HB 457 Florida House · 2025 Regular Session

Unlawful Distribution of Controlled Substances Resulting in Death

Summary

Unlawful Distribution of Controlled Substances Resulting in Death; Defines "dangerous fentanyl or fentanyl analogs" & "distribute"; creates offense of murder in third degree.

Issues: ✗ Criminal Justice

Bill status in committee 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2025

Committee Review

Apr 2025

House Passage

Apr 2025

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Feb 7, 2025 Last action Apr 29, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

H 457 Filed → H 457 c1 · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill amends Florida's murder statute to create a new offense of third-degree murder for minors who distribute dangerous fentanyl or fentanyl analogs that cause death. The change expands criminal liability to include younger distributors of synthetic opioids, specifically targeting the growing problem of youth-involved fentanyl distribution.

Scope change

The bill extends criminal liability to persons under 18 years of age for unlawful distribution of dangerous fentanyl or fentanyl analogs resulting in death, whereas the original version only applied to persons 18 years of age or older.

DEFINITION

Added new definitions for 'dangerous fentanyl or fentanyl analogs' and 'distribute' to clarify the scope of substances covered under the new offense.

SCOPE

Created a new subsection establishing third-degree murder for unlawful killing resulting from distribution by a person under 18 years of age of substances containing dangerous fentanyl or fentanyl analogs.

ELIGIBILITY

Changed the age threshold for criminal liability from 18 years or older to under 18 years of age for fentanyl-related murder charges.

TECHNICAL

Renumbered existing subsections of the murder statute to accommodate the new subsection.

Floor votes · House Apr 8, 2025

How they voted

22–0

Passed

Total votes 22

Apr 8, 2025

D Democratic6

6 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican16

16 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 8, 2025

House · Passed

House Vote: pass (22-0)

house

Apr 8, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reported out of Judiciary Committee

lower

Apr 8, 2025

Lower · Passed

Favorable by Judiciary Committee

lower

Apr 4, 2025

Lower · Passed

Added to Judiciary Committee agenda

lower

Apr 2, 2025

Lower · Passed

Now in Judiciary Committee

lower

Apr 2, 2025

Committee

Referred to Judiciary Committee

lower

Apr 1, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reported out of Criminal Justice Subcommittee

lower

Apr 1, 2025

Lower · Passed

Favorable with CS by Criminal Justice Subcommittee

lower

Mar 28, 2025

Lower · Passed

Added to Criminal Justice Subcommittee agenda

lower

Feb 19, 2025

Lower · Passed

Now in Criminal Justice Subcommittee

lower

Feb 19, 2025

Committee

Referred to Judiciary Committee

lower

Feb 19, 2025

Committee

Referred to Criminal Justice Subcommittee

lower

1 primary · 1 co-sponsor