More than 130 new laws passed by the state Legislature this year and signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis went into effect July 1 in Florida.
One of the new laws, SB 590, was inspired by events involving child abuse at Douglas Anderson School of the Arts. The legislation was sponsored by state Rep. Wyman Duggan, a Republican from Jacksonville; and state Sen. Jennifer Bradley, a Republican from Fleming Island.
The new law amends the statute of limitations that applies to people required by law to report child abuse when they are made aware of it. That includes teachers, healthcare professionals, social workers, professional childcare workers, law enforcement officer, judges and others.
The enactment of the bill prompted a statement from the State Attorney’s Office for the 4th Judicial Circuit:
“Over the years, our prosecutors have seen incidents of child abuse that went unreported — despite knowledge by a mandatory reporter. When the victims came forward later or as adults, the statute of limitations had expired for those who failed to report the abuse,” the office said.
As of July 1, a mandatory reporter will not be able to escape accountability by staying silent until the statute of limitations expires.
The crime of failure to report is a third-degree felony which was previously subject to a three-year statute of limitations from when the crime occurred. Now, the limitation period only begins once the crime is made known to law enforcement or other entities that can act for the government to file charges.
Other new laws and amendments:
House Bill 35 revises the term “habitual traffic offender” to add driving without a valid license.
That 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.
After a person is designated as a habitual traffic offender, he/she can be prosecuted for a third-degree felony for driving a motor vehicle.
House Bill 277 increases domestic violence penalties if the suspect has previously been convicted of that crime.
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. The lifetime maximum increased from $3,000 to $5,000.
The bill adds threatening to kill or 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.
House Bill 655 creates a public meeting exemption for state and local agencies to meet privately with their attorneys.
The law exempts the meeting’s transcripts from public disclosure until the relevant property-rights claim is settled or when the statute of limitations ends, if there’s no litigation.
Senate Bill 656 renames the “Online Sting Operations Grant Program” to the “Internet Crimes Against Children Grant Program.”
Effective July 1, state grants may be awarded to local law enforcement agencies to help them combat online child exploitation and to target those preying on children online.
House Bill 359 requires law enforcement agencies to return a search warrant to the issuing court within 10 days, except for certain circumstances:
Twenty days if the search warrant is issued to an out-of-state provider for electronic communications data; 30 days if the search warrant is issued to search for and seize specimens for DNA analysis or entry into the DNA database; 365 days if the search warrant is issued for a computer, computer system or electronic device.
House Bill 199 amends requirements for admission to a veterans treatment court program at any stage of a criminal proceeding.
The law repeals requirements for the state attorney to approve placement into such a program and gives judges authority to admit a defendant.
Senate Bill 820 specifies additional data that must be presented in the annual problem-solving court reports prepared by the Office of the State Courts Administrator.
The law creates data reporting requirements for early childhood court and veterans treatment court programs and amends reporting requirements for mental health and drug courts.
Senate Bill 212 amends state statutes regarding sexual offenders and predators.
Those convicted of certain sex offenses against children 16 years of age or younger may not live within 1,000 feet of a public swimming pool.
Current law already prohibits child sex offenders from living near schools, childcare facilities, parks and playgrounds, though this bill cracks down even harder via the following rules:
Offenders may be arrested without a warrant if they knowingly contact a minor at any park, playground or public swimming pool; persons may be arrested without a warrant if they’re purposefully present in any pre-K-12 school while the school is still in operation.
The bill increases the restricted distance for loitering and prowling by such sex offenders from 300 feet to 500 feet of places where children congregate.
House Bill 1343 provides that anyone who’s earned a high school diploma in Florida satisfies the education requirement for an insurance customer representative’s license.
The new law applies if the person in question completed a course in insurance and personal finance as part of his/her curriculum. The law also directs the development of a 0.5-credit course in insurance and personal finance, which school districts may use starting in the 2027-28 school year.
Senate Bill 484 prohibits utilities from passing data center costs — including electricity costs — to residential and small business customers.
The law also prohibits utilities from serving data centers controlled by foreign countries of concern, and it allows local communities to set stricter standards on such centers.
House Bill 441 requires that when a water management district considers selling conservation lands, the governing board publish the following information at least 30 days before meeting: the district-owned parcels of land for sale or proposed for exchange; the privately owned parcels proposed for exchange; the portions of those parcels that will be preserved in a permanent conservation easement; and a statement from the district explaining why those lands are no longer needed for conservation purposes.