On October 1, 2025, Florida ushered in nearly 30 new statutes spanning criminal justice, tenant protections, animal welfare, flood disclosures, and more. Some sharpen penalties on existing offenses, some create new ones, and others reshape how government, businesses, and individuals interact under state law. Below is a breakdown of the most consequential changes and what they may mean for Floridians.
Key Themes & Highlights
While the full list of 28 new laws is extensive, several themes emerge across sectors:
- Criminal law intensification: harsher penalties, expanded definitions, fewer loopholes
- Greater protection for vulnerable parties: animals, children, court personnel
- Transparency and disclosures: especially in property, flooding, and rentals
- Mental health and justice reform: programs to divert certain cases away from incarceration
- Tax and business relief: elimination of the commercial lease sales tax
Major Changes by Area
Fleeing Law Enforcement (HB 113)
Drivers who flee or attempt to elude police now face stiffer penalties under a reclassification scheme. Offenses that once ranked lower on Florida’s offense severity chart have been elevated.
Motor Crimes & Plate Obscuring (HB 253)
This law cracks down on impersonating law enforcement and obscuring vehicle identity:
- Using prohibited lights or attempting to pull over another vehicle becomes a third-degree felony.
- Altering or covering a license plate or registration moves from a simple infraction to a second-degree misdemeanor.
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Merely buying, possessing, or selling devices to obscure a plate is now penalized:
- Possession or purchase: second-degree misdemeanor
- Manufacturing or distributing: first-degree misdemeanor
- If such behavior is tied to committing a different crime or evading arrest, it escalates to a third-degree felony.
DUI / BUI & Vehicular Homicide (HB 687, “Trenton’s Law”)
“Trenton’s Law” revises penalties for repeat offenders convicted of DUI or boating under the influence. Individuals with multiple DUI-related fatalities may now face upgraded felony charges. Additionally, refusing a breath or urine test following an arrest is reclassified as a criminal offense rather than a simple infraction.
Tampering with Electronic Monitoring Devices
Individuals ordered to wear electronic monitoring equipment as part of a court sentence or probation can now face enhanced penalties for tampering or removing the device. The punishment level corresponds to the seriousness of the underlying conviction.
Crimes Against Children
Florida lawmakers expanded the state’s protection laws for minors, including new penalties for digital exploitation
- Possession or distribution of AI-generated or altered sexual images of minors is now a felony.
- Soliciting or encouraging the creation of such material is also punishable by law.
- Victims of nonconsensual, altered sexual images now have the right to pursue civil damages against offenders.
Luring and Exploitation
The age threshold for “luring or enticing” offenses has been raised from under 12 to under 13, and the law now covers attempts to lure children both into and out of buildings, dwellings, or vehicles. Common defenses based on mistaken age or misrepresentation have been removed to strengthen prosecutorial effectiveness.
Animal Welfare: “Trooper’s Law”
In response to incidents of pets being abandoned during hurricanes, a new felony offense now applies to anyone who restrains or leaves a dog outdoors during a declared natural disaster. This statute, informally known as “Trooper’s Law,” reflects Florida’s growing focus on animal safety during emergencies.
Harassment of Court Officials and Utility Workers
Two additional laws increase protection for professionals serving the public.
- Harassing or threatening judges, clerks, or other court personnel carries higher penalties.
- Assaulting or battering utility workers performing their duties now results in enhanced criminal charges.
Child Sex Trafficking
According to the Florida House of Representatives, House Bill 777 (2025) raises the victim age for luring or enticing a child offenses to under 13, expands where the law applies, and increases penalties. (Source: Florida House of Representatives, HB 777 (2025))
The “Tristin Murphy Act” expands mental health diversion programs across Florida. It allows counties and municipalities to offer treatment-focused alternatives to incarceration for certain misdemeanor and felony offenses. Defendants with a history of mental health issues may be diverted into programs emphasizing rehabilitation, counseling, and clinical oversight rather than imprisonment. Courts are also required to assess mental health histories before sentencing in applicable cases.
Flood Disclosure Requirements
Florida now requires landlords and property owners to disclose a property’s flood risk and history of flooding to potential tenants. This rule aligns rental requirements with long-standing real estate sales disclosures and aims to promote transparency in flood-prone areas. Tenants will be better equipped to make informed decisions and potentially avoid unsafe or high-risk properties.
End of the Business Rent Tax
A long-standing tax on commercial leases, often called the “business rent tax,” has been repealed. The elimination of this sales tax on commercial rent is projected to save Florida businesses more than a billion dollars annually and is intended to encourage reinvestment and growth throughout the state’s business community.
What These Laws Mean for Floridians
The new legislative changes underscore Florida’s efforts to enhance public safety, expand consumer awareness, and address modern challenges such as AI-generated crimes and mental health in the justice system.
- For drivers and vehicle owners: Routine traffic offenses can now carry criminal consequences—making compliance and caution more important than ever.
- For landlords and tenants: Flood risk disclosures mark a major shift in rental transparency, protecting renters from unexpected losses.
- For business owners: The removal of the business rent tax offers financial relief but may require updates to lease agreements and accounting practices.
- For families and vulnerable populations: The new criminal penalties for child exploitation and animal neglect reflect Florida’s heightened focus on protection and accountability.
Legal Perspective
For over 35 years, Rush & Frisco Law has helped clients navigate Florida’s evolving legal landscape. Understanding how these new laws apply to your situation—whether in criminal defense, civil rights, or property-related matters—can make all the difference in protecting your rights and minimizing legal risk.
If you have questions about how these 2025 legislative updates may affect you or your business, our attorneys are here to provide clarity and guidance.