TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – On Thursday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis added nine more laws to the count, adding to the list of nearly 60 new laws passed so far this year.
These laws cover a wide range of issues, including traffic offenses, body cameras, and public records, among others.
Many of these laws will take effect on July 1, though a select few went into play immediately upon being signed.
The full list of newly signed laws is as follows:
HB 35 — Traffic Offenders
House Bill 35 revises the term “habitual traffic offender” to add the offense of driving without a valid license.
This crime will be added to the list of offenses for which a certain number of convictions in a five-year period requires the state to designate the person as a habitual traffic offender.
Once a person is designated as a habitual traffic offender, he/she can generally be prosecuted for a third-degree felony for driving a motor vehicle thereafter.
The law will take effect on July 1.
SB 52 — Security Services
Senate Bill 52 refers to a state statute that regulates private investigative and security services.
More specifically, the law expresses that this statute doesn’t apply to volunteers who provide armed security services at churches, mosques, synagogues or other places of worship.
The law will take effect on July 1.
SB 422 — Airport Broadcasts
Senate Bill 422 prohibits airports from using information derived from automatic dependent surveillance broadcast (ADS-B) systems emitted from certain aircraft as a means of collecting fees from owners.
This rule is limited to aircraft with a gross weight of 12,499 pounds or less operating under FAA rules and applies under the following two scenarios:
- The operation for which a fee would be assessed is a departure or a landing, including touch-and-go landings
- The fee would be assessed based on an aircraft entering into the airspace of the airport where the fee is assessed
The law will take effect on July 1.
SB 504 — Body Cameras
Senate Bill 504 requires governmental agencies that allow code inspectors to wear body cameras to set up policies addressing proper use and storage of these cameras, as well as the recorded data.
The law will take effect on July 1.
SB 506 — Public Records (Body Cameras)
Senate Bill 506 creates a public records exemption for code inspectors’ body camera recordings if the footage is recorded:
- Inside a private residence
- Inside a facility that offers health care, mental health care, or social services
- In a place that a reasonable person would expect to be private
The law will take effect on July 1.
SB 598 — Funeral Services
Senate Bill 598 makes several revisions to a state statute that regulates funeral and cemetery services.
For example, the law prohibits licensees from contracting to become the sole provider of funeral services for any firm that provides medical or end-of-life care to the public.
Furthermore, SB 598 allows licensees to dispose of human remains that have been in their lawful possession for at least 90 days if the legally authorized person of the decedent fails to direct the disposition.
The law will take effect on July 1.
HB 4037 — Pasco County
House Bill 4037 revises term limits for board members on the Pasco County Mosquito Control District from two terms to three terms, starting with the 2026 general election.
The law took effect upon being signed.
SB 7000 — Public Records (Emergency Shelters)
Senate Bill 7000 continues a public records exemption for addresses and telephone numbers of those who provide public emergency shelter during a storm or catastrophic event.
The law took effect upon being signed.
SB 7026 — Public Records (Trade Secrets)
Senate Bill 7026 continues a public records exemption for trade secrets held by an agency, which are kept confidential.
The law took effect upon being signed.