Rep. Jessica Baker

Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances; Prohibits, beginning on specified date, certain use & sale, purchase, or distribution of aqueous film-forming foam; requires, beginning on specified date, certain entities to submit aqueous film-forming foam inventories & disposal plans to DEP; prohibits, beginning on specified date, possession & use of aqueous film-forming foam; authorizes DEP to administer certain grants or cost share programs; provides penalties & injunctive relief; requires certain public entities disposing of domestic wastewater biosolids and treated effluent to quarterly conduct specified samplings & submit results to DEP; limits purpose such samplings until specified standards are established by EPA & adopted by DEP.

Maddy summaryHB 429 revises Florida's legal definition of "criminal gang member" in section 874.03 of state statutes. The bill defines a criminal gang member as someone who either admits membership (in person or online) or meets two or more of 12 specific criteria, such as wearing gang-related clothing, using gang hand signs, having gang tattoos, associating with known members, using gang-related language on social media, or being identified by a reliable informant. It explicitly includes social media activity, communications, and recordings promoting gang activity as evidence of membership. The law would take effect on October 1, 2026, and applies to individuals potentially identified under these revised standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill revises how members are appointed to Florida's Justice Administrative Commission (JAC), changing the selection process for its members. It specifies that two state attorneys will be appointed by the Prosecuting Attorneys Association president, two public defenders by the Public Defender Association president, one certified criminal defense attorney by The Florida Bar, and one chief judge by the Circuit Judges Conference chair. The changes would take effect July 1, 2026, after enactment. The bill focuses solely on the commission's membership structure without altering its duties or creating new policies.

Domestic Violence and Protective Injunctions; Reclassifying penalties for committing a domestic violence offense if a person has a prior conviction for domestic violence; providing that sentencing and incentive gain-time eligibility determinations are made without regard to a penalty enhancement; establishing an electronic monitoring pilot program in a specified county; requiring the sheriff, in consultation with certain persons, to design and implement the pilot program; providing requirements for the pilot program; requiring the Department of Corrections to complete an evaluation and provide specified reports to the Legislature; requiring the Department of Law Enforcement to enter injunctions against dating violence and sexual violence into a statewide verification system, etc.

Systems of Law and Terrorist Organizations; Providing that the Department of State may administratively dissolve a corporation that has been designated as a terrorist organization in certain situations; providing that a person who receives military training from a domestic terrorist organization in certain situations commits a specified crime; providing a person who knowingly provides or attempts or conspires to provide material support or resources to a domestic terrorist organization commits a specified crime; providing that a person who willfully becomes a member of a domestic terrorist organization and serves under the direction or control of such organization with a specified intent commits a specified crime; authorizing the Chief of Domestic Security to designate an organization a domestic terrorist organization or a foreign terrorist organization if certain requirements are met; requiring the Chief to provide specified written notice to the Governor, the Cabinet, and the organization of the designation; providing that the Governor and the Cabinet may by a majority vote approve or reject the designation; requiring the Chief to publish such designation in the Florida Administrative Register within a specified time period after approval of the designation by the Governor and the Cabinet; providing that certain students of school districts and Florida College System institutions are ineligible for specified fee waivers; prohibiting students who promote domestic terrorist organization or foreign terrorist organizations from being awarded certain public institution funds, etc.

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.

Bail Bonds; Revises requirements for approval & certification as approved limited surety agent & professional bail bond agent prelicensing school; authorizes bail bond agents & agencies to accept certain fees or charges; prohibits virtual offices; revises provisions relating to pretrial release and detention; revises criteria court must consider in making specified determinations; revises duties and responsibilities of clerk of court relating to bonds and forfeiture of bonds; removes and revises certain provisions relating to sureties and ownership of property, justification of suretyship, provision of information, access to jails, and liability; revises provisions relating to deposit of bail money; revises provisions relating to bond forfeiture and discharge of forfeiture; requires sheriff to enter defendant's information in National Crime Information Center database for each felony warrant for failure to appear; revises provisions relating to remission of forfeiture; revises provisions relating to bond cancellation; specifies limits on effect of original appearance bond; specifies that the clerk of court does not have standing to object to reinstatement of bond; removes provisions relating to guaranteed arrest bond certificates as cash bail; authorizes pretrial detention of certain defendants arrested for certain dangerous crimes.

Gender Identity Employment Practices; Specifies employment policy of this state relating to person's sex; prohibits employees & contractors of certain employers from being required to use certain pronouns or requiring such employers to use pronoun that does not correspond to employee's or contractor's sex; prohibits certain forms from offering specified options relating to applicant's sex; prohibits adverse personnel action on basis of gender ideology; provides administrative & civil remedies; provides reasonable attorney fees & costs; authorizes DMS to adopt rules; provides it is unlawful employment practice for certain employers to require certain training, instruction, or activity as condition of employment.

Statewide Counterintelligence and Counterterrorism Unit; Requires FDLE to establish & administer Statewide Counterintelligence & Counterterrorism Unit for specified purposes; provides requirements for establishing, administering, & funding such unit.