TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – On Thursday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed off on 17 more bills, officially codifying them into state law.
These new laws cover a wide range of issues, including new crimes, state parks, and even what’s methods are allowed for the death penalty.
Below is a full list of the new laws and a short summary of what changes they bring to the table:
HB 113 — Fleeing Police
House Bill 113 creates harsher penalties for those who flee from law enforcement.
More specifically, the new law increases the ranking for the following offenses on the offense severity ranking chart:
| Offense | Change |
|---|---|
| Fleeing/eluding law enforcement in a patrol vehicle with siren and lights activated while driving at high speed | Level 4 ---> Level 5 |
| Aggravated fleeing/attempting to elude when leaving the scene of a crash and causing injury to person or property | Level 5 ---> Level 6 |
Higher scores on the chart can raise the minimum possible sentence that a person can receive upon conviction.
The law is set to take effect on Oct. 1.
HB 209 — State Parks
House Bill 209 requires that state parks and preserves be managed for conservation-based recreation.
As a result, the law forbids golf courses, tennis courts, pickleball courts, ball fields, or any other sports facilities from being built on these lands.
Instead, the law allows these lands to be used for activities like fishing, camping, biking, hiking, swimming, boating and jogging — outdoor activities that don’t significantly infringe on the environment.
In addition, the law allows for campsites and cabins to be built with state approval, so long as they don’t have too much impact on the surrounding environment.
The law is set to take effect on July 1.
HB 351 — Dangerous Speeding
House Bill 351 establishes a new crime under Florida law: “dangerous excessive speeding.”
The offense refers to situations where drivers:
- Go at least 50 mph over the speed limit
- Speed at 100 mph or more in a way that threatens the people or property around them
Under this law, first-time violators can receive up to 30 days in jail and a fine of up to $500. Subsequent offenses can yield up to 90 days in jail and a fine of up to $1,000.
The law is set to take effect on July 1.
HB 437 — EMD Tampering
House Bill 437 potentially enhances punishments for those who tamper with an electronic monitoring device (EMD) that a court orders someone to wear.
Instead of a simple third-degree felony, this offense is now based on the charge for which the person wearing the EMD was convicted.
For example: if the person was convicted of a first-degree felony, then the tampering charge would also be tried as a first-degree felony, which can be punished with up to a life sentence.
The law is set to take effect on Oct. 1.
HB 693 — Aggravating Factors
House Bill 693 lets juries consider additional factors when determining whether someone convicted of a capital felony is eligible for the death penalty or a life sentence.
More specifically, the law lets juries take into account whether the victim was gathered with others for a school activity, religious activity, or public government meeting as an aggravating factor.
The law is set to take effect on Oct. 1.
HB 901 — Court-Appointed Psychologists
House Bill 901 provides that before a parent can file an administrative complaint against a court-appointed psychologist, the parent must first move the court in his/her family law case to disqualify the psychologist and replace him/her.
The law is set to take effect on July 1.
HB 903 — Execution Methods
House Bill 903 makes a few changes related to the Department of Corrections.
One of the major changes this law brings allows the death penalty to be carried out using any method not deemed unconstitutional, such as with firing squads and lethal gas.
The law is set to take effect on July 1.
HB 915 — Immigration Services
House Bill 915 prohibits notary publics who aren’t authorized to represent someone in immigration matters from using terms like “notario público” in advertising.
In addition, the law requires people who offer immigration services but aren’t allowed to practice law to post a disclaimer on the main website of their business.
The law is set to take effect on July 1.
HB 1053 — Department of Law Enforcement
House Bill 1053 makes several changes related to the Department of Law Enforcement.
Some of these changes are as follows:
- Expands the scope of and renames the “Crimes Against Children Criminal Profiling Program” to the “Child Exploitation and Crimes Against Children Program”
- Revises membership and reporting requirements of the Domestic Security Oversight Council
- Revises reporting requirements of the Chief of Domestic Security
- Increases annual reimbursements available to former handlers and adopters of retired police dogs for veterinary care through the Care for Retired Police Dogs Program
The law is set to take effect on July 1.
HB 1451 — Sexual Cyberharassment
House Bill 1451 enhances penalties for sexual cyberharassment, making it a third-degree felony instead of a misdemeanor if done for financial gain.
In addition, the law extends the statute of limitations for sexual cyberharassment, and it also allows victims to sue offenders for damages.
The law is set to take effect on Oct. 1.
SB 472 — Inmate Education
Senate Bill 472 requires state officials to coordinate and ensure that inmates who complete classes required to get a license in certain professions actually receive credit toward licensure.
The law is set to take effect on July 1.
SB 612 — Fatal Drug Dealings
Senate Bill 612 establishes a new category of third-degree murder for those younger than 18 years old who illegally distribute controlled substances that result in an overdose.
The substances covered under this include:
- A Schedule I controlled substance
- Cocaine
- Opium (or a derivative of opium)
- Methadone
- Alfentanil
- Carfentanil
- Fentanyl
- Sufentanil
- Methamphetamine
This new murder category constitutes a second-degree felony.
The law is set to take effect on July 1.
SB 878 — Misdemeanor Crimes
Senate Bill 878 allows courts to sentence someone convicted of a misdemeanor to a term of probation of up to one year if a controlled substance was a significant factor in the crime.
The law is set to take effect on July 1.
SB 1168 — Tracking Devices
Senate Bill 1168 amends state statutes regarding tracking devices.
Under this law, anyone who — during the commission of a dangerous crime — places a tracking device on someone’s property without consent to track them is committing a second-degree felony.
The law is set to take effect on Oct. 1.
SB 1202 — Firefighter Benefits
Senate Bill 1202 provides that a firefighter, his spouse, and his children can be eligible for family health insurance premium payments if the firefighter is hurt and permanently disabled due to a training exercise.
The law is set to take effect on July 1.
SB 1386 — Utility Workers
Senate Bill 1386 is aimed at offenses where someone assaults or batters a utility worker while he/she is working on critical infrastructure.
Under this law, a “utility worker” refers to the following:
“...A person who bears at least one patch, emblem, organizational identification, or other clear marking that is intended to be plainly visible, that identifies the employing or contracting utility, and that clearly identifies the person as a utility worker under contract with or employed by an entity that owns, operates, leases, or controls a plant, property, or facility for the generation, transmission, distribution, or furnishing to or for the public, of electricity, natural or manufactured gas or propane, water, wastewater, telephone, or communications service, including two or more utilities rendering joint service.”
Senate Bill 1386
The law is set to take effect on Oct. 1.
SB 1430 — Terrorist Seizures
Senate Bill 1430 expands the ability of international terrorism victims under state law to collect a civil judgment against a terrorist or any terrorist agency.
The law allows for the seizure of intangible assets from a terrorist or terrorist agency as part of such a judgment.
Furthermore, the law applies to any postjudgment execution proceeding served, filed before, on, or after July 1.
The law went into effect upon being signed.