The employee is Ryan Ray, Matlow’s City Commission aide and a prominent figure in local Democratic politics.

Sources familiar with the local progressive political movement, an analysis of Internet Protocol (IP) addresses and other records point to Ray as the person posting under the screen name “NE Moderate” during the period examined.

For years, political insiders had speculated about the identity of NE Moderate. TR’s investigation went beyond those suspicions. TR matched comments from IP addresses outside Tallahassee with periods when records independently placed Ray in those same areas.

The investigation also uncovered a striking timing pattern that could have legal implications.

Of the 343 NE Moderate comments examined by TR, 225 — approximately 66% — were posted Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.

TR then compared the comment timestamps with City payroll records for selected weeks of particularly heavy activity. Those records show numerous comments were posted during the span of Ray’s recorded City workdays.

One of the clearest examples occurred Aug. 9, 2022.

Ray’s City timecard shows that he clocked in at 8 a.m. and clocked out at 5 p.m. that day. NE Moderate posted at 8:32 a.m., followed by comments at 9:38, 9:58, 10:58, 11:02 and 11:50 a.m. Another appeared at 1:09 p.m.

Seven comments in less than five hours — all during the span of Ray’s recorded City workday.

Questions extend beyond Ray’s activity related to Tallahassee Reports.

Ray, as the head of the Leon County Democratic Party, has been responsible for political social-media activity related to the party which involves thousands of social media posts over the last two years. For example, a preliminary analysis shows from Jan. 1 through June 30, 2026, the Leon County Democratic Party X account posted 731 times. Of those, 335 posts occurred during standard workday hours — Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tallahassee local time. That means 45.8% of all posts during that six-month period were made during workday hours.

TR has begun comparing these timestamps with City payroll records and the NE Moderate comments. A preliminary review has identified days on which political social-media posts and anonymous Tallahassee Reports comments occurred during the same workday.

TR has asked Ray and Commissioner Matlow for a comment but has not received a response.

The investigation now raises several questions: Was a taxpayer-funded City employee was engaging in political activity while on City time? What was Ray saying anonymously? Did NE Moderate advocate for or against candidates for public office? How much of the activity occurred while Ray was on duty? Did Commissioner Matlow know about the activity? Were City equipment, networks or other taxpayer-funded resources involved? And did any of the activity implicate City policies or Florida laws governing political activity by public employees?

And finally, was Ray’s activities part of a broader pattern in the progressive movement of using fake or undisclosed accounts and pages to influence public opinion without revealing who is behind them.

Florida law specifically provides that an employee of the state or a political subdivision “may not participate in any political campaign for an elective office while on duty.” The same law protects a public employee’s right to express political opinions and participate in campaigns during off-duty hours. Whether particular NE Moderate comments constitute prohibited campaign participation is a legal question TR is continuing to examine.

Those issues — including what NE Moderate said about candidates, what City policies and state law require, and what Commissioner Matlow knew about his aide’s activity — will be examined in subsequent installments of this series.

343 Comments Examined

TR reviewed 343 NE Moderate comments posted between December 2018 and June 2024 and analyzed the date and time associated with each comment. The results show a striking concentration during conventional working hours.

Of the 343 comments, 225 — 65.6% — were posted Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Another 80, or 23.3%, were posted on weekdays outside those hours, while 38, or 11.1%, were posted on weekends.

The concentration increased during 2023, when NE Moderate was most active. Of 191 comments that year, 139 — 72.8% — were posted between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. on weekdays.

Those numbers alone, however, could not establish that Ray was actually working when the comments appeared. Employees take vacations, use leave, work different schedules and take lunch breaks. TR therefore sought Ray’s City time records.

Timecards Compared With Comments

TR identified 14 weeks with some of the heaviest NE Moderate comment activity and obtained Ray’s City timecards for those periods. The records generally show Ray working an 8 a.m.-to-5 p.m. schedule, with eight hours credited for a normal workday.

TR then compared the timestamps of NE Moderate comments with Ray’s actual time records. During those 14 weeks, NE Moderate posted 130 comments. Of those, 94 were posted Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Three of the 94 occurred Jan. 18, 2024, when Ray’s timecard shows eight hours of personal leave rather than a normal workday.

