FAC Weekly Update 2026-08-FAC Lawsuit is Gaining Traction
Weekly update for August 18, 2026. This is recording number 387.
Dear Members and Advocates,
So, how was your week? Anything exciting happen?
Well, we filed a historic lawsuit challenging Florida’s sex offender registry, and that’s just the beginning! This past week has been one of the most significant weeks in the history of the Florida Action Committee. After years of research, advocacy, data collection, legislative work and preparation, FAC has taken our fight to a new level. If you haven’t already read the complaint, stop reading this update and do so now: https://floridaactioncommittee.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/FAC-v-Glass-ET-AL.pdf
Now that you’ve read it, you can see that this isn’t simply another case challenging one provision of Florida law. It is a comprehensive, top-down constitutional challenge to an entire system that has imposed decades of restrictions and collateral consequences on tens of thousands of people in Florida.
And the response has been remarkable. The lawsuit has generated significant media attention, bringing FAC’s arguments and the real-world consequences of Florida’s registry system to an audience far beyond our membership. We were featured in several print news publications and even a couple of broadcasts. For an issue that is so often discussed in sound bites and political slogans, this is an important opportunity to put the facts, the evidence and the constitutional issues front and center.
We’ve also received an incredible amount of supportive contact from members of the legal community. Attorneys and others who understand constitutional law, civil rights and registry litigation have reached out to express their support and, in some cases, explore ways they can contribute. That response has been both encouraging and validating.
And then came another milestone: we served our first defendants. Copies of the complaint, exhibit and summonses were emailed out to all defendants giving them an opportunity to waive service. A few did (Jacksonville/Duval, Hendry and Broward Counties), a few told us essentially to kick rocks, they weren’t waiving and they were sent out for formal service. And some have already been formally served by a process server. FDLE has already been served and in the coming weeks we will have all remaining county and city defendants served.
There is something very different about moving from planning and preparing a lawsuit to actually filing and serving the governmental entities who must now answer it. The case is no longer something we’re planning. It is underway and things are very active. It almost overshadowed another important victory in the Florida Supreme Court, where the Court rejected the FDLE’s attempt to vacate a registry removal. That was another huge thing that happened this week!
We’re also excited to announce that FAC has brought on a new Chair of our Media Committee. The timing couldn’t be better. As this litigation moves forward, communicating what is happening – and, perhaps more importantly, explaining why it matters and seeking support – is going to be critical. We have a tremendous story to tell, and we intend to tell it accurately, aggressively and effectively.
And the numbers are reflecting the increased attention. FAC’s website experienced record-high traffic this week. Where we used to receive 400-500 visitors on a good day, yesterday, August 17th, analytics reported 5,846 visitors, with the overwhelming majority being new users! People are looking for information. They are reading the lawsuit. They are sharing our material. They are paying attention. And they are learning about FAC and our mission.
Filing the lawsuit was not the finish line. It was the starting line. There will be motions. There will be arguments. There will be discovery. There will be opposition. There will undoubtedly be setbacks along the way. But most of all there will be opportunities to fundamentally change the way Florida treats people on the registry.
That is why FAC needs its members now more than ever. If you’re not a member, now is the time to join. Stay informed. Share our posts. Talk about the lawsuit with anyone who will listen. Tell people why it matters. Support our legal challenge if you are able. Join our Media Committee (we need people who have access to social media and can engage with other commenters) And, most importantly, stay engaged. For years, our members have asked for this challenge and last week that day arrived.
The lawsuit is filed. The defendants are being served. The media is watching. The legal community is paying attention. And we are just getting started. Thank you for being a part of FAC!
Sincerely,
The Florida Action Committee
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I fully support what FAC is doing, but I am not a Florida resident. How can I help? Do you see any rulings this case making nationwide changes?
It is very encouraging to see FAC move away from appeasement to now leading the charge on the frontline against the registry. I will donate again as soon as I am able!
I doubt we ever engaged in any appeasement.
I think that part of the argument here, at least what’s being presented to convince the public, is the negative implications of the existence of the registry and how it impacts their lives, not just those on the registry. It’s not much different than the Flock camera scenario, which probably wouldn’t exist save for the swirlings of the registry, et. al. The registry is a huge big brother intrusion and it could happen to anyone. The difference between the registry and Flock, bare bones, is the registry is a billion dollar Barney Fife operation for budget where Flock is digging in its heels for profit. Neither care about you, both just care about how they can best feed money into their systems.
This has to be delicately presented over time and in the correct venue. Very sensitive subject all of it but media to law and even legislative areas are starting to catch on.