TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – With the new year kicking off, several Florida laws are set to go into effect.
The Florida Legislature will begin the 2024 session on Jan. 9, though the new laws from 2023 will go into effect over a week earlier on Jan. 1.
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Below are some of those laws, which have been signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis and will take effect on New Year’s Day.
SB-76: State Park Campsite Reservations
This law will revise some of the campsite rules in Florida’s state parks, such as allowing Florida residents to make reservations for campsites and cabins up to 11 months in advance. To do so, residents will have to provide the number from their Florida ID card or driver’s license.
In addition, nonresidents can make reservations up to 10 months in advance.
SB-144: Lactation Spaces
This law will require county courthouses to provide at least one “dedicated lactation space” outside of a restroom for women to breastfeed or “express breast milk” in private.
The law went into effect on July 1, 2023, though all county courthouses will need to establish a lactation space by Jan. 1, unless it’s determined that new construction would be required to do so.
These spaces will have to be hygienic, shielded from public view, free from intrusion while occupied, and contain an electrical outlet.
HB-425: ‘Move Over Law’ Expansion
Florida’s “Move Over Law” requires drivers to move over a lane (when safe to do so) for law enforcement, emergency workers, sanitation crews, tow trucks, construction vehicles and utility service vehicles.
Starting Jan. 1, the law will expand to include stopped vehicles on the road that are:
- Displaying warning/hazard lights
- Using emergency flares or posting emergency signage
- Stopped with at least one person visibly present
SB-774: Ethics Requirements for Public Officials
Starting on Jan. 1, mayors and elected members of municipalities will be required to disclose their financial interests within a given year — through a document known as “Form 6″ — to the Florida Commission on Ethics.
All sources of income over $1,000 will have to be disclosed.
The new rules will bring these officials to the same standards as other county and state officials.
SB-784: Special Persons Registry
This law — dubbed the “Protect Our Loved Ones Act” — allows law enforcement agencies to create a database for people with development, psychological or other types of disabilities that could affect their interactions with officers.
Adults with disabilities can enroll themselves in the registry, though minors and those considered “incapacitated” may be enrolled by a parent or legal guardian.
Documentation like a birth certificate and proof of eligibility will be required to enroll in the registry.
SB-1534: Pretrial Release and Detention
This law requires that only judges set or change a defendant’s bail, and the Supreme Court will have to adopt a statewide bond schedule by Jan. 1.
As a result, no judges will be allowed to establish a local bond schedule with a lower bond amount, though a chief judge can set one up that increases the monetary bond for a given offense.
In addition, the law mandates that people can’t be released before a first appearance hearing if they were:
- On pretrial release, probation or community control at the time of arrest
- Designated as a sexual offender or predator
- Arrested on charges of violating a protective injunction
- On release from supervision under state law at the time of arrest
- Arrested at least three times within the 12 months leading up to the current arrest
- Arrested on certain charges such as homicide, kidnapping, human trafficking, sexual battery, arson or child abuse
The law will also allow courts to impose nonmonetary conditions alongside or instead of bond, including requiring a defendant to maintain employment or comply with a given curfew.
SB-7056: Child Protective Investigative Services
Seven Florida counties — Broward, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, Seminole and Walton — are responsible for handling child protection investigations.
This law will require those counties to hand over control of those investigative services to the Florida Department of Children and Families by Jan. 1.
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