Florida bill would force bloggers to register with state

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — A Republican lawmaker in Florida wants bloggers who write about elected officials to register with the state. The bill filed by Sen. Jason Brodeur would require bloggers to file periodic reports with the state if they are paid for posts about the state’s governor, lieutenant governor, cabinet members or legislative officials. The proposal was filed last week but has already begun to draw criticism from First Amendment groups who argue it violates press freedoms. It is unclear how far the proposal will go in the GOP-controlled statehouse during the upcoming legislative session, which begins Tuesday (March 7, 2023).