summary
Introduced
12/01/2025
12/01/2025
In Committee
12/09/2025
12/09/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
03/13/2026
03/13/2026
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, if recommended, receive counseling or 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 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 related to animal cruelty, animal fighting, and sexual activities involving animals when minors are involved. Specifically, it establishes that an adult who causes or entices a minor to commit animal cruelty, or commits animal cruelty in the presence of a minor, will face a third-degree felony charge. For minors who commit acts of animal cruelty, courts will now be required to order psychological evaluations and, if recommended, counseling or treatment, with the costs borne by the parent, guardian, or the state, and parents or guardians can be held in contempt for refusing recommended treatment. The bill also mandates that the Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) will post information on its website about individuals convicted of certain animal cruelty offenses for specified periods, with procedures for removal under certain circumstances, and requires clerks of court and detention facilities to provide necessary information to the FDLE. Additionally, the maximum civil penalties for violations of local animal control or cruelty ordinances are significantly increased, and the offense severity ranking for fighting or baiting animals is adjusted, with the newly created offenses also being ranked on this chart.
Committee Categories
Budget and Finance
Sponsors (2)
Other Sponsors (1)
Fiscal Policy (Senate)
Last Action
Laid on Table, refer to CS/HB 559 (on 03/04/2026)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
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