Rep. Peggy Gossett-Seidman

Maddy summaryHB 249 designates the S.S. American Victory - a 1944 World War II merchant vessel now operating as a maritime museum in Tampa - as Florida's official state flagship, replacing the previous designation. The bill amends Florida Statutes to formally recognize this ship, which served in multiple conflicts and now functions as an educational and tourism site. This is a ceremonial designation with no new funding, regulations, or direct impact on residents or businesses, solely updating the state's symbolic representation. The change takes effect July 1, 2026.

Sexual Offenses; Replaces term "child pornography" with term "child sexual abuse material"; revises criteria related to reclassification of specified offenses; revises mandatory minimum sentences for certain sexual offenses by persons previously convicted of sexual offenses; increases penalty for employing, authorizing, or inducing child of specified age to engage in sexual performance; prohibits person from employing, authorizing, or inducing child younger than 12 years of age to engage in sexual performance; requires mandatory minimum sentences for certain offenses when committed by specified offenders; increases penalty for knowingly soliciting, possessing, controlling, or intentionally viewing certain materials that include child sexual abuse material; provides applicability of specified mandatory minimum sentences; increases penalty for intentionally creating generated child sexual abuse material; prohibits person from transmitting child sexual abuse material to another person; revises punishments for certain sexual activities involving animals; requires certain court order to be effective for certain number of years; increases criminal penalties for possessing child-like sex doll; provides that prosecution for certain acts in connection with obscene, lewd, etc., materials does not prohibit person from prosecution for other specified offenses; requires mandatory minimum sentences for certain offenses when committed by specified offenders; ranks offenses on offense severity ranking chart of Criminal Punishment Code.

Maddy summaryHB 245 replaces the term "child pornography" with "child sexual abuse material" across multiple Florida statutes, including those defining offenses (like Chapter 847), court records (Section 92.56), and disqualification rules for child care workers (Section 435.07). It directly affects legal documents, court proceedings, and background checks related to child exploitation cases. The bill changes terminology only - no new penalties or policies are created - and applies to all referenced statutes, such as those governing sexual performance by children (Section 827.071) and possession of abusive material (Section 847.001). This is a procedural update to align terminology with current understanding of the harm caused.

Commercial Service Airports; Preempts naming of major commercial service airports to state; provides names for major commercial service airports; provides that renaming specified airport is subject to approval of FAA & execution of certain agreement; provides that such airport names continue to be valid under certain circumstances; requires DOT to annually review provisions naming major commercial service airports for certain purpose; requires DOT to provide certain notice to Legislature; provides requirements for such notice; requires that certain government records created on or after certain date use such airport names; specifies that airport names are branding designations; provides that political subdivision is in compliance with certain provisions under specified circumstances.

Grand Jury Testimony and Materials; Authorizes court to disclose certain grand jury testimony & materials in certain circumstances to further justice; requires clerk of court to take possession of & preserve certain grand jury materials; prohibits person from disposing of or destroying such materials; specifies materials required to be preserved; requires clerk of court to maintain chain of custody list for such materials during grand jury proceeding; specifies manner in which clerk of court shall store & provide access to stored materials; prohibits certain persons from accessing such materials; requires documentation of authorized person's access to such materials; requires state attorney & his or her employees to preserve certain grand jury materials; requires preserved materials to be retained for certain period of time; requires Office of State Courts Administrator to adopt certain rules; authorizes Office of State Courts Administrator to perform inspections for certain purposes; requires disclosure & provision of access to materials upon court order; prohibits intentional destruction or alteration of grand jury materials; provides penalty; requires FDLE to investigate alleged violations of preservation requirements.

Endangered or Threatened Marine Animals; Prohibits collection & transportation of endangered or threatened marine animals from state waters; prohibits FWCC from issuing, renewing, or approving certain licenses.

Advanced Nuclear Reactors; Authorizes PSC to regulate advanced nuclear reactors in this state; authorizes DOH & DEP to exercise specified powers & duties; requires PSC, DOH, & DEP to jointly establish criteria for certification of laboratories that perform analysis on nuclear materials; authorizes possession of nuclear material for specified purposes; requires permits for transfer, receipt, possession, use, storage, or disposal of nuclear materials; requires certifications for significant design modifications of small modular reactors; requires PSC to make certain determinations before issuing such permits & certifications; authorizes PSC to issue reciprocal permits under certain conditions; requires commission, after consultation with DEP & DOH, to adopt rules; revises criteria PSC must consider in preliminary study of electric utility 10-year site plans & in making determinations for proposed power plants; revises requirements for development of certain standards by electric utilities; removes such requirement for rural cooperatives; revises applicability of power plant capacity & expansion thresholds.

Private School Facilities; Providing that certain private schools are considered a permitted use in certain zoning districts; authorizing counties and municipalities to require specified measures to mitigate vehicular traffic and pedestrian safety; authorizing private schools to provide a traffic study rather than comply with such measures; authorizing the award of injunctive relief; requiring certain private schools operating in such facilities to meet specified Florida Fire Prevention Code standards; authorizing the State Fire Marshal to adopt rules, etc.

Residential Property Insurance; Requires OIR to establish & maintain comprehensive resource center on its website; provides requirements for resource center; specifies that certain information is not trade secret & is not subject to certain public records exemptions; requires residential property insurers to provide notice of comprehensive resource center on office's website with any offer of coverage & policy renewal; prohibits insurer from including value of certain land when establishing homeowner's policy coverage amount or adjusting certain claims; provides construction; provides that notice of premium discounts for hurricane loss mitigation must include information about whether insurer offers enhanced discounts for roof systems that use secondary water resistance.

Animal Cruelty ; Provides that failure to report suspected animal cruelty is grounds for certain disciplinary actions; clarifies that authorization to furnish medical records related to veterinary medical services to certain parties includes, but is not limited to, instances where veterinarian suspects animal cruelty; defines; requires certain individuals to report incidents of animal cruelty to certain officials; requires that veterinarian, veterinary technician, or other animal treatment provider employee who makes good faith report of animal cruelty to certain officials be held harmless from certain liability, disciplinary action, & retaliation; provides penalties for certain veterinarians, veterinary technicians, or animal treatment provider employees or volunteers who knowingly alter or destroy medical record for purpose of concealing animal cruelty.