TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – On Thursday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis reportedly signed another nine bills into law, adding to the list of close to 100 new laws approved so far this year.
Most of the new laws are expected to take effect in July later this year, though a couple kicked off immediately.
Per legislative analysts, the full list of new laws is as follows:
HB 131 — Estate Curators
House Bill 131 amends the state’s Probation Code, which outlines how estates may be administrated.
More specifically, the law modifies provisions like curator bond requirements and when courts may appoint curators.
The law takes effect on July 1.
SB 192 — Patient Funds
Senate Bill 192 deletes the $1,500 cap on advances a chiropractic physician may collect for examination or treatment.
The law takes effect on July 1.
HB 277 — Domestic Violence
House Bill 277 enhances domestic violence penalties if the suspect has already been convicted of that crime in the past.
The bill also increases the funding amount for relocation assistance claims for victims of domestic violence from $1,500 to $2,500 for a single claim (lifetime maximum bumped from $3,000 to $5,000).
Furthermore, the bill adds threatening to kill/injure a family pet and the existence of a military protective order to the list of factors that judges can consider when determining whether to grant a domestic violence injunction.
The law takes effect on July 1.
SB 340 — Human Trafficking
Senate Bill 340 requires graduates of professional and practical nursing programs to complete a two-hour course on human trafficking to be eligible to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX).
The NCLEX is a prerequisite for full licensure. Furthermore, this requirement applies to students who apply to take the NCLEX on or after July 1, 2027.
The law takes effect on July 1.
HB 425 — Historic Cemeteries
House Bill 425 provides that if a recorded historic African-American cemetery sells excess vacant land to fund the cemetery’s long-term upkeep, the local government must administratively approve an application to rezone the excess land to allow for development consistent with adjacent land uses.
Furthermore, the law lets local governments use reasonable discretion to determine the new zoning, provided that it’s consistent with the surrounding area.
The law takes effect on July 1.
SB 578 — Alzheimer’s Awareness
Senate Bill 578 requires the DOEA to contract for the development of a statewide Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Initiative.
The initiative must provide Florida residents affected by Alzheimer’s Disease and related dementias with greater support and access to helpful information.
The law takes effect on July 1.
HB 915 — Disabilities Program
House Bill 915 codifies the Working People with Disabilities Program, which was created by the Legislature in 2019-2020.
More specifically, the program allows adults with developmental disabilities — who are employed, and enrolled in a Medicaid home and community-based services waiver — to have increased income and asset limits while enrolled in Medicaid.
The law took effect immediately upon being signed.
HB 1175 — Office Surgery Suites
House Bill 1175 requires new safety design standards for office surgical suites.
More specifically, the law dictates that such standards allow up to six patients on an outpatient basis.
This is in lieu of the current limit of four patients who, due to treatment, illness or injury, are unable to act in self-preservation during an emergency.
The law takes effect on July 1.
SB 1434 — Infill Redevelopment
Senate Bill 1434 preempts certain local land development regulations and oversight for “qualifying parcels” to promote infill redevelopment in urban areas.
These parcels are plots of land that span at least 5 acres and are located next to other parcels zoned for residential uses in certain counties. They must also be environmentally impacted.
Under this law, local governments must allow a qualifying parcel to be developed with residential uses up to either the average density of all applicable zoning districts in the same jurisdiction, or 25 dwelling units per acre — whichever is lower.
The law took effect immediately upon being signed.