FORT MYERS, Fla. (CBS12) — Florida lawmakers are moving forward with a bill that would allow someone to be labeled a criminal gang member after being seen with known gang members just twice, cutting the previous requirement in half as part of a sweeping update to how the state identifies gang affiliation.
A measure known as SB 536, introduced by Sen. Jonathan Martin (R–Ft. Myers), passed its final committee this week and aims to modernize the criteria used to determine who qualifies as a gang member under Florida law. The bill, filed last November, would take effect on October 1, if approved.
Current law requires meeting at least two of 11 criteria, including adopting gang-associated clothing, using gang hand signs, having gang tattoos, admitting gang membership, or being seen repeatedly with known gang members. The bill preserves those standards but expands them significantly.
The most impactful updates focus on digital behavior. Under SB 536, individuals could be classified as gang members if they admit affiliation online, use gang-related language in digital communications, or author posts, messages, or recordings indicating gang activity, according to the bill. The bill also adds identification by a spouse as a qualifying criterion and officially recognizes instances where a gang claims an individual as a member.
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The legislation arrives amid renewed focus on gang activity following the arrest of five robbery suspects in Polk County last year who were later tied to the Venezuelan gangTren de Aragua, a case that underscored evolving methods of communication and association among criminal organizations.
Enhanced penalties already exist in Florida for crimes committed to benefit a gang. Supporters of the bill argue that these updates equip law enforcement with a clearer, more contemporary set of indicators, especially as gang members shift to online platforms not addressed in older statutes.