For Immediate Release
June 30, 2026
Contact: Christine@imcamerica.com
Gov. DeSantis Signs Anti-Media Blacklist Provision into Florida Budget for Second Consecutive Year
Florida Continues to Lead Nation in Protecting Taxpayer Dollars from Politically Biased Media Monitoring Systems
TALLAHASSEE, FL — The Independent Media Council (IMC) today applauded Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis for signing into law a provision in the 2026-27 state budget that prohibits state agencies from contracting with advertising firms that use politically biased media monitors.
The provision, which was also in the previous budget, prevents taxpayer-funded ad campaigns from working with firms that use monitors such as NewsGuard, Ad Fontes Media, and the Global Disinformation Index (GDI).
“Gov. DeSantis has once again demonstrated Florida’s leadership in defending free speech and viewpoint diversity,” said Christine Czernejewski, spokesperson for the Independent Media Council.
“By signing this provision for a second year, Florida is sending a clear message that taxpayer-funded advertising should be focused on reaching the broadest possible audience, not filtered through politically motivated media blacklist systems.”
Florida first adopted the provision in 2025, becoming one of the first states in the nation to directly address the growing influence of biased media-monitoring organizations on advertising markets. The decision to include the language again this year reflects growing concerns about the role these rating systems play in steering advertising dollars away from disfavored news outlets and content creators.
Since Florida first acted, momentum has continued to build nationwide. Earlier this year, West Virginia enacted the First Amendment Preservation Act to protect against government-supported censorship and viewpoint discrimination. Congress also included anti-censorship protections in the FY 2026 National Defense Authorization Act, restricting the Department of Defense from working with advertising firms that use biased media-monitors. Meanwhile, the Federal Trade Commission has increased scrutiny of viewpoint discrimination within the advertising industry through both enforcement actions and merger reviews.
“What began as a first-in-the-nation effort is increasingly becoming a national movement,” said Czernejewski. “Policymakers across the country are recognizing that government advertising dollars should not be used to subsidize censorship or reward organizations that discriminate based on viewpoint.”
The IMC said Florida’s continued leadership is especially important given the state’s growing creator economy, robust independent media sector, and tourism industry, all of which benefit from open and competitive advertising markets.
The organization expects additional states to consider similar measures in the coming year as awareness grows about the impact of media-monitoring systems on advertising placement and media competition.
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The Independent Media Council (IMC) is a non-profit group of conservative and independent media outlets and aligned organizations that stand for free speech and a free press. Members regularly reach over 75 million Americans. The IMC believes the antidote to misinformation and disinformation is more speech, not censorship and works to protect the speech of all media outlets and content creators.
