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Tallahassee, FL - Florida will implement 28 new laws on October 1st, 2025, covering criminal offenses, public safety, and regulatory updates.
The legislation includes stricter penalties for fleeing law enforcement, motor vehicle violations, sexual offenses, human trafficking, and the misuse of drones, while also addressing flood disclosures and public records exemptions.
House Bill 113 increases penalties for fleeing police, raising offense levels that can result in longer minimum sentences.
House Bill 253 reclassifies motor crimes, making certain actions, such as using prohibited lights to pull over another vehicle or altering license plates, a felony or misdemeanor depending on the offense.
House Bill 437 adjusts punishments for tampering with electronic monitoring devices, linking the severity to the original conviction.
House Bill 479 allows courts to order restitution for property damage when a driver leaves the scene of a crash.
House Bill 687, known as Trenton’s Law, increases penalties for DUI and BUI manslaughter, vehicular and vessel homicide, and refusal to submit to testing.
House Bill 693 permits juries to consider additional factors in capital felony cases, including whether victims were attending school, religious, or government activities.
Other laws include House Bill 757, criminalizing possession and solicitation of sexual images and deepfake pornography; House Bill 777, expanding penalties for luring children under 14; and House Bill 1049, enhancing penalties for tampering with or harassing court officials.
House Bill 1121 strengthens rules for drone use over critical infrastructure and weaponized unmanned aircraft.
Senate bills address animal cruelty, mental health alternatives, flood disclosures, land development, human trafficking, and public records exemptions.
Senate Bill 1804 establishes capital penalties for human trafficking of vulnerable persons for sexual exploitation.
These laws aim to enhance public safety, increase accountability for criminal offenses, and ensure transparency in regulatory processes.