Tallahassee, Fla. — A slew of new laws signed by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis are set to take effect, promising significant changes across education, property rights, environmental policies, and more. As these regulations activate on July 1, they spark discussions and debates about their potential impact on daily life in Florida.
One of the noteworthy changes in the education sector is the introduction of a new bill requiring the history of communism to be incorporated into the curriculum of public schools starting from the 2026-2027 school year. This mandate ensures that even students in elementary levels receive age-appropriate lessons on the topic.
Further impacting educational settings, another newly signed bill allows Florida school districts the option to appoint volunteer school chaplains. These individuals will be required to pass a background check and have their details publicly listed by the schools they serve.
In the realm of property laws, significant updates prioritize the rights and educations of condo owners. A new statute, dubbed “Condo 3.0,” mandates educational requirements for condo board members and enhances state authority to investigate potential abuses, promoting greater transparency and governance in condo communities.
The legislative package also addresses environmental and wildlife concerns. A specific bill that has garnered attention enables individuals to defend themselves or their property against bears, with strict conditions including mandatory reporting to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Board within 24 hours of any bear being killed.
On climate policy, one of the most controversial laws reduces the emphasis on climate change considerations in state statutes. It prohibits the establishment of power-generating wind turbines offshore or near Florida’s coast and favors natural gas expansion. This particular bill has faced criticism from environmentalists who argue that it neglects the pressing realities of climate change impacts in Florida.
Parenting and family law are also seeing additions. The establishment of “neutral safe exchange” locations aims to provide secure environments for custody exchanges. Moreover, a new law exempts new mothers from jury duty if they have given birth within the past six months, requiring them to request this exemption actively.
For the youth, amendments to labor laws will relax the restrictions on work hours for 16- and 17-year-olds. Though scaled back during legislative discussions, the law now allows exemptions from the 30-hour workweek limit for students during school sessions, under certain conditions.
Further tightening regulations, a new law aims to protect young individuals by banning those under 21 from working in adult entertainment industries, a move aligned with efforts to combat human trafficking within the state.
In public safety, a notable new bill will prevent civilian oversight of police, claiming to shield law enforcement officers from what the governor describes as harassment by review boards overly influenced by activists. This law impacts several Florida cities that have established civilian review boards.
Moreover, the legislative session also passed measures to increase penalties related of organized street races, specifying higher fines and introducing felony charges for repeat offenders involved in such “coordinated” events.
As these laws take effect, they pave the way for widespread changes across various facets of life in Florida, reflecting the state administration’s current priorities and shaping future political, social, and environmental landscapes.