Overview of New Florida Laws Effective July 1, 2025

As of Tuesday, July 1, 2025, Florida enacts more than 100 new laws covering areas from public safety to environmental stewardship. Here’s a breakdown of the most impactful ones:

⚖️ Criminal Justice & Public Safety

• HB 279 – Swatting & false reporting

  Makes hoax emergency calls (“swatting”) a 2nd-degree felony if it results in death, 3rd-degree if causing injury, and requires offenders to pay restitution .

• HB 351 – Dangerous speeding (“super‑speeders”)

  Driving 50 mph+ over the limit or 100 mph+ can lead to jail time (up to 30 days, escalating on repeat offenses) and fines between $500–$1,000 .

• SB 1388 – Boater Freedom Act

  Officers must now have probable cause before conducting boat inspections; marine safety checks are downgraded to secondary offenses .

• SB 612 – Drug-related deaths

  Selling substances that result in a fatality is formally classified as 3rd-degree murder .

🐾 Animals & Environment

• HB 255 – “Dexter’s Law” (Animal cruelty registry)

  Establishes a public database of individuals convicted of aggravated animal cruelty .

• HB 593 – “Pam Rock Act” (Dangerous dog controls)

  Requires microchipping, secure enclosures, $100,000 liability insurance; authorities may euthanize if necessary .

• HB 209 – State Parks Protection Act

  Bans construction of golf courses, hotels, pickleball/tennis courts, and ball fields in any state park .

• HB 549 – “Gulf of America” Renaming

  Mandates replacing “Gulf of Mexico” with “Gulf of America” in all state and school materials .

🏫 Education & Student Welfare

• SB 1514 – Allergy Emergency Preparedness

  Requires K–8 public schools to have action plans, staff training, and EpiPens on-site .

• SB 1070 – Second Chance Act (Student‑athlete health)

  Mandates pre-participation physicals and EKGs for athletes; with medical/religious exemptions .

• HB 597 – Diabetes Management in Schools

  Authorized students to carry diabetic supplies; schools may stock glucagon .

• HB 1105 – Cell-Phone Restrictions

  Bans cell phone use in elementary and middle schools during school hours; high schools pilot stricter usage zones .

🏥 Health & Welfare

• SB 700 – Fluoride Ban

  Florida joins one other state in banning fluoride additives in public water supplies .

• HB 383 – Firearm Law Exemption

  Law enforcement, corrections officers, and military personnel are exempt from the 3-day post–background-check waiting period ().

🏢 Housing, Hotels & Squatting

• HB 913 – Condo Association Relief

  • In response to the Surfside collapse, this comprehensive reform grants condo associations:

  • Extended deadlines: Structural Integrity Reserve Studies (“SIRS”) deadline moved to December 31, 2025 .

  • Reserve flexibility: Pause reserve contributions for up to 2 years post-milestone inspection (through 2028) to fund urgent repairs .

  • Increased thresholds: Reserve items must now exceed $25,000 (up from $10,000), adjustable annually for inflation .

  • Funding methods: Associations may fund reserves via loans, lines of credit, or special assessments (majority vote required) .

  • Transparency & governance improvements: Includes online reporting, video-meeting record-keeping, electronic voting, fiduciary rule clarifications, emergency evacuation authority, and strengthened conflict-of-interest rules ().

  These reforms aim to reduce financial pressure on condo owners, righting course after a 2022 law that caused HOA dues to spike and condo values to fall .

• SB 322 – Squatter Removal Act

  Simplifies and expedites law enforcement removal of unauthorized occupants from commercial properties .

• SB 606 – Hotel/Restaurant Guest Removal

  Clarifies notice requirements and authorizes arrest of noncompliant guests to expedite removal decisions .

🔎 Significance for Floridians

• Motorists & Boaters: Facing stiffer penalties for reckless behavior, but safer waters for boat owners.

• Pet Owners & Wildlife Advocates: Animal welfare and park protections are stronger than ever.

• Students & Educators: Focused on health and safer academic environments, with controlled tech use.

• Condo Residents & Property Managers: Gain necessary breathing room post-Surfside through financial and governance reforms.

• Hospitality & Property Stakeholders: New tools are in place to combat illegal occupancy and support lawful guest management.