JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Governor Ron DeSantis has enacted a comprehensive legislative package aimed at strengthening Florida’s laws against sexual crimes targeting children. The slate of new laws, signed on Tuesday, enhances penalties, intensifies monitoring of offenders, and implements new digital protections for victims.
This legislative initiative comprises several key measures, including House Bills 777, 1351, 1455, and 1161, with an additional Senate Bill 1804 likely to be signed shortly. According to the Governor’s Office, these bills create a robust framework to combat child exploitation both online and offline.
One of the primary components is House Bill 777, termed “Offenses Involving Children.” This law significantly expands the legal definitions surrounding the luring of minors. It now covers children under 14 and criminalizes attempts to lure minors out of any building or vehicle, rather than exclusively into them. The measure also eliminates several common defenses that offenders have previously used, such as claiming ignorance or misrepresenting a child’s age. As a result, first-time offenses will be classified as third-degree felonies, while repeat offenses could be charged as second-degree felonies.
House Bill 1351 intensifies the reporting obligations for convicted sexual offenders by increasing the detail required in their employment information and mandating that they report temporary living arrangements within 48 hours. Local law enforcement agencies are now required to verify the addresses of offenders annually, and more frequently for predators, ensuring ongoing compliance with registration requirements.
Under House Bill 1455, anyone previously convicted of a sexual offense faces mandatory minimum sentences if they reoffend. This bill removes any possibilities for early release, except under very stringent conditions such as pardon or conditional medical release.
Additionally, House Bill 1161, named “Brooke’s Law,” targets the growing issue of non-consensual explicit imagery created through artificial intelligence. The law requires online platforms to remove such content within 48 hours upon the request of victims. It establishes minimum accountability standards for these platforms while allowing for immunity if actions are taken in good faith, thus providing a clearer process for victims seeking removal of harmful images.
The upcoming Senate Bill 1804 will introduce severe penalties for individuals convicted of “Capital Human Trafficking of Vulnerable Persons for Sexual Exploitation.” This new law would permit life imprisonment or even the death penalty for those who profit from exploiting children under 12 years old or individuals who are mentally incapacitated. The legislation aims to close existing legal loopholes and impose the state’s most stringent penalties on the gravest offenders.
These legislative changes are intended to fortify Florida’s legal framework surrounding child protection in various contexts—on the streets, within the judicial system, and through online platforms.
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