13 New Florida Criminal Laws Going Into Effect in 2025

September 23, 2025 Criminal Defense, News & Announcements

In Florida, many new criminal laws are going into effect on October 1, 2025. Some of these laws create entirely new crimes, while others increase penalties for existing crimes. This article will discuss those laws.

#1 – HB 113 – Fleeing/Eluding Police

HB 113 increases the penalties for those accused of fleeing/eluding law enforcement. Fleeing/eluding a law enforcement officer in a patrol vehicle with sirens and lights activated, while driving at a high speed, is now a Level 5 offense under the Criminal Punishment Code (previously Level 4). 

Aggravated fleeing/eluding by driving at high speed demonstrating a wanton disregard for persons and property is now a Level 6 offense (previously Level 5).

Simple fleeing/eluding is a third-degree felony punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a $5,000 fine. Aggravated fleeing/eluding at high speed is a second-degree felony (up to 15 years in prison and a $10,000 fine). 

Though the maximum penalties for both of these have not changed, upgrading these to a Level 5 and Level 6 offense (respectively) increases the chances someone will receive a severe sentence for fleeing/eluding, including potential prison time.

#2 – HB 253 – Motor Crimes

Various changes are being made to motor crime laws in Florida by HB 253, including both the creation of new offenses and increasing existing penalties for current offenses. Under the law:

  • A driver using prohibited lights to try to pull another car over is a third-degree felony (up to 5 years and a $5,000 fine)
  • A noncriminal traffic infraction where a driver purposely alters/covers up a license plate or vehicle registration certificate is now a second-degree misdemeanor (up to 60 days in jail and a $500 fine)
  • If a person buys or owns a device used to obscure their license plate, this is now a crime – a second-degree misdemeanor 
  • If a person makes or sells a device used to obscure license plates, this is now a crime – a first-degree misdemeanor (up to 1 year in jail, 1 year of probation, and a $1,000 fine)
  • If a person uses a license-plate obscuring device while committing a crime or avoiding law enforcement, this is a third-degree felony 

The last four of these are entirely new crimes, making it especially important for people to know about HB 253.

#3 – HB 437 – EMD Tampering

If someone tampers with an electronic monitoring device (EMD) that the court orders them to wear, the charge is now based on the severity of the underlying offense that created the EMD requirement. Prior to HB 437, this was always a third-degree felony (up to 5 years in prison and a $5,000 fine). 

Now, if someone commits a second-degree felony and tampers with an EMD that resulted from that felony, the tampering is also a second-degree felony (up to 15 years in prison and a $10,000 fine). The same goes for first-degree felonies (up to 30 years in prison and a $10,000 fine).

#4 – HB 687 – Trenton’s Law

Trenton’s Law creates harsher penalties for those who have a prior conviction for any of the following four offenses and commit one of them for a second or subsequent time:

Previously, these were second-degree felonies (up to 15 years in prison and a $10,000 fine) even if someone had a prior conviction and re-offended. Now, they are a first-degree felony (up to 30 years in prison and a $10,000 fine) if a defendant re-offends after having been previously found guilty of any of the four.

For more information on Trenton’s Law, click here.

#5 – HB 693 – Aggravating Capital Punishment Factors

HB 693 allows juries to consider additional “aggravating factors” in determining whether someone may receive capital punishment (as opposed to life in prison) if charged with a capital felony.

The law permits the consideration of whether the victim(s) were gathering with others for a school activity, religious activity, or at a public government meeting as an aggravating factor. Other aggravating factors can be found here.

#6 – HB 757 – Possession of a Lewd or Lascivious Image

HB 757 creates a new crime – possessing a lewd or lascivious image. This is a second-degree felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison if possessed with the intent to promote (three or more images is assumed to be promotion), and a third-degree felony if possessed at all. 

Lewd or lascivious images include actual images, videos or deepfakes (AI-edited images) or an identifiable minor under 16 years old that:

  • Depicts lewd or lascivious exhibition (e.g. exposure of the genitals for a sexual purpose or masturbation) by the minor, or
  • Lewd or lascivious exhibition committed in the presence of a minor 

The law also prohibits solicitation of child pornography from another person (e.g. asking for or requesting the person supply someone with child pornography). This is a third-degree felony punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a $5,000 fine, as of October 1, 2025.

#7 – HB 777 – Luring a Child

HB 777 increases penalties for the crime of luring a child into a building for unlawful purposes. The offense goes from a first-degree misdemeanor to a third-degree felony.

