Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (File) Florida has agreed to pay $725,000 in legal fees and costs to businesses that successfully challenged a portion o
Florida has agreed to pay $725,000 in legal fees and costs to businesses that successfully challenged a portion of the controversial “Stop WOKE Act” in court.
The settlement comes after a lengthy legal battle over a provision in the 2022 law that restricted how race-related issues could be addressed in workplace training. A federal judge ruled that the restrictions violated free speech rights, and an appeals court upheld the decision.
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The businesses, represented by attorneys from Ropes & Gray LLP and Protect Democracy, argued that the law unconstitutionally restricted their ability to conduct diversity, equity, and inclusion training.
The “Stop WOKE Act,” championed by Governor Ron DeSantis, sparked heated debate when it was passed in 2022. The law sought to regulate discussions of race in both workplaces and educational settings.
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While the state argued that the law regulated “conduct” rather than speech, the courts disagreed, finding that it impermissibly restricted businesses’ ability to address important topics in workplace training.
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