WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – Governor Ron DeSantis on Tuesday signed a package of public safety bills aimed at strengthening penalties for violent and repeat offenders, curbing emerging drug threats and updating gang and offender-registration laws.
“We have increased our statewide prosecutions by over 50%. We’ve secured 30% more convictions than the year before. Over 40% more human trafficking convictions. We’ve arrested a record more than 1,700 child predators, and we are putting bad guys away like never before,” Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier said.
DeSantis said the measures put “the criminal on the defensive” and give law enforcement new tools to protect communities.
“If you attack a law enforcement officer in the state of Florida, prepare to be held accountable,” he said.
Among the measures signed:
- Senate Bill 432: Expands trafficking penalties and targets retailers that package or market dangerous substances to appeal to young people. The bill also includes provisions known as “Meg’s Law,” named for a young Florida woman officials said died after struggling with nitrous oxide addiction. The measure makes it a felony for gas stations, convenience stores and vape shops to sell nitrous oxide to minors.
- Senate Bill 1332: Strengthens the Career Offender Registration Act by requiring designated career offenders to register in person with local sheriff’s offices, provide more identifying information, report changes in residence, employment, vehicles and phone numbers, and complete annual in-person registration.
- House Bill 429: Modernizes Florida’s criminal gang statutes to allow prosecutors to use online admissions of gang affiliation, gang-related social media activity and other contemporary indicators to establish gang involvement.
- Senate Bill 156, the Officer Jason Raynor Act: Increases protections and penalties for crimes against law enforcement, clarifying that force cannot be used to resist officers acting in good faith and enhancing penalties for battery on officers and manslaughter of officers.
- Senate Bill 436: Broadens circumstances under which a second battery offense can be elevated to a felony by adding a prior conviction for resisting an officer with violence to the list of qualifying prior offenses.
State officials and law enforcement leaders at the event praised the bills as necessary updates to keep communities safe and to address new forms of criminal behavior. Law enforcement leaders urged parents to monitor social media activity that can signal gang involvement.
DeSantis said Florida’s approach contrasts with policies in some other states that he said release offenders early. He recounted a case he described in which a man released pre-sentencing later murdered a 5-year-old, using the example to argue for tougher enforcement and sentencing.
The bills take effect July 1 unless otherwise noted. Supporters at the signing included legislators, law enforcement officials and family members of victims and fallen officers.