FLORIDA (WJHG\/WECP) – More than 100 new laws went into effect in Florida on July 1st. <\/p>\n
A full list is available on the Florida Senate\u2019s Bill List <\/a>page; here are a few of the new laws:<\/p>\n HB 1159- Sexual Offenses<\/a> strengthens laws against child sexual abuse, increases penalties and mandatory minimum sentences for offenders and adds\/adjusts penalties for related offenses. <\/p>\n HB 445 \u2014 Dangerous Crimes (\u201cMissy\u2019s Law\u201d):<\/a> According to the Florida House of Representatives website, this law requires the court to immediately take into custody a person who pleads guilty, no contest to, or is found guilty of a dangerous crime. <\/p>\n The law allows the person to remain in custody without bond until sentencing. It also revises the meaning of what legally counts as a \u201cdangerous crime.\u201d<\/p>\n SB 484 \u2014 Data Centers<\/a> gives local government the ability to keep authority over planning and land development rules for places that use an abnormally large amount of electricity (like data centers). <\/p>\n It also sets some statewide rules for how they obtain power and water and calls for a study of their impacts.<\/p>\n SB 182 \u2014 Education<\/a>:<\/p>\n According to the Florida House of Representatives website SB 182 protects students at certain charter schools from being kicked out because of poor grades. <\/p>\n Students in specific grades must be taught cursive writing. <\/p>\n Each district must set rules requiring portraits of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln in every public school, if the legislature funds it. <\/p>\n HB 1279 \u2014 Education<\/a> updates requirements for virtual education, allows students to carry any FDA-approved epinephrine device (not just auto-injectors) and makes a range of other education changes. <\/p>\n According to the HB 1279 Analysis<\/a>, this bill also authorizes districts with D\/F schools to offer teacher pay incentives to support staffing. <\/p>\n HB 1217 \u2014 Prohibited Governmental Policies Regulating Greenhouse Gas Emissions<\/a> stops state or local government agencies from adopting \u201cnet zero\u201d climate policies. <\/p>\n SB 1471 \u2014 Systems of Law and Terrorist Organizations<\/a> <\/p>\n According to the Florida House of Representatives website, this law creates a state process to officially designate domestic\/foreign terrorist organizations. <\/p>\n It also makes it a crime to train with them, provide them with material support, or join and act under their direction with certain intent. <\/p>\n It lets the state dissolve corporations designated as terrorist organizations in some cases and restricts certain student fee waivers and public funds for students who promote those groups.<\/p>\n To stay up to date on all the latest news as it develops, follow WJHG on Facebook<\/a>, Instagram<\/a> and X<\/a> (Twitter<\/a>).<\/p>\n Have a news tip or see an error that needs correction? Email news@wjhg.com<\/a>. Please include the article\u2019s headline in your message.<\/p>\n Keep up with all the biggest headlines on the WJHG News app<\/a>, and check out what\u2019s happening outside using the WJHG Weather app<\/a>.<\/p>\n Copyright 2026 WJHG. All rights reserved.<\/p>\n