That leaves 91 comments posted during the 8 a.m.-to-5 p.m. span on dates when Ray’s City timecard records him working. The City’s time records supplied to TR show the repeated 8 a.m.-5 p.m. work schedule during the periods examined.

There is an important qualification.

The timecards generally credit Ray with eight hours despite showing a nine-hour period between his 8 a.m. arrival and 5 p.m. departure. The records reviewed by TR do not identify the precise time of an unpaid meal period. For that reason, TR cannot establish that every one of the 91 comments was posted during compensated working time. But the frequency and timing of comments on several days make the activity difficult to attribute solely to a single lunch period.

Seven Comments in One Workday

Aug. 9, 2022, provides the clearest example.

Ray’s timecard records an 8 a.m.-to-5 p.m. workday.

NE Moderate posted at:

8:32 a.m.
9:38 a.m.
9:58 a.m.
10:58 a.m.
11:02 a.m.
11:50 a.m.
1:09 p.m.

The underlying comment records confirm the seven timestamps. The comments were spread across nearly five hours of Ray’s recorded workday. Other high-activity dates followed a similar pattern.

On Dec. 8, 2022, NE Moderate posted five comments between 8:57 a.m. and 3:12 p.m.

On Feb. 9, 2023, five comments appeared between 8:45 a.m. and 4:34 p.m.

On April 20, 2023, four comments were posted at 10:42 a.m., 10:45 a.m., 10:50 a.m. and 2:58 p.m.

On June 26, 2023, another four appeared at 9:43 a.m., 11:58 a.m., 2:09 p.m. and 2:32 p.m.

And on Sept. 21, 2023, NE Moderate posted at 8:58 a.m., 1:27 p.m. and 1:48 p.m.

The timecards reviewed by TR show Ray working his regular City schedule on those dates.

A Political Employee

Ray was not simply an anonymous City worker. He works directly for Commissioner Matlow and became chairman of the Leon County Democratic Executive Committee in December 2022. Contemporary reporting noted that Ray received support for the party position from the local progressive wing, including Matlow and Commissioner Jack Porter.

Ray’s political activities have generated controversy separate from the NE Moderate account. In 2024, City Commission candidate Rudy Ferguson filed a complaint with the Florida Democratic Party alleging that local party officials, including Ray, had taken sides in Ferguson’s race against Porter.

More recently, TR reported that Ray created the Florida New Signal website and that the site published material favorable to Matlow and other progressive candidates while criticizing their political opponents.

Those activities, standing alone, do not establish anything improper about the NE Moderate comments. Government employees retain political rights and can participate in politics on their own time.

The question raised by the newly obtained timecards is different.

What Was He Saying?

The data establish when NE Moderate was posting. They don’t answer what may be the more consequential question: What was a City Commission aide saying anonymously during those workday periods?

TR’s review found the account was not limited to debating taxes, crime, development or other public-policy questions. NE Moderate also commented on elected officials, political factions and candidates for office. In some instances, those comments appeared directly beneath stories about active election campaigns.

TR has identified workday comments praising certain City commissioners and criticizing others, including comments concerning candidates whose electoral success or defeat could alter the balance of power on the Tallahassee City Commission.

Those findings will be detailed in Part 2 of this investigation.

They also raise a separate question under Florida law.

State law protects the right of public employees to express political opinions and participate in political campaigns during their off-duty hours. But Florida law also contains a specific prohibition concerning government employees participating in campaigns while on duty.

Whether the NE Moderate activity crossed that line is a question TR will examine separately with the comments, time records and relevant Florida law.

There is another unanswered question.

What did Commissioner Jeremy Matlow know?

The records reviewed for this installment do not establish that Matlow knew Ray was operating the NE Moderate account, knew Ray was posting comments during his workday, or directed or encouraged any of the activity.

TR is seeking records and responses addressing those questions.

The distinction could be significant.

If Ray acted entirely on his own, the investigation presents one set of issues.

If City resources were used, or if others at City Hall knew about or participated in the activity, it could present another.

Coming in Part 2: What NE Moderate was saying — and which Tallahassee candidates the anonymous account supported and opposed.

Friday, September 4, 2026

Weather: Today, showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 2pm, with a high near 90. Tonight, a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8pm, with a low around 75.
Saturday, a chance of showers and thunderstorms before 2pm, with a high near 92. Saturday night, a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 7pm, with a low around 75. NWS

US stock markets close higher (S&P 500 +1.1%, Dow +1.2%, Nasdaq +1.4%) after Fed Gov. Christopher Waller signals support for holding interest rates steady this month if inflation continues to cool (More).

