Bill > H0749

This bill modifies Florida statutes related to criminal warrants and arrests, making several key changes to judicial and law enforcement procedures. For misdemeanor offenses, the bill gives judges more discretion to issue a summons or notice to appear instead of an arrest warrant, allowing them to choose this option if they believe the person will voluntarily appear and do not think special pretrial release conditions are necessary. The bill expands the circumstances under which law enforcement officers can make warrantless arrests, adding specific scenarios such as driving under the influence (DUI), boating under the influence, and violations of protective injunctions. Additionally, the bill broadens the grounds for issuing search warrants, now allowing warrants for cases involving blood samples as evidence of DUI, domestic violence incidents, and misdemeanor offenses involving physical force or violence. These changes aim to provide law enforcement and judicial officials with more flexibility in handling certain criminal cases while potentially reducing unnecessary arrests and providing alternative approaches to addressing minor offenses. The bill is set to take effect on October 1, 2026.

Justice

https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/749