Floridians Protecting Freedom (FPF)

Background

In June 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in Dobbs v. Jackson, thereby passing the matter of abortion legality to the states. Since then, numerous states have passed laws restricting or outlawing abortion, while other states have passed laws guaranteeing the legality of abortion. ³

In April 2022, Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL) signed a bill banning abortion after 15 weeks’ gestation. In January 2023, the Florida Supreme Court defeated a challenge to the bill led by Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida. In April 2023, Governor DeSantis signed a bill banning abortions when fetal heartbeats are detected, usually around six weeks. ³

Activities

Amendment 4 (2024)

In May 2023, Floridians Protecting Freedom launched a campaign to put Amendment 4, the “Right to Abortion Initiative” on the November 2024 ballot. The initiative would make abortion access a constitutionally protected right within the state of Florida. ⁴ Amendment 4 is summarized as: ^{5 6}

No law shall prohibit, penalize, delay, or restrict abortion before viability or when necessary to protect the patient’s health, as determined by the patient’s healthcare provider. This amendment does not change the Legislature’s constitutional authority to require notification to a parent or guardian before a minor has an abortion. ⁶

In October 2023, Florida Attorney General Ashley B. Moody (R) filed a brief with the Florida Supreme Court attempting to block Amendment 4 on the grounds of being too vague, arguing that “the potential misinterpretations of the amendment would allow a healthcare provider to render nearly any abortion restriction a practical nullity.” The court upheld the Amendment’s legality. ³

In May 2024, Amendment 4 was approved to be put on the ballot for Florida’s November 2024 election after generating 997,035 signatures, thereby surpassing the 891,523 statewide signature requirement while also passing the district distribution requirements. ^{5 6}

The Amendment failed on the November 2024 ballot, 57% to 42%. ²

Contributions

From April 2023 to May 2024, Floridians Protecting Freedom (FPF) spent $22,342,346.70 in support of Amendment 4. As of June 2024, Amendment 4’s opposition had spent $269,646.85. ⁷

Funding

Floridians Protecting Freedom’s (FPF) largest donor was listed as the Tides Foundation, which, as of June 2024, contributed $3.2 million to the group. ⁸

Another large donor is Marsha Laufer who, as of June 2024, has contributed over $2 million. Laufer is the wife of billionaire financier Henry Laufer, who worked as vice president of research at Renaissance Technologies. Marsha Laufer is on the advisory board of the National Democratic Training Committee and has worked on numerous Democratic campaigns, including Hillary Clinton’s (D) U.S. Senatorial campaign in New York. She was also elected to chair New York’s Brookhaven Democratic Committee and was its chairwoman for eight years. ^{3 9}

ACLU Florida has also contributed over $2 million. ⁸

FPF has received $1 million or more from Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida; Planned Parenthood of South, East, and North Florida; the Planned Parenthood Action Fund; the Florida Advancement Project; the Fairness Project; the Advocacy Action Fund; the Sixteen Thirty Fund; and the American Civil Liberties Union. ^{3 8}

FPF has also received funding from Delores Weaver, whose husband formerly owned the Jacksonville Jaguars NFL team; hedge fund executive Donald Sussman; the Open Society Fund, Think Big America; and Equality Florida Action. ^{10 8}

Financials

According to its 2024 990 form, the Floridians Protecting Freedom (FPF) reported a revenue of $95,659,616, expenses of $95,742,225, and net assets of $0. ¹¹

Members

Floridians Protecting Freedom (FPF) is a coalition of Florida-based and international nonprofits including the ACLU Florida, Florida Rising, Planned Parenthood, Voices of Florida (formerly known as the Women’s Voices of Southwest Florida Fund), the Florida Women’s Freedom Coalition, and 1199 SEIU United Healthcare Workers East. ¹²

Leadership

Taylor Aguilera is the organizing director of Floridians Protecting Freedom. From November 2022 through November 2023, Aguilera worked for Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida as a field manager. From November 2019 to November 2022, Aguilera worked for the Florida Democratic Party in various capacities. Earlier, she was a field representative for the Florida AFL-CIO and Hard Knock Strategies. ¹³