TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (CBS12) \u2014 Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed nine new bills into law Thursday, touching on issues that range from traffic enforcement and public privacy to religious security and mosquito control. Some of the changes could be felt quickly and broadly across South Florida, where dense population, heavy traffic and storm preparedness shape daily life. Others are more limited, affecting only certain industries, institutions or parts of the state.<\/p>\n
Taken together, the new laws reflect several familiar Florida themes: tougher enforcement, expanded privacy protections and greater local discretion. For South Florida residents, the measures most likely to matter in everyday life are the ones tied to driving, safety at places of worship and interactions with local code enforcement.<\/p>\n
Here is a closer look at the new laws, ranked by how relevant they are likely to be in South Florida.<\/p>\n
1. Repeat unlicensed drivers face harsher penalties<\/p>\n
In a region where most people depend on cars to get to work, school and daily errands, traffic laws tend to have an outsized impact. That is especially true in South Florida, where major roads are crowded, crashes are frequent and law enforcement regularly deals with drivers who should not be behind the wheel in the first place.<\/p>\n
Under CS\/HB 35<\/a>, Florida is expanding its definition of a \u201chabitual traffic offender.\u201d The change makes it easier for repeat offenders who continue driving without a valid license to be classified under that designation. Once that happens, any future driving offense can bring much more serious consequences, including felony charges, possible jail time and long-term loss of driving privileges.<\/p>\n The practical effect is that the law is aimed less at someone who misses a renewal date once and more at repeat violators who continue to drive without legal authorization. In South Florida, where serious crashes involving unlicensed drivers can have devastating consequences, the measure gives law enforcement and prosecutors stronger tools to pursue tougher penalties, especially in injury or fatal crash cases.<\/p>\n Bottom line:<\/p>\n This targets repeat violators, not someone who forgot to renew onceLaw enforcement can pursue tougher penalties against unlicensed drivers involved in crashesProsecutors gain leverage in serious injury and fatal crash cases<\/p>\n The law takes effect July 1, 2026<\/p>\n Related: New Florida laws signed by DeSantis: What changes for drivers, parents and property owners<\/a><\/p>\n 2. Armed volunteers allowed to provide security at places of worship<\/p>\n Security at houses of worship has become a pressing issue across South Florida in recent years. Churches, synagogues and mosques have increasingly invested in protection, whether because of broader public safety concerns, threats against faith communities or the simple cost of keeping congregants safe during services and events.<\/p>\n CS\/SB 52 <\/a>allows trained, armed volunteers to provide security at places of worship without holding a professional security license, as long as several conditions are met. Those volunteers must pass a background check, hold a concealed carry license and serve under a security plan approved by the county sheriff.<\/p>\n For many congregations, especially smaller ones with limited budgets, this could open the door to a more affordable way to maintain a visible security presence. Paid guards will still be regulated as before, but the law gives religious institutions another option. Supporters see it as a practical response to a real need. Critics, however, worry that it expands the presence of firearms in settings where families gather and where trained law enforcement officers are not always present.<\/p>\n Bottom line: <\/p>\n Houses of worship can rely on vetted volunteers instead of hiring guardsPaid, professional guards are still regulated as beforeSupporters say it improves safety; critics worry about expanded firearms in public spaces<\/p>\n The law takes effect July 1, 2026.<\/p>\n 3. Code inspectors may wear body cameras<\/p>\n In South Florida\u2019s cities and suburbs, code enforcement can be a flashpoint. Disputes over rental properties, construction work, yard conditions, illegal dumping and neighborhood complaints often bring inspectors into tense, sometimes confrontational situations.<\/p>\n With CS\/SB 504<\/a>, Florida is creating statewide rules for cities and counties that choose to let code inspectors wear body cameras. The law does not require local governments to adopt the technology, but it says that if they do, they must have clear policies, proper training and procedures for storing the footage.<\/p>\n That means some residents may begin encountering inspectors whose interactions are recorded. Supporters say cameras can protect both the public and inspectors by creating a clear record of what happened during a visit or enforcement action. But because the law leaves the final decision to local governments, implementation may vary from one South Florida city or county to another.<\/p>\n Bottom line: <\/p>\n Some inspections may now be recordedIntended to protect both inspectors and residentsLocal governments decide whether to deploy cameras<\/p>\n The law takes effect July 1, 2026.