Governor Ron DeSantis signed two major pieces of legislation today in Palm Beach, effectively overhauling Florida’s animal welfare standards and the rules governing how pets are sold. The new laws, HB 559 and SB 1004, focus on two primary fronts: intensifying criminal penalties for extreme abuse and cleaning up the financial fine print for consumers buying new pets.
The first bill, HB 559, creates brand-new felony charges for adults who force or encourage minors to take part in animal fighting, sexual abuse of animals, or aggravated cruelty.
It also bumps up the severity of animal fighting and baiting under the state’s sentencing guidelines and requires any juvenile convicted of animal cruelty to undergo a psychological evaluation. Furthermore, the state’s animal abuse offender database, managed by the FDLE, will see a significant expansion.
“Florida has become a leader in protecting animals and holding accountable those who harm them,” Governor DeSantis stated during the signing. “HB 559 gives law enforcement and local communities additional tools to crack down on animal abuse, including new felony penalties for horrific acts of animal cruelty.”
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On the consumer side, SB 1004 takes aim at the pet retail industry. The law now mandates that pet dealers disclose all financing terms before a customer signs on the dotted line. If a pet is later found to be ill or unfit for purchase, owners can now terminate those financing deals without being hit with penalties.
Dealers are also now required to hand over full veterinary records and provide written notices to buyers explaining their right to return a sick animal or seek reimbursement for medical bills.
Governor DeSantis noted that the bill “enhances legal protections for Floridians who buy and own pets and provides real accountability for businesses that violate the law.”
These legislative moves follow previous state actions, such as the 2025 passage of “Trooper’s Law” and “Dexter’s Law,” which targeted animal abandonment during disasters and increased sentences for severe abuse.
Under the new rules, local governments also have more teeth to fight back, with higher maximum civil penalties for ordinance violations and stricter consequences for repeat offenders. Violations of the new pet sale standards will be prosecuted under Florida’s Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act.
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