as qualifying ends. Congressional Races: Florida AG Uthmeier endorsed former Boca Raton mayor Scott Singer for the newly drawn 25th District. Local Governance: Lee County residents questioned a school board plan to build in Alva instead of larger Lehigh Acres, raising concerns about spending and conflicts. Sports Meets Immigration: World Cup coverage highlights visa and entry disputes tied to Trump’s immigration agenda, including the spotlight on U.S. striker Folarin Balogun.

Florida Politics & Elections: Qualifying is closing out with a packed field for governor and statewide races, plus Democrats celebrating nominees after the deadline; in Miami-Dade, three school board members were reelected by default with no votes cast, while other local seats head to August primaries. Congressional Races: Kendrick Meek Jr. jumps into the crowded CD 24 race after Frederica Wilson announced she won’t seek reelection, and Florida’s CD 20 Democratic primary remains a high-stakes fight with multiple Black candidates. Statehouse Power Plays: The Florida GOP’s internal feud over debate access and candidate treatment keeps flaring, including fresh fallout around James Fishback and the party’s governor-debate rules. Courts & Rights: Two UF students sue the university over alleged rules meant to suppress pro-Gaza protest speech, and a separate Florida case highlights how facial-recognition errors can land people in jail. Policy & Public Safety: Florida’s property tax amendment fight is headed toward more legal challenges over ballot language, while Medicaid fraud crackdowns and immigration enforcement plans stay in the spotlight. Tech & AI: State attorneys general open a sweeping investigation into OpenAI, adding pressure on how AI products handle users and children.

Florida Politics & Courts: The Florida Supreme Court issued a reprimand (not a license suspension) for Kenneth Chesebro, convicted in Georgia over fake electors, keeping the focus on election-law fallout. Property Tax Fight: A new lawsuit targets the ballot wording for Florida’s proposed homestead property tax amendment, arguing the summary is biased and not neutral. Redistricting: The court also declined to block the GOP congressional map, leaving new districts in place for 2026. Campaign Trail: Rep. Maxwell Frost qualified unopposed for Florida’s 10th District, while Byron Donalds keeps dominating fundraising in the governor’s race. Public Safety & Local Government: Broward prosecutors moved to clear decades-old reverse-sting crack cocaine convictions, and Pensacola/Santa Rosa officials warned property-tax cuts could mean fewer deputies. Tech & Rights: Florida’s wildlife agency rolled out a social media policy restricting employee speech, and a wrongful-arrest suit highlights facial-recognition errors. Health & Safety: Florida saw multiple child drownings in pools this week, renewing pressure for prevention. National With Florida Ties: A judge blocked the Trump “Anti-Weaponization Fund,” and the White House is set to host UFC Freedom 250.

Property Tax Fight in Court: Two former Florida mayors and a nonprofit sued to challenge ballot language for the November homestead property tax amendment, arguing it’s “biased” and more like a campaign pitch than a neutral summary, with the measure potentially cutting local revenues by billions. Florida Supreme Court Redistricting: The Florida Supreme Court declined to block the GOP congressional map, keeping the new districts in place for 2026 elections while more legal challenges continue. Governor Race Moves: Jolly and Graham held a rally at FIU as David Jolly taps Gwen Graham as his running mate, while Trump weighed in on Palm Beach County Mayor Sara Baxter’s congressional bid. Public Safety & Policy: A Senate bill would restore cost-of-living increases for Florida police, fire, and EMS retirees, and Panama City Beach is set to consider new e-bike regulations. Tech and Policing: An ACLU lawsuit says Jacksonville Beach relied too heavily on AI facial recognition, leading to a wrongful arrest later dropped. Environment & Agriculture: Florida rescinded a water shortage warning for Lee and Collier after heavy rain, while screwworm detections are driving shelter-pet blockage rules.