Moreover, HB 777 broadens the application of the luring statute to children age 14 or younger, when it was previously age 12. Mistake of age or ignorance of age (even if someone genuinely believed the child was over 14) cannot be used as a defense.

Additionally, it is now illegal to lure a child out of a building, home or vehicle for unlawful purposes (not just into a building).

#8 – HB 1351 – Sexual Offender and Predator Reporting Requirements

HB 1351 changes reporting requirements for sexual predators and offenders under Florida law. In addition to currently required basic information, designated predators and offenders must now also report their place of work and their work phone number.

Moreover, law enforcement must now verify the home address (e.g. through a home visit) of a sexual predator at least 4 times a year – and the address of a sex offender at least once a year.

#9 – HB 1451 – Sexual Cyberharassment

HB 1451 enhances penalties for sexual cyberharassment (Fla. Stat. 784.049). If this is done for financial gain, sexual cyberharassment is now a third-degree felony (up to 5 years in prison and a $5,000 fine) – upgraded from a first-degree misdemeanor.

#10 – HB 1455 – Mandatory Minimums for Repeat Sex Offenders

If someone is a designated sexual offender or sexual predator, they are subject to HB 1455’s new mandatory minimums for a variety of offenses. Under HB 1455, the new mandatory minimum sentences for sexual offenders and sexual predators convicted of the following crimes are:

  • Lewd or lascivious molestation (victim between 12 and 15 years old): Mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison
  • Lewd or lascivious molestation of an elderly/disabled person: Mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison
  • Possession of child pornography: Mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison
  • Online solicitation of a minor, traveling to meet a minor, or prohibited computer use: Mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison
  • Transmission of child pornography: Mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison
  • Possession with intent to promote child pornography: Mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison
  • Use of a child in a sexual performance: Mandatory minimum of 20 years in prison
  • Promoting a sexual performance by a child: Mandatory minimum of 20 years in prison
  • Buying or selling minors: Mandatory minimum of 20 years in prison

#11 – SB 150 – Chaining Animals

In the aftermath of the chaining of “Trooper,” a dog found on the interstate during Hurricane Milton in 2024, Florida’s Legislature passed a bill making it a felony to abandon an animal while leaving it chained up during a natural disaster. This is now a third-degree felony (up to 5 years in prison and a $5,000 fine).

#12 – SB 168 – Tristin Murphy Act

The Tristin Murphy Act is a new law aiming to add alternatives for prosecuting defendants with serious mental illnesses. The law allows defendants suffering from certain mental conditions, an intellectual disability or autism to be instead placed in a diversion program if this is a feasible alternative to incarceration.

SB 168 was named after Tristin Murphy, who took his own life in a Florida prison in 2021 while suffering from a severe mental illness. The law also expresses a desire on the part of the Florida Legislature to further train police officers on crisis intervention. 

#13 – SB 1804 – Capital Human Trafficking

Finally, SB 1804 takes effect on October 1, 2025 – creating the new offense of Capital Human Trafficking of Vulnerable Persons for Sexual Exploitation. The law makes it a capital felony (punishable by death) if someone is found guilty of:

  • Knowingly initiating, organizing, planning, financing, directing, managing, or supervising a venture, which
  • Subjects a child under 12 years old, or a person who is mentally defective or mentally incapacitated, to human trafficking for sexual exploitation

The State must announce an intent to seek the death penalty within 45 days of arraignment if someone is charged. Moreover, at least two aggravating factors must be specifically found by a twelve-person jury for someone to be eligible for the death penalty.

In sum, Florida’s new criminal laws going into effect on October 1 will have a significant impact on many state statutes. By understanding these laws before (or shortly after) they go into effect, someone will be aware of the potential penalties for violating them. 

If someone is charged in a Florida criminal case, it is critical to find experienced and aggressive representation as soon as possible.

Criminal Defense Attorney in Tallahassee, FL

Don Pumphrey, Jr. is a Former Prosecutor, Former State Police Officer, Lifetime Member of the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers; for over 25 years as a private defense attorney who is Trusted, Experienced, Aggressive in Criminal Defense as a Trial Attorney, Criminal Lawyer, Criminal Defense Lawyer for the accused in Florida State Courts located in Tallahassee, Florida but handling cases throughout the State of Florida.

Don Pumphrey, Jr. and the Tallahassee criminal defense lawyers at Pumphrey Law have decades of experience fighting drug charges on behalf of clients and winning. Call Pumphrey Law now at (850) 681-7777 to learn more about what we can do for you. Our lawyers will be happy to provide you with a free consultation.


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