More Than a Dozen New Florida Laws Take Effect: See the Full List

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The measure also updates some of the requirements for the existing “Florida Wildflower” and “Fraternal Order of Police” plates.

HB 397 — Pretrial Release

House Bill 397 establishes a new criminal offense for knowingly violating a court-issued no-contact order while released before trial following an arrest involving violent offenses.

The initial violation is classified as a first-degree misdemeanor. Any later violations can be charged as third-degree felonies.

HB 429 — Gang Members

House Bill 429 changes the criteria used to determine who qualifies as a “criminal gang member” under Florida law.

Previously, a person had to meet at least two standards from a list that could include acknowledging gang membership or displaying a tattoo associated with a criminal gang.

The revised law expands that list to include publicly acknowledging gang membership online or being identified as a gang member by a live-in spouse.

SB 432 — Xylazine Trafficking

Senate Bill 432 provides that selling or manufacturing certain forms of xylazine is a first-degree felony, with a mandatory 3-year prison term.

The law also creates a first-degree felony for trafficking in xylazine, with mandatory minimum sentencing depending on how much xylazine was involved in the offense.

SB 488 — Transportation

Senate Bill 488 amends various provisions related to topics like motor vehicle registration, licensing and tax-related requirements. These new rules include the following:

Creates penalties for counterfeiting or illegally altering fuel tax licenses and the related permits

Revises penalties and interest calculations for delinquent tax payments

Provides penalties for specific offenses related to the misuse of motor fuel-tax related documents and establishes detailed requirements for recordkeeping by motor carriers

Increases the amount of estimated damage resulting from a crash that is required to be reported to law enforcement from $500 to $2,000

SB 490 — Public Records (FLHSMV)

Senate Bill 490 expands a public records exemption for email addresses collected by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.

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This expansion includes email addresses that are used to provide customers with general notifications.

HB 559 — Animal Welfare

House Bill 559 establishes a new third-degree felony offense if an adult:

causes or entices a minor to commit aggravated animal cruelty; fighting or baiting animals; or sexual activities involving animals

commits in the presence of a minor aggravated animal cruelty; fighting or baiting animals; or sexual activities involving animals

The law also requires a juvenile court to order a minor who commits animal cruelty to undergo a psychological evaluation and potentially receive certain treatments.

HB 1293 — Fraudulent Entry of Homes

House Bill 1293 creates a new crime of fraudulent entry of a residential dwelling unit.

This statute prohibits someone from entering into or taking possession of a residential dwelling unit by purposefully:

Making a materially false statement in writing, relating to the person’s identity in any rental application for a residential tenancy

Presenting forged or counterfeit documents to the landlord of a residential dwelling unit

Impersonating another person in whose name a rental application is submitted to a landlord for the purpose of executing a rental agreement or taking possession of a residential dwelling unit

Violations of this law are punishable as third-degree felonies.

SB 1332 — Career Offenders

Senate Bill 1332 makes several changes to registration requirements for career offenders in the state.

For example, the law requires initial registration in person at the sheriff’s office within 48 hours of establishing a residence or release, and it expands the list of required information to include addresses, vehicles, professional licenses, and immigration status.

Furthermore, the law requires career offenders to have their driver’s license and ID cards marked with “775.261″ — the statute number of the Florida Career Offender Registration Act.

HB 1525 — Indecent Exposure

House Bill 1525 creates a third-degree felony for indecent exposure of sexual organs while observing a child under 16 years of age for the purpose of sexual arousal.

This crime applies if either of the following is true:

The person is intentionally exposing his/her sexual organs in a lewd or lascivious manner

The person intentionally performs any sexual act that doesn’t involve actual physical or sexual contact with the child, such as sadomasochistic abuse, bestiality, masturbation or simulation of sexual activity

HB 4039 — Monarch Hill Landfill

House Bill 4039 requires Broward County to commission a feasibility study and conduct a public hearing before issuing any application, zoning change or permit that would allow for a physical expansion of the Monarch Hill Landfill.

HB 4093 — Indian River County (I)

House Bill 4093 reduces the size of the Fellsmere Water Control District from 34,441 acres to just over 14,000 acres.

The law also makes the remaining district a dependent district of the county.

HB 4095 — Indian River County (II)

House Bill 4095 creates the Headwaters Water Control District, an independent special district in Indian River County tasked with providing water control services.