UF Stadium Overhaul: The University of Florida unveiled plans for a $1.45 billion Ben Hill Griffin Stadium (“The Swamp”) renovation, with construction starting after the 2026 season and targeting completion for the 2030 season, funded through donations, reserves, and long-term debt. Property Tax Fight: S&P warns DeSantis’ ballot-backed property tax cuts could strain local government credit and services, with Volusia County projecting major revenue losses if voters approve the overhaul. AI in Schools: As AI tools spread in classrooms, states and districts are scrambling to set guardrails, training, and literacy requirements for students and teachers. FISA Standoff: The House failed to extend Section 702, with a list of Republicans breaking with Trump ahead of the World Cup deadline. Immigration Enforcement Funding: AG Alan Wilson touts passage of the Secure America Act, praising new CBP/ICE funding and 287(g) cooperation. Florida Politics & Elections: The Florida Supreme Court allowed GOP-backed congressional maps to remain for 2026 elections, keeping redistricting battles alive. Gates/Epstein Fallout: Bill Gates defended his Epstein ties in congressional testimony, saying he never witnessed criminal conduct and regrets the relationship.

Florida Courts & Elections: The Florida Supreme Court cleared the way for GOP lawmakers to use DeSantis’ redrawn congressional map in 2026, despite the state’s voter ban on partisan gerrymandering—leaving dissenters warning the court is dodging the core question. Property Tax Fight: A city attorney in Weston says the ballot language for the property tax amendment reads like a “campaign slogan” and plans to sue to force neutral wording. UF Leadership: The UF Board of Trustees unanimously selected Stuart Bell as the university’s 14th president, with Bell promising he won’t bring back DEI “or ‘woke’” to campus. Congress & National Politics: Republicans extended their Congressional Baseball Game winning streak, beating Democrats 11-2 while raising a record $3.2 million for charity. Federal Oversight: Bill Gates told a House panel he made a “grave error in judgment” meeting Jeffrey Epstein, while denying he witnessed criminal conduct. World/Defense: The U.S. and Iran traded airstrikes for a second straight day as Trump warned of more attacks without a peace deal.

Epstein Fallout in Congress: Bill Gates told the House Oversight Committee he “should never have met” Jeffrey Epstein and said he never saw any sign of ongoing criminal conduct, while lawmakers press for what government failures let the case persist. Florida Redistricting Fight: Voting rights groups urged the Florida Supreme Court to pause the new congressional map, arguing the Fair Districts Amendment’s limits on partisan and minority voting power are being violated. Gubernatorial Race Shake-Up: Democrat David Jolly named Gwen Graham as his running mate, setting up a fresh GOP attack line as primaries approach. Immigration Enforcement Funding: Gov. DeSantis and the Cabinet approved about $90 million to expand state support for immigration enforcement. Public Safety Watch: A national pedestrian-safety report ranks Florida’s metro areas among the deadliest, with Tampa Bay topping the state list. Health Policy Pressure: Two Alabama hospitals (including DCH/Nolan Hospitals) received federal threatening letters over required hospital pricing transparency plans. Local Governance: Slidell’s city council again delayed a vote over moving a park near a hospital, kicking the decision to a new council in August.

Healthcare Cost Fight: The Trump administration warned more than 500 hospitals nationwide—including three Philadelphia-area facilities—to post clearer pricing or face penalties up to $2 million annually, spotlighting how patients can get hit with surprise costs for tests like blood work and imaging. Florida Elections & Representation: In South Florida’s District 20 race, four Black candidates reportedly met privately to consider consolidating into one or two contenders to improve odds against Debbie Wasserman Schultz, as the primary field solidifies. Property Tax Fallout: Dunedin officials are weighing painful cuts to fire, parks, and libraries if voters approve a state-backed property tax initiative that would sharply expand the homestead exemption. Local Campaign Shuffle: Palm Beach County Mayor Sara Baxter dropped her commission bid to run for the newly redrawn District 22 congressional seat, arguing the map reshaped the battlefield. Public Safety & Policy: Polk County schools approved a new $400 activity fee for certain non-traditional student-athletes under a new statewide eligibility law. Space & Defense: NASA named the crew for Artemis III (including three U.S. astronauts and an Italian astronaut), while Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is set to visit Guantanamo Bay and Tampa.

