Loosened child labor laws, religious chaplains in public schools and bad news for Florida bears that’s just a few of the new laws coming online Monday.
According to legislative records, there are at least 182 new laws set to take effect. Here are a few highlights:
Get ready to work though scaled back from its original pitch. Florida’s new child labor law takes effect Monday. On holidays and Sundays, 16 and 17-year-olds can work longer hours. Restrictions are relaxed even further for virtual and homeschooled students.
Critics worry about safety and education slipping, while supporters, like Florida 16-year-old Jackson Lowe, told us it meant more experience and money.
“It would just give me a lot more opportunity and proof to my bosses that I can do stuff,” Lowe said. “And there are a lot of restrictions that I can’t do at my job.”
CS/CS/HB 433: Employment Regulations
Thirsty for more? That new law giving the state control of heat breaks for workers takes effect. Though Florida has no policy on the books, the law prevents cities and counties from creating their own, wiping out a water and rest requirement that was underway in Miami-Dade County.
It was something the governor felt was too extreme when we asked about it last April.
“I don’t think it was an issue in any other part of the state,” Gov. Ron DeSantis said. “They were pursuing something that was going to cause a lot of problems down there.”
Florida will also get volunteer chaplains to counsel students at public and charter schools. The chaplains would have to disclose their religion, and services, plus pass a background check. Students have to get permission from their parents.
Backers have said they’re adding support options for kids. Critics, like Florida State Sen. Shevrin Jones, D-Miami Gardens, told us the line between church and state was blurring.
“I think so,” said Jones in April. “I don’t know, but I know they will have a lawsuit waiting from some of these groups if they did do that.”
The Satanic Temple, which has tax-exempt church status, said it “looks forward” to participating. TST is actually more of a civil rights advocacy group that’s focused on making a point about what it sees as religious intrusions into American politics. The members don’t worship Satan despite embracing the symbol as a rebellious icon.
CS/HB 919: Artificial Intelligence Use in Political Advertising
HB 919 requires political ads with AI-made images, video or audio showing something that didn’t happen have a disclaimer noting as much. The acknowledgment has to be a certain size and length, plus there are penalties for violators. Those violations include civil fines, even a first-degree misdemeanor charge, which carries a penalty of up to a year in jail.
Finally, what some have dubbed the “Stand Your Ground Against Bears” law will begin July 1. It clears a legal pathway for someone to use deadly force against a bear if they, their pet or property are at risk. People cannot deliberately put themselves in harm’s way and any use of force needs to be reported to FWC within 24 hours.
Supporters have said its all about safety. State Sen. Corey Simon, R-Tallahassee, was among those backing the bill during the legislative session.
“Last year alone, Franklin County fielded 1,000 calls related to bear-related issues,” Simon said. “It’s truly a pervasive problem in this district.”
However, critics like Katrina Shadix from the conservation group Bear Warriors United were skeptical and even fearful of the change. She has argued the law’s language is overly broad and is pushing for stricter measures to secure trash, which often attracts bears.
“This will exacerbate their extinction,” Shadix said. “It’s already bad now with the loss of habitat. We already have bear poaching rings in Florida.”
Shadix and others told us earlier this year that they were prepared to pursue legal action, claiming that the proposed law encroaches upon the jurisdiction of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and violates the state constitution.
Finally, a couple of other new laws: those 7 and older are forbidden from purposefully releasing lighter-than-air balloons under threat of a littering offense. Plus, after years of pushing lawmakers, the abuse victims from the Dozier School for Boys are getting compensation from the state.
