Tallahassee, Fla. — June 10, 2025 — Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has signed several bills into law aimed at enhancing protections against sexual crimes involving children.
Additional legislation is expected to be finalized in the coming days. The newly enacted measures expand criminal penalties, tighten registration requirements for offenders, and introduce digital protections for victims of explicit content generated with artificial intelligence.
The legislative package includes House Bills 777, 1351, 1455, and 1161. DeSantis also announced plans to sign Senate Bill 1804, which aims to establish some of the harshest penalties in Florida law for human trafficking offenses involving vulnerable victims.
Key Provisions of Newly Signed Bills:
House Bill 777 – Offenses Involving Children
This bill expands Florida’s laws against luring or enticing minors by:
- Applying the law to victims under the age of 14 (previously limited to younger children).
- Including cases where a child is lured out of a location, not just into one.
- Removing defenses based on ignorance or misrepresentation of the child’s age.
- Increasing penalties: a first offense is classified as a third-degree felony; repeat offenses are classified as second-degree felonies.
House Bill 1351 – Registration of Sexual Predators and Offenders
This bill tightens reporting and verification procedures for registered sexual offenders by:
- Requiring detailed employment information during registration.
- Mandating the reporting of in-state travel residences within 48 hours.
- Increasing address verification by law enforcement: once annually for offenders and four times a year for predators.
House Bill 1455 – Repeat Sexual Offenses
This legislation establishes mandatory minimum sentences for specific sexual crimes committed by individuals with prior convictions:
- Sentences must meet the minimum requirement even if they exceed statutory maximums.
- Early release is not permitted unless granted by pardon or conditional medical release.
House Bill 1161 – “Brooke’s Law”
Named after a victim of AI-generated explicit imagery, this bill addresses digital sexual abuse by:
- Requiring platforms to remove altered sexual depictions within 48 hours of a victim’s request.
- Creating a duty of care for platforms that profit from user-generated content.
- Preserving legal immunity for platforms that comply in good faith.
Senate Bill 1804 – Capital Sex Trafficking
This bill establishes ‘Capital Human Trafficking of Vulnerable Persons for Sexual Exploitation’ as a new felony offense carrying the harshest possible penalties under Florida law. Adults who profit from the sexual exploitation of children under 12 or individuals who are mentally incapacitated will face life imprisonment or the death penalty. The bill:
- Ensures maximum accountability for the most serious crimes. Individuals who orchestrate egregious forms of sexual exploitation face the severest penalties under Florida law, including life imprisonment or death.
- Specifically targets trafficking crimes involving young children and individuals with disabilities, who are least able to protect themselves or seek help.
- Includes a comprehensive sentencing framework and closes dangerous loopholes.