<\/p>\n 4. New privacy limits on release of code inspector video<\/p>\n The expansion of body cameras for code inspectors is paired with a separate privacy measure that may matter just as much, particularly in a state known for broad public records access.<\/p>\n SB 506<\/a> makes certain body camera footage confidential when it is recorded inside places where people would reasonably expect privacy, including homes and medical facilities. Courts can still order disclosure in limited situations, but in general the law narrows what can be released publicly.<\/p>\n For South Florida homeowners and tenants, that matters because code enforcement often involves entry into private spaces during inspections related to repairs, violations or complaints. The law is intended to protect residents from having interior footage of their homes become public through records requests. At the same time, it also means the media and the public may have less access to footage that could shed light on how inspections are conducted.<\/p>\n Bottom line:<\/p>\n Protects homeowners from having interior video released publiclyReduces what media and the public can obtain through records requestsTied directly to the new body camera rules<\/p>\n This law takes effect alongside CS\/SB 50 on July 1, 2026.<\/p>\n See also: Lawsuit: Southwest flight attendant caused Florida hotel flooding, nearly $217K in damage<\/a><\/p>\n 5. Emergency shelter information remains confidential<\/p>\n Hurricane season is not theoretical in South Florida. Every year, local governments prepare for the possibility that thousands of residents may need to shelter during major storms. In that context, privacy can be more than a legal issue \u2014 it can be a matter of safety and peace of mind.<\/p>\n SB 7000<\/a> permanently exempts the names, phone numbers and addresses of people using public emergency shelters from disclosure under Florida\u2019s public records laws. Previously, that exemption was set to expire unless lawmakers renewed it. Now it becomes permanent.<\/p>\n For shelter users, the law means personal information provided during a stressful evacuation will remain protected indefinitely. That could be especially important for vulnerable residents, including families with children, seniors and people fleeing dangerous living situations. In a storm-prone region like South Florida, the law reinforces privacy at moments when residents may already feel exposed and uncertain.<\/p>\n Bottom line: <\/p>\n Shelter users\u2019 personal information stays privateProtection now continues indefinitely instead of expiring automatically<\/p>\n The change takes effect October 1, 2026.<\/p>\n 6. Trade secrets kept out of public records<\/p>\n This law is less visible to the average resident, but it touches on a long-running tension in Florida between transparency and business confidentiality.<\/p>\n SB 7026<\/a> removes a scheduled repeal of public records exemptions that protect trade secrets held by government agencies. It also cleans up overlapping exemptions already scattered through state law.<\/p>\n In practice, that means businesses working with state or local government can continue shielding proprietary information from public disclosure. Supporters argue that without those protections, companies may be less willing to partner with government or share sensitive information. Critics, however, may see it as another limit on public visibility into economic development deals, procurement arrangements and other transactions involving taxpayer dollars.<\/p>\n For South Florida, where public-private partnerships and major development projects are common, the law could shape how much information the public is able to access about certain business arrangements.<\/p>\n Bottom line: <\/p>\n Businesses working with the state can shield proprietary dataPublic access to some contract and economic development details remains limited<\/p>\n The law takes effect immediately.<\/p>\n 7. Funeral and cemetery services updated<\/p>\n Though it may not attract as much public attention, CS\/CS\/SB 598<\/a> deals with an issue that can be deeply important to families, funeral providers and public agencies: what happens when human remains go unclaimed.<\/p>\n The law updates licensing requirements for funeral directors and embalmers, modernizes parts of the regulatory framework and allows licensed facilities to dispose of remains if no legally authorized person claims them or gives direction within a specified period.<\/p>\n In large metropolitan areas like those in South Florida, where populations are high and some people die without close family connections or clear arrangements, the law could help resolve difficult and prolonged cases involving abandoned remains. It also updates standards for the funeral industry more broadly, which lawmakers say is part of improving consumer protections and reflecting modern practices.<\/p>\n Bottom line:<\/p>\n Helps resolve cases involving abandoned remainsUpdates consumer protections and professional standardsEspecially relevant in large metropolitan areas<\/p>\n The law takes effect July 1, 2026.<\/p>\n 8. Limits on use of aircraft tracking data<\/p>\n This is one of the more specialized laws on the list and is far more relevant to private aviation operators than to everyday travelers passing through Miami or Fort Lauderdale airports.<\/p>\n