FAC Weekly Update 2026-07-14- Preparing for a Historic Legal Challenge
Weekly update for July 14, 2026. This is recording number 381
Dear Members and Advocates,
We are now approximately one month away from filing what we believe will be a historic legal challenge to Florida’s sex offender registry laws. This lawsuit represents the most significant legal efforts ever undertaken by the Florida Action Committee (FAC) and has the potential to impact not only registrants in Florida, but registry laws and policies across the country.
This challenge was prompted by recent amendments to Florida’s residency restriction and proximity (loitering) laws (HB 45/SB 212), which dramatically expand the restrictions placed on registrants and create new barriers to housing, family relationships, employment, and everyday activities. These amendments raise serious constitutional concerns and threaten to impose restrictions that are not supported by evidence showing they improve public safety.
The FAC legal team has been working diligently behind the scenes. Attorney Michael Kimberly is actively completing the complaint, our experts have been retained, supporting data has been collected, and we are carefully building a case designed to put us in the strongest possible position to succeed. We are not simply filing a lawsuit – we are preparing for a fight that we believe can create meaningful and lasting change.
One of the most important ways you can support this effort is by sharing your personal experience. We are seeking individuals who are directly impacted by these new restrictions and who are willing to submit a declaration describing how the law affects their lives. A qualified declarant would be someone whose circumstances are impacted by the recent amendments. Some examples include: “I visit my elderly mother several times per year. Because I visit more than three days in a calendar year, I am required to register her address as a Temporary Residence. Because she lives in a community with a pool, I can no longer visit her.”, “The lease on my apartment expires this year and my family planned to move from a one-bedroom apartment to a two-bedroom apartment within the same community. Because the community has a pool, I can no longer relocate, even within the same community.”, “I work in a shopping mall and interact with dozens of people every day. I cannot always determine whether a customer is 17 or 19 years old, so I do not know whether I can legally communicate with them. I asked my supervising officer whether the mall is considered a ‘place where children congregate,’ and he did not know.” These are only examples from some of our members. The strongest declarations are those that explain your actual circumstances, how the new law affects you, and the uncertainty or hardship it creates.
If you would like to be a declarant, please contact our legal team at: [email protected] and share your circumstances. Please do not describe your underlying case, since it’s not relevant to this lawsuit. Only describe how the current law, particularly the newly amended residency restriction and loitering statutes impact your life. We can assist you with formatting it into a formal declaration, but your story is your own and you could become an important part of this historic challenge.
Another area we still need help with is funding this case. Litigation of this magnitude requires significant resources. We have paid out our initial retainer, but there are experts and once litigation becomes active there will be additional costs associated. FAC must raise an additional funds to help fund this legal effort. You can make your donation to our General Legal Fund here: https://floridaactioncommittee.org/donations/. We are incredibly grateful to everyone who has already contributed. Every donation – large or small – has helped bring us to this point. Without the support of our members and supporters, this challenge would not be possible.
If you believe that these laws have gone too far, if you believe constitutional rights matter, and if you believe evidence-based public safety policies should guide our laws, now is the time to stand with FAC. Let’s make history together!
Sincerely,
The Florida Action Committee
Discover more from Florida Action Committee (FAC)
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Remember that swimming pool says private but hose toddler and other safety classes for tampa area. Also there is a daycare within 100 feet of the VA Hospital
What I wrote
declare under penalty of perjury that the following is true and correct:
I am 38 years old and a retired United States Army veteran. During my military service, I survived three separate explosive blasts. As a result of those injuries, I was medically retired from the Army through the Department of Veterans Affairs disability evaluation process. I suffer from a traumatic brain injury (“TBI”), along with lasting cognitive impairments related to my military service.
I am also required to register as a sex offender under Florida law. I have made every effort to comply with all registration requirements and understand that failing to comply can result in serious criminal penalties, including felony charges.
Because of my service-connected TBI, I receive specialized treatment through the James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital in Tampa, Florida. The James A. Haley VA is one of only a handful of VA Polytrauma Rehabilitation Centers in the United States and provides specialized treatment that is not available at most VA facilities. My treatment includes intensive cognitive rehabilitation and residential programs designed to improve my memory, executive functioning, independence, and overall quality of life.
The recent changes to Florida law have created a serious hardship for me. My understanding is that the James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital’s residential rehabilitation program is located within 1,000 feet of Swim Academy: Tampa (University), a public swimming facility. Because of this proximity, I fear that attending the residential program could place me in violation of Florida’s residency or location restrictions under the new law. Additionally, if I remain in the residential program for three calendar days or more, I understand that I may be required to report that location as a temporary address. Because failure to comply with these requirements can result in felony prosecution, I am afraid of making an unintentional mistake while attempting to receive medically necessary treatment.
As a result, I have become reluctant to participate in the weekly residential and in-person rehabilitation programs recommended by my VA medical providers. These programs are specifically designed to treat the cognitive impairments caused by my service-connected traumatic brain injury. Instead of focusing on my recovery, I find myself worrying that seeking treatment could expose me to criminal liability.
My traumatic brain injury already affects my memory, concentration, and executive functioning. These cognitive impairments make it more difficult for me to navigate complicated legal requirements. The possibility that I could unintentionally violate a reporting requirement because of my disability makes the situation even more frightening.
I served my country honorably until I was medically retired because of injuries sustained in combat. Today, I feel as though I must choose between receiving specialized medical treatment for those service-connected injuries and risking felony prosecution under Florida law. That is a choice no disabled veteran should have to make.
I respectfully submit this declaration so the Court may understand the concrete hardship these legal changes have imposed on me. My concerns are real, immediate, and personal. They directly affect my ability to obtain medically necessary treatment, continue my rehabilitation, and improve my cognitive functioning after the injuries I suffered while serving my country.
Ryan:
Thank you for your courage and serving your country.