Florida’s “Public Swimming Pool” Restriction Is Already Spreading Across the Country
When Florida added “public swimming pools” to its growing list of restricted locations we warned it would create a domino effect. History shows that once a new registry restriction is adopted in one state, it often spreads elsewhere.
That appears to be happening now. This week, the City Council of Lufkin, Texas approved a new residency restriction ordinance creating “child safety zones” around schools, parks, daycare centers, churches — and public swimming pools!
This is how registry laws have expanded for decades. One jurisdiction adopts a new restriction, another points to it as a model, and before long the same language appears across the country. Florida has been at the forefront of these expansions, and the addition of public swimming pools appears to be following the same path.
The ordinance in Lufkin is a reminder that what happens in Florida doesn’t stay in Florida. When restrictions like these go unchallenged, they spread. Before long they become the new national standard. Registrants across the country cannot afford to ignore what is happening in another state because sooner or later those same policies often find their way into their own communities. That is why FAC’s forthcoming challenge to Florida’s new law is about more than Florida. It is an opportunity to stop the spread of these ever-expanding restrictions before they become entrenched nationwide. If you live outside Florida and understand the importance of drawing a line here, we invite you to support this effort. The outcome will not just affect Floridians. It could shape the future of registry laws across the country.
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Oklahoma added swimming pools and certain other places to the list of their statewide anti-loitering law. See HB 3040
https://www.oklegislature.gov/cf_pdf/2025-26%20ENR/hB/HB3040%20ENR.PDF
focus energy and finances on legal battles to leave the country , fighting to stay is simply wasting resources on a battle that was lost thirty years ago
Cherokee. The Constitution is dead. It has been for years. When ex post facto punishment laws are passed, the Constitution is dead. When new laws are passed and applied retro actively, the Constitution is dead. When you restrict where a person can work, live, travel, employment, the Constitution is dead.
“It’s not a living document. It’s dead, dead, dead.”
– Justice Antonin Scalia, 2013
Reformed
The constitution is just a piece of paper that if abused, is nothing more than a tool that tries to hand power over to certain people.
And the lawmakers can make just about any law they wish. Look at all the people they held in detention in South Florida without any lawyers. Most of them were here illegally, but instead of just sending them back to where they came from, they got incarcerated with no recourses to fall on.
Not at all sticking up for illegals, but everyone should be allowed a fair trial or be heard in the court room.
Wait a Texas minute. Churches? What the heck. I was under the impression that they cannot ban any registered person to attended church. And what church has a pool? This one is something I myself would be willing to challenge.
The worst person on Earth is welcomed to church, as long as they are not coming there for trouble, but for redemption. Regardless of the faith, religion is strongly protected in the constitution. Everyone is usually welcome so how can a law override being around a church, and again what church has a pool other than a baptism.
This one boggles my brain, enlighten me Great speaker of F.A.C knowledge.
Cherokee, This is from Texas. Unless you are in Texas, you don’t have standing to challenge it. If you’re looking to do something, join FAC or contribute to our lawsuit. We’re willing to share knowledge, but please consider giving something back to the cause.
It’s not the church they are banning. The church is located within the 1000 ft restriction of the park and recreation area of Lufkin. Essentially saying “Pick a different church.”
It is this type of end around legislation that allows more and more to be tacked on. Eventually the whole world will be an exclusion zone.
Allen
This is vague, but from the constitution:
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof”
Free exercise I guess unless we are on the registry. If we have to find another church, that seems to defy the constitution. Now if it was the church itself asking us to leave, that is one thing, but how can the government tell us we cannot worship when, how and where.
And what about other religions? Will Muslims be banned from certain Mosques? Are Jews who are on the registry going to have to find a new temple? Maybe all of us religious people of all faiths should fight this? If I cannot attend a church of my choosing, that is not freedom.
You will see from the link that this is a residency law. It does not say you cannot attend church.
I agree with you that a state-imposed church ban would be kind of an easy win under the constitution. But we can’t win against hypotheticals as you know.
Lee County Florida bars any registrant from places of “indoor recreation”.
I have been really wanting to go to the local planetarium (Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium), but can I?
It is anybody’s guess, so I guess I just miss out.
This could be used to include bars, bowling alleys, theaters, and even restaurants. It’s too ambiguous.
People have overlooked local-level restrictions and swimming pool bans have been a thing fore municipal-level laws for years, actually.
Florida isn’t the only state that allows municipal-level laws, and many add all sorts of places to their municipal lists. There’s even a community in Wisconsin that adds the local post office as a ‘child safety zone.”