Local Sports: With help from a late goal line stop, the Montford Mustangs rallied to escape a hard-fought battle and secure a win over the Cobb Cubs. Details

Local & State News

The Tallahassee Police Department is providing city commissioners with a detailed defense of its use of automated license plate readers, emphasizing both the technology’s role in solving serious crimes and safeguards designed to prevent misuse. Details.

A century-old North Florida meat market is coming to northeast Tallahassee, bringing the traditional neighborhood butcher shop concept to Killearn. Details.

Florida’s State University System Board of Governors voted unanimously Thursday to ban undocumented students from attending the state’s 12 public universities. Details

National News

Justice Department charges ICE officer who nonfatally shot a Venezuelan man in Minnesota with lying to investigators. (More) 

Florida’s State University System Board of Governors voted unanimously Thursday to ban undocumented students from attending the state’s 12 public universities.

According to the approved rule, any person “who is present in the United States unlawfully” will not be eligible for enrollment beginning in the 2027-2028 academic year.

The move is the latest in a series of illegal immigration-related rules created by the two policymaking bodies that control the state’s public higher education institutions – the BOG and the Florida Board of Education.

After the vote, Lt. Gov. Jay Collins said the rule was “common sense,” in a social media post on X.

“Florida’s public universities are for students who are here legally. Period,” said Collins, a former state senator whom Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed as lieutenant governor in August 2025. “Florida taxpayers should not be expected to subsidize opportunities for people who broke our laws to come here.”

Republican lawmakers have attempted several times to restrict the ability of undocumented immigrants from enrolling in higher education institutions in Florida. During the 2026 regular session, legislators filed bills to prohibit all higher education institutions from admitting any non-citizen who wasn’t legally present in the country and to limit the number of enrolled students who are citizens of foreign countries and who are not permanent U.S. residents.

But the measures barely moved through the process and died in committee.

Since then, the State University System and the Florida Board of Education have created their own policies to restrict the admission of undocumented students

The State University System’s decision on Thursday closely followed the Florida Board of Education’s move in June to bar undocumented students from the state’s 24 public colleges and General Educational Development (GED) programs.

Most recently, Education Commissioner Henry Mack approved a rule that would block undocumented students from attending the state’s postsecondary career and technical education (CTE) programs.

The programs train students in a wide variety of career fields and industries, including for entry level and management positions in agriculture, health care, energy, transportation, tourism and construction.

That rule will be discussed at a Board of Education meeting on Sept. 16 at Polk State College.

The State University System does not currently keep track of students who are not lawfully present in the U.S.

In 2025 DeSantis pushed lawmakers to repeal a 2014 law offering qualified undocumented immigrants entering universities in-state tuition rates. The 2014 law had been sponsored by DeSantis’ first lieutenant governor, Jeanette Nuñez, when she was a state House member. 

One distinction highlighted in the city agenda is that Flock Safety is a company, while automated license plate recognition, or ALPR, is the technology. TPD currently uses two ALPR platforms — Flock Safety and Vigilant — with 80 Flock cameras and 75 Vigilant cameras. The fixed cameras capture license plates and associated vehicle information that investigators can search for legitimate law enforcement purposes.

The systems are also different from TPD’s public-safety video cameras. Those cameras provide video footage associated with calls for service and investigations, while ALPR cameras automatically identify and create searchable records of license plates passing the cameras.

TPD Points to Major Cases

TPD says ALPR technology has played a role in several significant investigations.

According to the agenda, investigators used ALPR information during a 2025 investigation into approximately 14 bank robberies involving suspects traveling from Texas along the Interstate 10 corridor and frequently changing license plates. The information helped investigators reconstruct vehicle movements and connect related incidents.

In another case, following a February 2025 armed robbery and double homicide at a Gadsden County convenience store, investigators identified the suspect vehicle. A Flock alert later detected the vehicle traveling through another jurisdiction, helping officers coordinate across agencies and eventually capture the suspect in Suwannee County.

TPD also reports ALPR technology contributed to resolving several attempted murder or homicide investigations between 2022 and 2026, including the November 2022 FAMU basketball court homicide and 2025 and 2026 Tallahassee homicide cases. In March 2026, officers used ALPR data to locate an elderly person with dementia who had been reported missing.

