summary
Introduced
12/01/2025
12/01/2025
In Committee
02/26/2026
02/26/2026
Crossed Over
03/04/2026
03/04/2026
Passed
05/12/2026
05/12/2026
Dead
Signed/Enacted/Adopted
05/13/2026
05/13/2026
Introduced Session
2026 Regular Session
Bill Summary
An act relating to animal welfare; amending s. 828.12, F.S.; creating the offense of causing or enticing a minor to commit, or in the presence of a minor committing, animal cruelty; requiring a court to order a minor who commits specified acts of animal cruelty to undergo a psychological evaluation and receive counseling and treatment for a specified time period; requiring the minor's parent or guardian or the state to pay the cost of such evaluation, counseling, and treatment; providing an exception; authorizing the court to hold the parent or guardian in contempt under certain circumstances; requiring the Department of Law Enforcement to post on its website specified information relating to each individual convicted of specified animal cruelty offenses; specifying time periods for which the information shall be posted; requiring the department to develop a procedure to allow a person to petition for the removal of his or her information under specified circumstances; requiring the department to remove specified information under specified circumstances; specifying the time period within which such information must be removed; authorizing the department to adopt rules; requiring clerks of court and county detention hb559 -01-erLegislature facilities to provide the Department of Law Enforcement with specified information, data, and images; amending s. 828.122, F.S.; creating the offense of causing or enticing a minor to commit, or in the presence of a minor committing, fighting or baiting animals; amending s. 828.126, F.S.; creating the offense of causing or enticing a minor to commit, or in the presence of a minor committing, sexual activities involving animals; amending s. 828.27, F.S.; increasing the maximum civil penalty for specified violations of ordinances relating to animal control or cruelty; amending s. 921.0022, F.S.; increasing the level on the offense severity ranking chart for fighting or baiting animals; ranking offenses created by the act on the offense severity ranking chart; providing an effective date.
AI Summary
This bill enhances animal welfare laws by creating new offenses and penalties, and by increasing existing penalties. Specifically, it makes it a felony for an adult to cause or entice a minor to commit animal cruelty, or to commit animal cruelty in the presence of a minor. For minors who commit animal cruelty, courts will be required to order psychological evaluations and counseling, with costs borne by parents or guardians, and parents or guardians could face contempt charges for non-compliance. The bill also mandates that the Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) post information about individuals convicted of certain animal cruelty offenses on its website for specified periods, and establishes a process for removing this information under certain circumstances, with clerks of court and detention facilities required to provide necessary data to the FDLE. Furthermore, it increases the maximum civil penalties for violations of local animal control or cruelty ordinances and elevates the offense severity ranking for animal fighting or baiting.
Committee Categories
Justice
Sponsors (10)
Linda Chaney (R)*,
Johanna López (D)*,
Robin Bartleman (D),
Fabián Basabe (R),
Lindsay Cross (D),
Christine Hunschofsky (D),
Jim Mooney (R),
Susan Plasencia (R),
Susan L. Valdés (R),
Meg Weinberger (R),
Other Sponsors (1)
Criminal Justice Subcommittee (House)
Last Action
Chapter No. 2026-78 (on 05/13/2026)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/559 |
| Analysis - Criminal Justice Subcommittee (Post-Meeting) | https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/559/Analyses/h0559z1.CRM.PDF |
| Analysis - Criminal Justice Subcommittee (Post-Meeting) | https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/559/Analyses/h0559z.CRM.PDF |
| BillText | https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/559/BillText/er/PDF |
| Analysis - Judiciary Committee (Post-Meeting) | https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/559/Analyses/h0559b.JDC.PDF |
| Analysis - Judiciary Committee (Post-Meeting) | https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/559/Analyses/h0559a.JDC.PDF |
| BillText | https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/559/BillText/c1/PDF |
| Analysis - Criminal Justice Subcommittee (Post-Meeting) | https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/559/Analyses/h0559.CRM.PDF |
| BillText | https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/559/BillText/Filed/PDF |
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