If you’re still curious about the more than 150 other new laws coming online, here’s the full list:
NUMBER TITLE HB 21 Dozier School for Boys and Okeechobee School Victim Compensation Program HB 23 Pub. Rec./Dozier School for Boys and Okeechobee School Victim Compensation Program SB 46 Reading Achievement Initiative for Scholastic Excellence Program HB 49 Employment HB 59 Provision Of Homeowners’ Association Rules and Covenants HB 73 Supported Decisionmaking Authority HB 85 Pub. Rec./New State Banks and New State Trust Companies HB 87 Taking of Bears HB 103 Pub. Rec./County and City Attorneys HB 113 Tax Collections and Sales HB 117 Disclosure of Grand Jury Testimony HB 141 Economic Development HB 149 Continuing Contracts HB 151 Florida Retirement System SB 158 Value of Motor Vehicles Exempt from Legal Process HB 159 HIV Infection Prevention Drugs SB 168 Congenital Cytomegalovirus Screenings HB 179 Towing and Storage SB 186 Progressive Supranuclear Palsy and Other Neurodegenerative Diseases Policy Committee HB 187 Antisemitism HB 197 Health Care Practitioners and Massage Therapy HB 201 Emergency Refills of Insulin and Insulin-related Supplies or Equipment HB 215 Risk Retention Groups HB 217 College Campus Facilities in Areas of Critical State Concern HB 241 Coverage for Skin Cancer Screenings HB 271 Motor Vehicle Parking on Private Property HB 275 Offenses Involving Critical Infrastructure SB 276 Review of Advisory Bodies HB 287 Transportation HB 303 Rabies Vaccinations SB 304 Household Moving Services HB 305 Offenses Involving Children HB 321 Release of Balloons SB 330 Behavioral Health Teaching Hospitals HB 353 Alternative Headquarters for District Court Judges HB 357 Special Observances SB 364 Public Service Commission Rules SB 366 Civil Penalties Under the Gas Safety Law of 1967 HB 377 License or Permit to Operate a Vehicle for Hire HB 379 Pub. Rec./Financial Information Regarding Competitive Bidding SB 382 Continuing Education Requirements HB 385 Safe Exchange of Minor Children HB 389 Transportation Facility Designations HB 405 Regulation of Commercial Motor Vehicles HB 415 Pregnancy and Parenting Resources Website HB 429 Real Property HB 433 Employment Regulations HB 437 Anchoring Limitation Areas HB 461 Excusal from Jury Service HB 463 Lights Displayed on Fire Department Vehicles HB 481 Building Construction Regulations and System Warranties HB 487 Lost and Abandoned Property HB 521 Equitable Distribution of Marital Assets and Liabilities SB 522 Tallahassee Community College HB 523 Florida Seal of Fine Arts Program HB 535 Low-voltage Alarm System Projects HB 537 Student Achievement SB 544 Swimming Lesson Voucher Program SB 564 Young Adult Aftercare Services HB 583 Individual Wine Containers HB 591 Hot Car Death Prevention SB 592 Historical Preservation Programs HB 601 Law Enforcement and Correctional Officers HB 613 Mobile Home Park Lot Tenancies HB 619 Sovereign Immunity for Professional Firms HB 621 Property Rights HB 623 Builder Warranties SB 644 Rural Emergency Hospitals SB 674 United States-produced Iron and Steel in Public Works Projects SB 678 Forensic Investigative Genetic Genealogy Grant Program SB 692 Public Records/Florida Gaming Control Commission HB 705 Public Works Projects HB 707 State University Unexpended Funds HB 709 In-store Servicing of Alcoholic Beverages HB 725 Veterans’ Long-term Care Facilities Admissions HB 761 Interpersonal Violence Injunction Petitions HB 775 Surrendered Infants HB 781 Unsolicited Proposals for Public-private Partnerships SB 804 Gaming Licenses and Permits HB 813 Certified Public Accountants SB 818 Military Leave SB 832 Employment of Individuals with Disabilities HB 849 Veterinary Practices HB 855 Dental Services HB 865 Youth Athletic