Public Nuisances
Summary
Public Nuisances; Revising the list of places that may be declared a public nuisance to include the site of a gambling house; revising provisions relating to the assessment and collection of fines for public nuisances; deleting a limit on the total amount of fines that may be imposed on a public nuisance, etc.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Mar 2026
Senate Passage
Jan 2026
House Passage
Mar 2026
Signed into Law
Jun 2026
Introduced Jan 13, 2026
Signed Jun 16, 2026
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What changed between versions
S 168 Filed
→
S 168 er
·
4 edits
MODERATE
This bill updates Florida's public nuisance laws to explicitly include gambling houses as a target for abatement. It also introduces a new definition for 'legal assistant' to allow their fees to be included in public nuisance cases and removes the previous cap on total fines that could be imposed for these nuisances.
Scope change
The scope of public nuisance declarations was expanded to include sites used for keeping a gambling house.
SCOPE
Added 'keeping a gambling house' to the list of activities that can make a location a public nuisance.
DEFINITION
Defined the term 'legal assistant' as a person providing nonclerical legal support under an attorney's supervision.
ENFORCEMENT
Removed the $15,000 limit on the total fines that can be imposed for public nuisances.
Updated fine escalation rules to allow fines to increase from $250 to $500 per day if the nuisance is not abated within one year.
Floor votes · Senate Jan 29, 2026 · House Mar 11, 2026
How they voted
36–0
Passed · 4 other
Total votes 40
Jan 29, 2026
D
Democratic11
100% Yea
I
Independent1
100% Yea
R
Republican28
85% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
29
Key actions
9
Committee
8
Jun 16, 2026
Signed into law
Approved by Governor
legislature
Mar 11, 2026
Lower · Passed
Passed; YEAS 112, NAYS 0
lower
Mar 10, 2026
Committee
Bill referred to House Calendar
lower
Jan 29, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed; YEAS 35 NAYS 0
upper
Jan 27, 2026
Upper · Passed
Favorable by- Rules; YEAS 22 NAYS 0
upper
Jan 22, 2026
Upper · Passed
On Committee agenda-- Rules, 01/27/26, 9:00 am, 412 Knott Building
upper
Jan 20, 2026
Upper · Passed
Favorable by Community Affairs; YEAS 8 NAYS 0
upper
Jan 15, 2026
Upper · Passed
On Committee agenda-- Community Affairs, 01/20/26, 1:00 pm, 37 Senate Building
upper
Jan 13, 2026
Introduced
Introduced
upper
Dec 9, 2025
Upper · Passed
Favorable by Criminal Justice; YEAS 6 NAYS 0
upper
Dec 1, 2025
Upper · Passed
On Committee agenda-- Criminal Justice, 12/09/25, 10:00 am, 37 Senate Building
upper
Nov 3, 2025
Committee
Referred to Criminal Justice; Community Affairs; Rules
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Keith Truenow
RRepublican
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