Flock provides an additional benefit because participating law enforcement agencies can share information. TPD determines which agencies may access its Flock data, while other agencies decide whether their information is available to Tallahassee investigators. That can allow investigators to follow vehicles beyond the reach of TPD-owned cameras.

Safeguards and Audits

TPD’s General Order 56 limits ALPR use to active criminal intelligence or investigative purposes. Searches require an authorized user to provide a purpose and case number, and access is controlled through individual login credentials.

The department also says an ALPR alert by itself generally does not give an officer authority to take enforcement action. Officers must visually verify the license plate and confirm the information through appropriate law enforcement databases.

Other safeguards include mandatory training, restrictions against using the system for personal interest or curiosity, and auditing of searches. Misuse can result in discipline, termination, criminal arrest or civil liability. TPD policy establishes a minimum 30-day data-retention period, subject to applicable public-records requirements.

Those auditing provisions recently received a real-world test. TPD identified 293 searches that were flagged by the system for further review. According to the city, each was investigated and determined to have been conducted for a legitimate law enforcement purpose.

TPD also launched a public Flock Transparency Portal on Aug. 25 providing information about ALPR reads, searches, hits, policies and other information.

The discussion comes as other governments reconsider the technology. Leon County Sheriff Walt McNeil recently suspended LCSO’s use of ALPR technology pending additional standards and oversight, while the Florida Department of Transportation has revoked permits allowing ALPR devices within state highway rights-of-way. The FDOT action does not prohibit ALPR technology generally, but requires affected cameras to be removed from state rights-of-way.

The City Commission agenda does not recommend ending TPD’s ALPR program. Instead, commissioners are being asked to provide direction on the technology’s future use as officials weigh its documented investigative benefits against concerns involving privacy, data access, retention and oversight.

Cobb and Montford came into the game riding high, both teams undefeated through two games. The duel at Chiles High School on Thomasville Rd would be heavily contested. The Cubs won the toss and deferred, electing to have Montford take the game’s first possession, and the decision paid off. Although Montford’s quarterback Jase Dault found receiver Simon Pettion multiple times, Cobb’s defense held, forcing a turnover on downs around the Cobb 35.

The Cubs handed the ball off to running back Toddveon Mathis on the second play of their drive, and Mathis slipped through the line, breaking tackles dodging Mustang defenders all the way to the end zone for a 65 yard TD.

Facing the Cubs’ strong run defense, Montford decided to pass on its next possession. Early in the second quarter, Cobb’s Jhalin Reaves read the play, picked off a pass from Dault, paused, then took off down the sideline, outrunning everyone into the end zone. Cobb’s second score extended the lead to 14-0.

The Cubs carried their momentum into halftime, with multiple big tackles from Nyckhel Herron keeping the Mustangs from posing a scoring threat despite a big run from Del Prado.

In the third quarter, despite a 35 yard run from Mathis, the Montford defense held near their goal line and forced a turnover. With the Mustangs awkwardly close to their endzone, Cobb was looking for a safety. To the dismay of their fans, they wouldn’t get it. Jase Dault fired over the middle and found receiver AJ Henry. He split the opposing defense and then veered to the sideline. Henry took it 95 yards all the way to the end zone. The Mustangs completed the conversion, cutting the lead to 14-8.

Cobb kickoff returner Ray Swanson then nearly took matters into his own hands to get the score back. He caught the kickoff on the fly, weaved through the middle,  got to the sideline, toetapping to stay inbounds, then nearly broke free before being forced out after a 38 yard return deep into Montford territory.

After the teams traded several possessions, the clock was running down and Montford needed another stop. They got one. Linebacker Eli Barksdale and D-lineman Mason Rudd had major tackles in the Cobb backfield to give the Mustangs a turnover on downs late in the fourth quarter. A series of runs by backs Dominic Scott and DJ Read pushed the ball downfield and closer and closer to the Cobb end zone. Then, after two running plays went nowhere, Jase Dault threw a screen pass to Simon Pettion for the score, as the Montford bleacher section roared with support. The game was tied 14-14.

With less than two minutes on the clock, Montford had to complete the conversion to take the lead. Cobb called a timeout, attempting to take the wind out of the sails of Montford. DJ Read ran the ball into the end zone and made the lead 16-14.

