Governor Ron DeSantis today cemented Florida’s commitment to protecting its youngest citizens by signing a series of robust legislative measures designed to crack down on sexual crimes against children.
The Governor emphasized the state’s “zero tolerance for criminals who exploit children” during a press conference in Jacksonville, reiterating his administration’s ongoing efforts to strengthen penalties and hold predators accountable.
“Throughout my time in office, we’ve worked with the legislature to strengthen penalties for child abuse, hold predators accountable, and ensure that Florida remains a safe place to raise a family,” stated Governor DeSantis.
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The legislation signed into law today includes House Bill 777, House Bill 1351, House Bill 1455, and House Bill 1161. Governor DeSantis also announced his intention to sign Senate Bill 1804 in the coming days, further reinforcing these protections.
Key Legislation Highlights:
House Bill 777: Offenses Involving Children significantly enhances Florida’s laws against luring or enticing children. This bill expands the victim age to include any child under 14, broadens the scope of the offense to include luring a child out of a structure, dwelling, or vehicle, and eliminates defenses based on ignorance or misrepresentation of the child’s age. Penalties are also substantially increased, with a first offense now a third-degree felony and subsequent offenses a second-degree felony.
House Bill 1351: Registration of Sexual Predators and Sexual Offenders tightens registration, reporting, and verification requirements for sexual predators and offenders. This includes mandating registrants to report their occupation, business name, employment address, and phone number. It also requires sexual offenders and predators to report in-state travel residences within 48 hours and establishes that local law enforcement agencies must conduct address verifications for sexual offenders at least once annually and for sexual predators four times a year.
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House Bill 1455: Sexual Offenses by Persons Previously Convicted of Sexual Offenses imposes mandatory minimum terms of imprisonment for specified sexual offenses when committed by registered offenders or predators. This bill stipulates that such sentences must meet the mandatory minimum, even if it exceeds the maximum authorized sentence, and prevents early release through discretionary means, with exceptions only for pardon or conditional medical release.
House Bill 1161: “Brooke’s Law” offers crucial protection for victims of digital sexual abuse, named in honor of a young woman who bravely shared her experience with AI-generated explicit imagery. This law provides a clear and enforceable process for victims to request the swift removal of exploitative deepfake material from online platforms. It requires covered platforms to remove altered sexual depictions within 48 hours of a victim’s request, holds platforms accountable with a basic duty of care, and maintains platform immunity for good-faith compliance.
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Senate Bill 1804: Capital Sex Trafficking (committed to be signed) introduces Capital Human Trafficking of Vulnerable Persons for Sexual Exploitation as a new felony offense carrying the harshest possible penalties under Florida law. This bill targets adults who profit from the sexual exploitation of children under 12 or mentally incapacitated individuals, imposing potential sentences of life imprisonment or the death penalty. It aims to ensure maximum accountability for the most egregious forms of sexual exploitation, particularly those involving the most vulnerable populations, and closes dangerous loopholes in existing law.
These legislative actions underscore Governor DeSantis’s dedication to creating a safer environment for children across Florida, sending a clear message that those who commit such heinous crimes will face severe consequences.
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