Parking on Public Property; Defines "public property" & "publicly owned buildings or facilities"; requires local governments to refund owners of vehicles who pay fees to park on specified public property in certain circumstances; requires local governments to carry over any unused portion of time for benefit of next vehicle owner who pays fee to park on such public property in certain circumstances; prohibits certain vehicles from being towed or issued traffic citation for specified time period after being parked on specified public property; prohibits local governments from allowing private business entities or enterprises to use specified public property for private parking purposes for fee.
SB 402 amends Florida law to reclassify certain crimes as more severe when they show prejudice based on the victim's political ideology, alongside existing factors like race, religion, or sexual orientation. It upgrades penalties: for example, a second-degree misdemeanor becomes a first-degree misdemeanor, a first-degree misdemeanor becomes a third-degree felony, and higher-level felonies face even harsher classifications (up to life felony for first-degree felonies). The bill directly affects individuals convicted of offenses where the victim was targeted due to their political views, increasing their potential penalties. It takes effect on October 1, 2026, and is currently under review by Florida's Criminal Justice and Appropriations committees.
Domestic Violence Centers; Prohibiting the Department of Children and Families from deeming the results of a home study unfavorable under certain circumstances; prohibiting the removal of a child from certain placement due to the child and his or her custodian or parent temporarily residing in a certified domestic violence center if certain requirements are met; prohibiting a court from making a certain finding solely due to a parent temporarily residing in a certified domestic violence center, etc.
Hunger-Free Campus Pilot Program; Citing this act as the "Hunger-Free Campus Act"; establishing, subject to legislative appropriation, the pilot program within the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services for a specified period; requiring the Commissioner of Agriculture to identify the three state universities or Florida College System institutions with the highest percentage of Pell Grant-eligible students for participation in the pilot program; providing requirements for participating universities and institutions, etc.
HB 291 revises Florida's definition of "common entity" for motor vehicle distributors and manufacturers. It defines a "common entity" as an organization with over 30% ownership stake controlled by a manufacturer, distributor, or related entity, or where multiple such entities jointly control it. The bill includes two key exemptions: (1) entities tied to distributors already licensed before March 2023, and (2) U.S.-incorporated manufacturers making vehicles without franchised dealers in Florida. The revised definition would take effect on July 1, 2026, if passed.
HB 233 requires children aged 6 through 8 to use a child booster seat while riding in vehicles in Florida, unless they are over 4 feet 9 inches tall. It allows car seats or booster seats for children aged 4-5 but mandates boosters for 6-8-year-olds. Exceptions include medical emergencies, gratuitous transport by non-family members, or documented medical conditions. Violations are punishable as moving violations with 3 points on a driver's license, though courts may allow participation in a safety program instead of fines. The law takes effect July 1, 2026.
Prohibition of Pyramid Promotional Schemes; Prohibits person from establishing, promoting, operating, or participating in pyramid promotional scheme; provides penalties; provides for restitution; provides that specified provisions & penalties are in addition to civil, administrative, or criminal actions provided by law
Termination of Rental Agreement by Victim of Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Violence, or Stalking; Prohibits landlord from evicting tenant or terminating rental agreement because tenant or tenant's minor child is victim of actual or threatened domestic violence, dating violence, sexual violence, or stalking; specifies that rental agreement may not contain certain provisions; authorizes victim of such actual or threatened violence or stalking to terminate rental agreement; requires certain documentation & written notice to landlord; provides for liability for rent for both tenant & perpetrator, if applicable; specifies that tenant does not forfeit certain money paid to landlord for terminating rental agreement; requires landlord to change locks of dwelling unit within specified time period; authorizes tenant to change locks of dwelling unit; prohibits certain actions by landlord; authorizes filing of civil action & award of damages, fees, & costs; prohibits waiver of certain provisions.
Restoration of Rights Voting Database; Requires Florida Commission on Offender Review to develop & maintain database containing certain information for certain purpose; requires certain governmental entities to provide certain information to commission; requires DMS, acting through Florida Digital Service, to provide certain technical assistance to commission; requires commission to make available to public database on Internet website by date certain; requires commission to update database monthly & publish certain information on website; requires commission to provide to Governor & Legislature comprehensive plan by date certain; provides requirements for comprehensive plan; provides that person who takes certain actions in reasonable reliance on database may not be charged with certain violations of criminal law.
Restoration of Voting Rights; Requiring the Florida Commission on Offender Review to develop and maintain a database containing certain information for a certain purpose; requiring the Department of Management Services, acting through the Florida Digital Service, to provide certain technical assistance to the commission; providing that a person who takes certain actions in reasonable reliance on the database has an affirmative right to register and to vote and may not be charged with certain violations of criminal law, etc.
Transportation Facility Designations; Provides honorary designations of certain transportation facilities in specified counties; directs DOT to erect suitable markers.
Commercial Motor Vehicles Operated by Unauthorized Aliens; Declaring the policy of the state with respect to the operation of commercial motor vehicles by unauthorized aliens; requiring sworn law enforcement officers with certain authority to take into custody persons determined to be unauthorized aliens operating commercial motor vehicles and facilitate the transfer of such persons into the custody of a federal immigration agency; requiring the impoundment and removal of a commercial motor vehicle under certain circumstances; providing that motor carriers are liable for certain civil penalties, etc.
