New laws are now in effect in Florida.
The state’s minimum wage will also increase from $8.65 to $10 per hour.
Gov. Ron DeSantis held press conferences signing the bills throughout the year, including some of the most well-known laws that will go into effect.
These laws include:
SB 1080 – “Tobacco and Nicotine Products“
This bill increases the minimum age to lawfully purchase and possess tobacco products and nicotine products from 18 to 21 years. There is an exemption for those in the military and people who are doing so for employment. Smoking and vaping near or on school property is also illegal for anyone under 21.
SB 82 – “Sponsorship Identification Disclaimers“
This bill means all text messages from political advertisers have to have a disclaimer that identifies that it is an advertisement. Exceptions include if texts aren’t being sent by mass distribution by people who aren’t getting paid or if people opted into the alerts.
SB 252 – “Child Care Facilities“
This bill creates the “Child Safety Alarm Act,” which requires that starting on Jan. 1, 2022, all vehicles used by child care facilities to transport kids must have an alarm system that tells drivers to check for kids before leaving the vehicle. This is mean to decrease the number of deaths of small children who are left in vehicles during hot weather months.
SB 890 – “Use of Electronic Databases“
This bill requires law enforcement officers to take training so that vehicle and personal identification databases are only used while on the job and for official capacity.
SB 80 – “Child Welfare“
This bill amends and creates new sections of laws connected to the child welfare system. It creates changes for children in out-of-home care and for those aging out of the system. For a short summary, click here.
SB 676 – “Special and Specialty License Plates“
The bill requires the DMV to need new specialty license plates to meet presale levels before they are allowed to sell them. Existing specialty plates for independent colleges that use the standard templates are discontinued. New plates are created for state parks, health care heroes, disease prevention, Honor Flight, marine wildlife and the military.
HB 921 – “Electronic Crimes“
The bill amends S 836 to prohibit a person from sending, posting, transmitting or writing of another record in any manner that could be viewed of a threat to kill, do bodily harm or conduct a mass shooting or act of terrorism.
HB 1059 – “Construction Permits“
This bill makes changes to the Florida Building Codes Act and changes the way law enforcement agencies must enforce building codes.
HB 1523 – “Corporate Espionage“
The bill creates the “Combatting Corporate Espionage in Florida Act,” with changes the severity of the trafficking trade secrets to foreign groups.