Florida's New Laws: Tougher Penalties, Internet Crime Crackdown, and More
Florida is seeing a wave of new laws taking effect on October 1, 2025, with over two dozen changes set to impact residents. These new laws cover a range of areas, from driving safety and license plate regulations to internet crimes and penalties for hit-and-run incidents.
HB 687 significantly increases penalties for DUI and BUI manslaughter, vehicular and vessel homicide. It also mandates informing individuals of the consequences of refusing a breath or urine test after a DUI arrest, and establishes criminal penalties for a first refusal to take such tests. Meanwhile, HB 253 beefs up penalties for driving with certain lights and increases punishment for altering or covering up license plates, making it a crime to buy, sell, or use devices that hide license plates.
HB 757 targets online crimes, prohibiting the possession, solicitation, or intentional viewing of specified lewd or lascivious images, and making it illegal to generate or solicit altered sexual depictions of identifiable persons without consent. HB 777 raises the age of victims in cases involving luring or enticing offenses and makes it illegal to lure or entice someone out of a building, home, or vehicle for any reason other than a lawful one.
HB 479 allows courts to order drivers who leave the scene of a crash involving only damage to a vehicle or property to pay for the damage caused. HB 437 revises penalties for tampering with electronic monitoring devices and requires revocation of pretrial release for those who tamper with such devices while on pretrial release. HB 703 allocates a portion of communications services tax money to the Utility Relocation Reimbursement Grant Program and reduces the amount transferred into the Local Government Half-cent Sales Tax Clearing Trust Fund.
HB 113 changes the law so that law enforcement vehicles no longer have to display agency insignia when pursuing someone fleeing or trying to escape in certain instances, and increases the severity ranking for certain offenses related to fleeing from the police. Notably, there are no specific news taking effect in October 2025 that pertain to the punishment of individuals who leave dogs chained during natural disasters.
Lastly, HB 693 adds another aggravating factor that can make a crime punishable by the death penalty if the victim was gathered with one or more people for certain activities.
These new laws aim to enhance public safety, deter certain criminal behaviors, and adjust penalties for various offenses. Florida residents are encouraged to familiarize themselves with these changes to ensure they remain in compliance with the law.
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