SB 894 Florida Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Faith-based Activities in Batterers’ Intervention Programs

Summary

Faith-based Activities in Batterers’ Intervention Programs; Authorizing batterers’ intervention programs to offer supplemental faith-based activities; prohibiting required participation in such activities, etc.

Issues: ✓ Criminal Justice

Bill status died 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Mar 4, 2025 Last action Jun 16, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

S 894 Filed → S 894 c1 · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was revised from a broad mandate allowing faith-based content in batterers' intervention programs to a more specific authorization that permits programs to offer supplemental faith-based activities while explicitly prohibiting any requirement for participants to take part in them. This change clarifies that faith-based elements are optional supplements rather than core curriculum components, addressing potential concerns about mandatory religious participation in domestic violence intervention services.

Scope change

The bill's scope narrowed from allowing faith-based content as part of program curriculum to specifically authorizing supplemental faith-based activities with an explicit prohibition on mandatory participation.

REQUIREMENT

Changed from allowing faith-based components as part of program content to authorizing supplemental faith-based activities that cannot be required of participants.

Removed the requirement for programs to base content on cognitive behavioral or psychoeducational models addressing power and control tactics.

TECHNICAL

Changed the statutory amendment from modifying subsection (d) of section 741.325 to redesignating subsection (2) as subsection (3) and adding a new subsection (2).

ENFORCEMENT

Added explicit prohibition against requiring participation in faith-based activities, creating a clear enforcement boundary for program administrators.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 19, 2025

Upper · Passed

Pending reference review under Rule 4.7(2) - (Committee Substitute)

upper

Mar 14, 2025

Upper · Passed

On Committee agenda-- Children, Families, and Elder Affairs, 03/19/25, 9:00 am, 301 Senate Building

upper

Mar 4, 2025

Introduced

upper

Feb 28, 2025

Committee

Referred to Children, Families, and Elder Affairs; Judiciary; Rules

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors