Florida crime crackdown: Missy's Law, public nuisance law, and expanded safety bills
Key Questions
What is Missy's Law and what new measures does it include for child predators?
Missy's Law refers to HB445/455, which establishes pretrial detention for child sex and violent felons in Florida. It was signed by DeSantis along with related bills like HB1471 on animal cruelty felonies and HB 277 enhancing domestic violence penalties, including second-offense felonies and increased relocation aid up to $5,000.
What other criminal justice bills were signed effective July 1?
Additional bills include measures on xylazine trafficking, career offender registration, expanded gang criteria via social media, the Officer Jason Raynor Act, nitrous oxide felonies for sales to minors, repeat violent offender penalties, and expanded lewd acts. Over 100 bills take effect July 1, covering habitual traffic offenders and church security.
What occurred in the Orlando e-bike incident and what is the status of related regulations?
Hundreds of teens on e-bikes ran red lights and blocked an ambulance in downtown Orlando, prompting police arrests and confiscations. DeSantis vetoed the statewide e-bike bill SB 382, leading Tampa Bay and Pinellas County to consider local ordinances amid enforcement gaps.
DeSantis signed HB445/455 pretrial detention for child sex/violent felons; HB1471 animal cruelty felonies, HB451, HB1427, SB1386. New HB 277 enhances domestic violence penalties effective July 1. Additional bills signed: xylazine trafficking, career offender registration updates, expanded gang criteria, Officer Jason Raynor Act, nitrous oxide felony, repeat violent offender penalties, pretrial release violations, lewd acts expansion, Blue Envelope program. Over 100 bills become law July 1, including habitual traffic offender changes, church security, Isaiah's Law, and SB 168 public nuisance law targeting illegal gambling dens with fines, liens, and foreclosure. E-bike bill (SB 382) vetoed; Tampa Bay and Pinellas consider local ordinances; Orlando teen e-bike incident highlights enforcement gaps. New law bans PFAS in firehouses. DeSantis also signed a five-bill crime crackdown in Winter Haven. The 2026 Legislative Final Report notes the squatter felony law (SB 1293) as a public safety win.