SB 1688 amends Florida law to increase penalties for prostitution and related offenses. It escalates penalties for repeat violations: first offenses become misdemeanors, second offenses become felonies, and third or subsequent offenses are classified as higher-level felonies. The bill specifically targets massage establishments by reclassifying violations as more severe offenses if the location is licensed under massage laws. It also links prostitution convictions to automatic license suspensions for massage therapists and prohibits licensing for those convicted of related offenses. The bill is pending and would take effect October 1, 2026.
Public Records/Department of Legal Affairs/Artificial Intelligence Violations; Providing an exemption from public records requirements for information relating to investigations by the Department of Legal Affairs of certain violations relating to artificial intelligence violations; providing for future legislative review and repeal of the exemption; providing a statement of public necessity, etc.
Testing of Cosmetics on Animals; Citing this act as the “Sickles High School Ought to be a Law Cosmetic Animal Testing Act of 2026”; prohibiting manufacturers from using animal testing as part of the cosmetics manufacturing process; prohibiting manufacturers from repackaging, selling, holding, or offering for sale cosmetics that have been tested on animals; providing that manufacturers, upon issuance of a cosmetic manufacturer permit, consent to specified inspections by the Department of Business and Professional Regulation, etc.
Special Risk Class; Revising the Special Risk Class member criteria to include members employed as certain prosecutors and special investigators; providing the years of creditable service for full retirement eligibility, etc.
Rent Reporting to Credit Reporting Agencies; Defining the terms “credit reporting agency” and “rent reporting service”; authorizing a landlord to report a tenant’s rent payment history to credit reporting agencies under certain circumstances; providing requirements for such written consent; requiring a landlord to inform a tenant that he or she is authorized to opt out of rent reporting at any time without penalty; requiring a landlord to provide written notice under certain circumstances, etc.
Firearm Hold Agreements; Providing immunity from civil liability for federal firearms licensees operating lawfully in this state for acts or omissions relating to firearm hold agreements under specified circumstances, etc.
Required Notice of Intent to Contact a Victim; Requiring specified persons acting on behalf of a criminal defendant to file a specified notice within a specified timeframe before contacting a victim in a criminal proceeding for a specified purpose; requiring that such notice be filed on a standard form developed by the state attorney in each judicial circuit, etc.
Companion Artificial Intelligence Chatbots; Requiring operators to require an individual seeking access to a companion AI chatbot to create a user account; requiring operators to take certain actions if the age verification process determines that a user is a minor; requiring operators to protect the confidentiality of age verification information provided by a user; providing that violations of the act are deemed deceptive and unfair trade practices, etc.
Safety Design Standards for Office Surgery Suites; Requiring the Florida Building Commission and the State Fire Marshal, within their respective codes, to establish safety design standards for certain office surgery suites by a specified date, etc.
Grand Jury Testimony and Materials; Authorizing a court to disclose certain grand jury testimony and materials in certain circumstances to further justice; requiring the clerk of court to take possession of and preserve certain grand jury materials; requiring the clerk of court to maintain a certain chain of custody list for such materials during a grand jury proceeding in a specified manner; requiring the state attorney and his or her employees to preserve certain grand jury materials, etc.
Public Employee Housing Benefits; Authorizing specified public employers to provide a one-time payout of sick leave and annual leave to certain employees for a specified purpose; requiring the employer to remit payment and disburse funds in a specified manner; requiring an escrow agent to return funds under certain circumstances, etc.
Blood Testing Required Following Civilian-involved Shootings; Requiring a civilian to submit to a test of his or her blood within a certain timeframe after an incident if he or she discharges a firearm within this state resulting in an injury or a death; specifying the procedure for the testing; specifying consequences for refusing to submit to testing, etc.