The Cubs would mount a rally, with short passes to get into Mustang territory. A controversial unnecessary roughness penalty was called on Montford, putting the Cubs within striking distance near the 25 with 45 seconds left. But when Cobb went for the pass, DJ Read picked it off, sealing the game for Montford with a 16-14 final.

Montford, 3-0, the last unbeaten team in Leon County, will play Swift Creek next. Cobb, 2-1, now faces Raa.

Thursday, September 3, 2026

Weather: Today, showers and thunderstorms likely, with a high near 93. Tonight, showers and thunderstorms likely before 1am, with a low around 75. Friday showers and thunderstorms before 4pm, with a high near 90. Friday night, showers and thunderstorms likely, with a low around 74. NWS

US stock markets close up (S&P 500 +0.5%, Dow +0.6%, Nasdaq +0.5%) (More).

Local Sports: Tallahassee’s high school golf teams competed in boys and girls varsity tournaments Tuesday, Sept. 1, at Capital City Country Club. Details.

Local & State News

The Tallahassee City Commission voted 3-2 Wednesday to hire longtime city administrator Karen Jumonville as Tallahassee’s next city manager, choosing an internal candidate after a national search that attracted 37 applicants. Details.

Leon County added nearly 1,600 jobs over the past year, outperforming most of Florida’s larger employment centers, according to Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) data released Aug. 28. Details.

The Florida Department of Education has started the process to block private schools from receiving Family Empowerment Scholarship funds if they employ, affiliate with or are controlled by a domestic or foreign terrorist organization. Details

Two Florida Democrats who are fighting for their political lives after seeing their congressional seats redistricted voted Tuesday for a resolution denouncing “socialism in all of its forms.” Details

National News

US Central Command said it struck Iranian military targets along the country’s southern coast Tuesday to counter Tehran’s attacks on commercial ships and US forces. The attacks resulted in 14 other fatalities. Iran responded by targeting US military bases in Jordan, Iraq, and Kuwait. Most of the missiles and drones were intercepted, and no casualties were reported as of this writing. 

Justice Department requires states to report undocumented immigrants in order to receive federal funding for low-income residents (More).

Boys

Maclay took the top spot in the boys team competition, shooting a combined 157 (+13) to finish 10 strokes ahead of Chiles, which posted a 167 (+23). St. John Paul II finished third among the teams with a 171 (+27).

Leon did not have enough golfers to qualify for a team score, but the Lions still produced the day’s top individual performance.

Leon sophomore Liam Minton fired a 33 (-3) to win the individual competition by three strokes. Minton was the only golfer in the field to finish under par and led a strong individual showing from the Lions.

Maclay senior Cameron Kise finished second at even-par 36, while teammate Brody Mitchell shot a 38 (+2) to finish third. Maclay also received a 40 (+4) from junior Downing Jordan as the Marauders assembled the winning team score.

Chiles was led by junior Rhys Cochran, who tied for fourth with a 39 (+3). Senior Parker Ritchie followed with a 41 (+5), while senior Jackson Kukla and sophomore Mason Githens contributed rounds of 43 (+7) and 44 (+8), respectively.

Leon also had sophomore Solomon Hardy finish eighth individually with a 42 (+6).

Girls

Florida High won the girls team competition with a 164 (+20), finishing 23 strokes ahead of Maclay’s 187 (+43). Only Florida High and Maclay qualified for team scoring in the girls tournament, while St. John Paul II, Rickards and Lincoln competed without team scores.

The Seminoles were led by eighth-grader Eva Castillo, who won the individual competition with a 38 (+2). Castillo finished two strokes ahead of teammate and senior Peyton Johnson, who shot a 40 (+4), while junior Kamryn Montgomery placed third with a 41 (+5).

The three top individual finishes helped Florida High build its winning team score, with sophomore Samaira Patel adding a 45 (+9) and freshman Lily Stewart shooting 65 (+29).

Maclay sophomore Trisha Patel led the Marauders individually, finishing fourth overall with a 43 (+7). Junior Reece Erwin followed at 46 (+10), while junior Emmeline Cone and junior Addie Sprague shot 48 (+12) and 50 (+14), respectively.

