ST. PETERSBURG, Florida — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a series of bills on Wednesday aimed at protecting children from exploitation and online predators, as well as a domestic violence bill inspired by the tragic killing of Gabby Petito.
During a news conference in St. Petersburg, DeSantis signed five pieces of legislation. One of the bills, referred to as the “Gabby Petito Act” or SB 1224, requires law enforcement officers investigating domestic violence incidents to administer a lethality assessment under certain circumstances. The assessment involves asking a series of questions to determine if the victim is at a higher risk of death or injury.
The inspiration for the bill comes from the 2021 killing of Gabby Petito, who was allegedly slain by her fiancé, Brian Laundrie, who later took his own life. Petito’s father, Joseph Petito, played a significant role in advocating for this legislation.
In addition to the Gabby Petito Act, DeSantis also signed HB 1545, which targets child exploitation offenses. The bill makes it a third-degree felony for adults engaging in a pattern of sexual communication with minors and increases penalties for child exploitation crimes. DeSantis emphasized the need to crack down on “the grooming of minors” on social media, which he described as a “playground for predators.” Just last month, DeSantis signed a bill blocking kids under 14 from having social media accounts.
Furthermore, DeSantis signed HB 305, expanding the type of evidence that can be presented in child sex cases and identifying a first offense of specified sex trafficking involving minors as a designation of sexual predator. Another bill, HB 1235, enforces stricter guidelines for sexual offender registration and prevents loopholes where offenders have a registered address in one location but live elsewhere. Lastly, DeSantis approved HB 1131, which establishes a grant program for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to facilitate online sting operations.
DeSantis emphasized that these bills are crucial to protecting Florida’s children and maintaining the state as a safe and secure place to raise them. These measures aim to keep “the bad guys at bay” and offer comprehensive protection for the youth of Florida.