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Press release from the Office of Governor Ron DeSantis
TAMPA, Fla. — In a move to bolster child protection and ramp up penalties for sexual crimes, Governor Ron DeSantis has enacted two significant laws, House Bill 445, known as Missy’s Law, and House Bill 1159. These measures aim to ensure that those who pose a threat to public safety are held accountable under Florida’s legal system.
“Justice requires that those who harm innocent individuals face prompt and significant repercussions,” stated Governor Ron DeSantis. “With the signing of these bills, we reinforce law and order in Florida, ensuring that dangerous criminals and sex offenders are held responsible for their actions. Our commitment in Florida is unwavering when it comes to safeguarding our children and ensuring justice for crime victims.”
House Bill 445 revamps Florida’s pretrial detention approach for specified dangerous crimes. Under this new law, individuals convicted or pleading guilty to such crimes will be immediately taken into custody without bail while awaiting sentencing. The bill also broadens the list of dangerous crimes to include specific offenses related to computer pornography and child exploitation, preventing automatic release at initial court appearances for those charged.
“Missy’s Law was introduced last year following the tragic death of five-year-old Missy Mogle, who was murdered by a convicted, abusive pedophile allowed to remain free on bond by Judge Tiffany Baker,” explained Attorney General James Uthmeier. “This law eliminates judicial discretion, ensuring that dangerous offenders are detained following conviction. I extend my gratitude to Governor DeSantis for signing this bill and to Senator Martin and Representative Greco for championing this legislation and honoring Missy’s memory during the 2026 Legislative Session.”
House Bill 1159 enhances penalties and expands criminal offenses related to child sexual abuse material. The legislation increases penalties for using a child in a sexual performance, possessing and distributing abusive material, and creating generated sexual abuse material. It establishes mandatory minimum prison sentences for certain offenses committed by adults and creates a life felony for the aggravated exploitation of a child under the age of 12. The bill also addresses emerging threats by criminalizing new forms of exploitation involving generated content.
The signing of HB 445 and HB 1159 builds on actions taken by the Governor to protect children and strengthen public safety during his administration. These efforts include increasing penalties for child exploitation crimes, strengthening sexual offender registration and monitoring requirements, expanding tools available to prosecute offenders, and supporting law enforcement efforts such as online sting operations targeting sexual predators.