The results continued a strong early-season presence for the Tallahassee-area golf programs, with several teams and individual golfers competing across both tournaments at Capital City Country Club.

Leon opened the first set with a 3-0 lead, but Chiles quickly answered with an explosive offensive stretch, particularly from the middle of the net. The Timberwolves moved in front 5-4 before continuing to build momentum with strong serving and offensive pressure.

Chiles extended its lead to 12-6 and continued to pull away as the set progressed, eventually taking the opening set 25-13.

The Timberwolves carried that momentum into the second set, jumping on Leon early and maintaining control throughout. Chiles led 19-9 midway through the set before closing it out 25-9 to take a 2-0 match lead.

The third set was much more competitive. Leon limited the errors that had hurt the Lions in the first two sets, and the teams battled to a 10-10 tie.

Chiles eventually began to create separation, with multiple blocks from senior Loganne Abernathy helping the Timberwolves establish a 19-17 advantage. Leon called a timeout with Chiles leading 21-18, but the Timberwolves maintained their composure and finished the set 25-20 to complete the straight-set victory.

Avery Banks led Chiles’ attack with four kills on 12 attacks and a .500 hitting percentage. Banks also contributed four total blocks. Abernathy added two kills and finished with six total blocks, while Sterling Carlile recorded five service aces.

Riley Warmath provided a strong defensive effort with eight digs, while Riley Boykin contributed 22 ball-handling plays. As a team, Chiles recorded 29 kills and hit .292 for the match, while also collecting eight service aces and 12 total blocks.

Leon’s stats were not updated on MaxPreps.

The win moves Chiles to 6-3 on the season, while Leon falls to 8-5.

Chiles will be looking for revenge in their next match as they play Florida High at home on Sep. 8 for the second time this year. Leon looks to bounce back with a home match against Community Christian on Sep. 10.

Two Florida Democrats who are fighting for their political lives after seeing their congressional seats redistricted voted Tuesday for a resolution denouncing “socialism in all of its forms.”

Kathy Castor and Darren Soto joined six other Democrats in supporting the congressional resolution. The final vote was 220-192, with two Democrats voting present.

The resolution “denounces socialism in all of its forms, including the Democratic Socialists of America.”

Democratic Socialists of America-backed candidates have seen success in high-profile primary races across the country this summer, including in Florida, where Jacksonville state Rep. Angie Nixon defeated the vastly better-funded Alex Vindman in the primary for U.S. Senate last month.

Colorado Republican Rep. Jeff Crank, who sponsored the resolution, said last week that it was a “simple up or down vote” on the platform of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA).

Castor has represented a district in the Tampa Bay area for 20 years, but her re-election hopes are in question after her district was redistricted to one that Donald Trump won by more than 10 points in 2024. Soto’s Central Florida district was completely wiped out, and he now is running in an area that supported Trump by more than 18 points in 2024.

Florida Republicans have seized on the momentum of the DSA nationally this summer to paint Florida Democrats as socialists, and they received a gift of sorts when Nixon defeated Vindman.

“The DSA has infiltrated the Democratic Party at all levels of government and has never been more apparent than here in the state of Florida with the election of Angie Nixon for U.S. Senate,” Florida Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia said Tuesday during a Republican Party of Florida event in Tampa. “It has never been more apparent that the Democratic Party of Florida is the DSA.”

Most Democrats opposed the resolution because it included language urging passage of the SAVE America Act.

“House Resolution 1490 explicitly calls for enactment of the so-called SAVE America Act, which is the top legislative priority of far-right extremists. Accordingly, I will vote No on the latest MAGA effort to rig the midterm elections,” House Democratic Leader Hakeen Jeffries said.

The Florida Department of Education has started the process to block private schools from receiving Family Empowerment Scholarship funds if they employ, affiliate with or are controlled by a domestic or foreign terrorist organization.

The department started its rulemaking process to comply with HB 1471, passed earlier this year in support of Gov. Ron DeSantis’ executive order classifying the Council on American-Islamic Relations, or CAIR, and the Muslim Brotherhood as terrorist organizations.

CAIR is suing the state over the law, claiming it violates the group’s First Amendment rights.

The new law also prohibits public universities and colleges from spending state or federal funds to support programs or campus activities that promote a designated terrorist organization.

The bill was approved in the Republican-controlled Legislature by votes of 80-25 in the House and 25-11 in the Senate.