Gubernatorial Politics: Byron Donalds shrugged off Gov. Ron DeSantis’ cold shoulder, saying he’s “not concerned” because term limits mean a new governor soon—while Donalds also officially qualified for the race. Abortion & Elections: GOP primary candidate James Fishback says he’d shut down all 53 Florida abortion clinics and replace them with crisis pregnancy centers. Property Taxes: Florida’s property tax relief plan heads toward a November vote, with critics warning it could cut essential services and face multiple constitutional challenges. Local Governance/Data Centers: Zephyrhills advanced a temporary moratorium on data center proposals as residents cite water and power strain; Alachua County says large-scale data centers aren’t currently allowed without plan and code changes. Public Safety/Health: A New World screwworm outbreak is spreading beyond Texas into New Mexico, raising alarms for Florida’s cattle industry. Immigration Tech: DeSantis and the Cabinet approved $87M in immigration reimbursements for local agencies, including radios and AI policing tools. Earthquake Disruption: A 6.1 quake off Cuba rattled South Florida and led to ride shutdowns at Disney World.

Immigration Funding Push: Florida Rep. Mike Haridopolos backed a Senate-passed $70B Homeland Security package that would fully fund ICE and related agencies through the rest of Trump’s term, arguing it’s needed to crack down on “sanctuary cities” and violent offenders. Supreme Court Media Fight: Trump asked the U.S. Supreme Court to revive his $475M CNN defamation case over the “Big Lie” label, seeking a jury-focused standard. Florida Elections & Courts: Florida Republicans filed briefs urging the Florida Supreme Court to toss the Fair Districts Amendment’s gerrymandering ban, setting up a major fight over whether the GOP can use a redrawn congressional map. Earthquake Hits Cuba, Felt in Florida: A rare 6.1 quake off Cuba rattled buildings across South and Central Florida, prompting evacuations and ride shutdowns at Disney/SeaWorld as officials reported no major damage. Cuba Security Signals: Reports say Cuba is mobilizing territorial militias amid U.S. invasion fears, while Cuban customs seized Starlink antennas shipped from Miami. OpenAI Goes Public: OpenAI confidentially filed for an IPO, joining Anthropic in the race to go public—while Florida continues to litigate AI’s harms. Congressional Run Watch: Palm Beach County Mayor Sara Baxter announced she won’t seek re-election and will run for the newly redrawn CD 22.

CFO Race Heats Up: Miami Democrat Annette Taddeo formally jumps into Florida’s Chief Financial Officer contest, pitching herself as a “watchdog” against incumbent Blaise Ingoglia and tying her pitch to property insurance costs and alleged insider-driven waste. Budget Fight: Florida TaxWatch released its 2026-27 “Budget Turkeys” list, flagging 621 projects totaling about $830 million as bypassing review rules or competitive selection—setting up another DeSantis veto test. Property Tax Politics: Ingoglia’s FAFO campaign says Jacksonville waste totals $275 million, while the ballot property tax cut plan would boost homestead exemptions—sparking local-government fears of service cuts. Congressional GOP Shuffle: Bryan Leib says he won’t run in CD 25 and instead fully backs Byron Donalds for governor, signaling more consolidation in the GOP. Local Governance: Miami commissioners may order a referendum on an $80M Virginia Key marinas redevelopment after years of legal fights. Agriculture/Health: USDA confirms more New World screwworm cases in Texas, and Florida officials are watching closely as the parasite threatens cattle and could drive up beef prices. Campaign Trail/Threats: Byron Donalds speaks out after death threats, warning rhetoric can embolden violence.