Activities HB 883 Short-acting Bronchodilator Use in Public and Private Schools HB 885 Coverage for Biomarker Testing HB 917 Career and Technical Education HB 919 Artificial Intelligence Use in Political Advertising HB 931 School Chaplains HB 935 Home Health Care Services HB 937 Purple Alert SB 938 Dentistry HB 939 Consumer Protection SB 958 Local Government Employees SB 968 Spaceport Territory HB 975 Background Screenings and Certifications HB 983 Pub. Rec./Clerks of the Circuit Court, Deputy Clerks, and Clerk Personnel SB 984 Judgment Liens SB 998 Sale of Liquefied Petroleum Gas HB 1021 Community Associations HB 1029 My Safe Florida Condominium Pilot Program HB 1031 Debt Relief Services HB 1065 Substance Abuse Treatment HB 1083 Permanency for Children SB 1084 Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services SB 1090 Unauthorized Sale of Alcoholic Beverages HB 1109 Security for Jewish Day Schools and Preschools HB 1113 Use of Lights and Sirens on Emergency Vehicles HB 1131 Online Sting Operations Grant Program HB 1133 Violations Against Vulnerable Road Users SB 1136 Regulation of Water Resources SB 1142 Occupational Licensing HB 1161 Verification of Eligibility for Homestead Exemption HB 1181 Juvenile Justice SB 1198 Corporate Actions HB 1203 Homeowners’ Associations SB 1224 Protection of Children and Victims of Crime HB 1227 Tuskegee Airmen Commemoration Day HB 1259 Providers of Cardiovascular Services SB 1264 History of Communism HB 1267 Economic Self-sufficiency HB 1285 Education SB 1286 Return of Weapons and Arms Following an Arrest HB 1291 Educator Preparation Programs HB 1301 Department of Transportation HB 1317 Patriotic Organizations HB 1329 Veterans HB 1331 Commodities Produced by Forced Labor HB 1335 Department of Business and Professional Regulation HB 1337 Department of Corrections SB 1350 Salvage HB 1361 Education HB 1363 Traffic Enforcement HB 1403 School Choice SB 1420 Department of Commerce HB 1425 Juvenile Justice HB 1451 Identification Documents SB 1456 Counties Designated as Areas of Critical State Concern HB 1473 School Safety HB 1503 Citizens Property Insurance Corporation HB 1509 Pub. Rec./School Guardians SB 1512 Controlled Substances SB 1532 Mitigation HB 1555 Cybersecurity HB 1557 Department of Environmental Protection HB 1565 Florida Red Tide Mitigation and Technology Development Initiative HB 1567 Qualifications for County Emergency Management Directors HB 1569 Exemption from Regulation for Bona Fide Nonprofit Organizations HB 1571 Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority, Monroe County SB 1582 Department of Health HB 1589 Driving Without a Valid Driver License HB 1611 Insurance SB 1616 Electronic Access to Official Records HB 1645 Energy Resources HB 1653 Duties and Prohibited Acts Associated with Death SB 1680 Advanced Technology SB 1688 Career-themed Courses SB 1704 Sheriffs in Consolidated Governments SB 1720 Marine Encroachment on Military Operations SB 1758 Individuals with Disabilities SB 1764 Car Racing Penalties SB 2518 Health and Human Services HB 5001 General Appropriations Act HB 5003 Implementing the 2024-2025 General Appropriations Act HB 5005 Collective Bargaining HB 5101 Education HB 5201 Trust Funds/Federal Law Enforcement Trust Fund/FGCC HB 5203 Property Seized by the Florida Gaming Control Commission HB 5401 Judges SB 7002 Deregulation of Public Schools SB 7004 Education HB 7011 Inactive Special Districts HB 7013 Special Districts HB 7021 Mental Health and Substance Abuse SB 7028 My Safe Florida Home Program SB 7032 Education HB 7063 Anti-human Trafficking SB 7072 Cancer Funding HB 7073 Taxation SB 7078 Public Records and Meetings/Cancer Research Grant Applications HB 7089 Transparency in Health and Human Services