By Peter Aitken

Copyright newsweek

Starting on Wednesday, Florida will see dozens of new laws or law alterations go into effect as the Sunshine State looks to address a number of issues ranging from crime and safety to land regulations and flood disclosures. This follows the national scrutiny among Republicans on law and order in major cities across the country.

Newsweek reached out to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ office for comment by email outside of normal business hours on Saturday evening.

Why It Matters

DeSantis has already introduced or changed over 100 laws over the past year, with the biggest overhaul occurring over the summer when he targeted laws governing a range of issues from health and property to animal welfare.

The policies largely have support from the public, reflecting a major shift in the attitude of Florida residents and their priorities in recent years.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis speaks during a press conference on April 10 in Miami.

Which Florida Laws Take Effect in October?

Florida will enact close to 30 laws that go into effect on October 1. The new or altered laws are as follows:

HB 113 — Fleeing Police: Raises the severity and potential sentences for fleeing or attempting to elude law enforcement

HB 253 — Motor Crimes: Establishes new felony and misdemeanor offenses tied to illegal police impersonation, license plate obscuration, and purchasing devices to evade traffic cameras

HB 437 — Electronic Monitoring Device (EMD) Tampering: Increases penalties for tampering with court-ordered ankle monitors, with penalties now matched to the original conviction’s degree

HB 479 — Leaving the Scene of a Crash: Courts must order restitution for property damage when someone is convicted of leaving the scene

HB 687 — Driving and Boating Crimes (“Trenton’s Law”): Increases penalties for repeat DUI or boating under the influence manslaughter cases, with certain repeat offenses now felonies

HB 693 — Aggravating Factors for Capital Felonies: Expands aggravating factors a jury may consider for the death penalty, including crimes in schools, religious places, or public gatherings

HB 703 — Utility Relocation: Requires communications companies to relocate a facility after receiving proper notice from local government that facility impedes a public right-of-way, with providers carrying the bulk of relocation expenses

HB 757 — Sexual Images: Creates new felony offenses for promoting, soliciting, or possessing illegal or lewd sexual images and for producing deepfake pornographic material

HB 777 — Luring Children: Increases penalties for luring children under 14 into illicit situations and expands the definition of the offense

HB 989 — Foster Homes: Expedites licensing processes for family foster homes that need to relocate within the state

HB 1049 — Court Officials: Increases penalties for harassing, tampering with, or retaliating against court officials, including judges and prosecutors

HB 1121 — Unmanned Aircraft (Drones): Increases penalties for unauthorized drone use, especially when equipped with weapons or flown over sensitive infrastructure. Also allows law enforcement agencies to use a drone to provide the public safety of a crowd of 50 people or more and to provide security to elected officials.

HB 1351 — Sexual Predators: Requires more frequent verification and detailed reporting by registered sexual predators and offenders

HB 1451 — Sexual Cyberharassment: Elevates the crime to a felony if cyberharassment is done for financial gain, and grants victims’ new civil legal recourse

HB 1455 — Minimum Sentencing: Sets mandatory minimum sentences for certain sexual felonies and eliminates early release options for repeat offenders

SB 150 — Chaining Animals (“Trooper’s Law”): Criminalizes abandoning restrained animals during natural disasters, now punishable as a felony

HB 7003 — Financial Tech Sandbox: Removes the scheduled repeal date of a public records exemption, which applies to sensitive business information held by the state for certain applications, originally set to expire on October 2

SB 168 — Mental Illness (“Tristin Murphy Act”): Expands diversion programs and alternatives to prosecution for eligible defendants with mental illness

SB 948 — Flood Disclosures: Mandates disclosure of flood risks and prior flood damage by landlords and home sellers to prospective tenants and property buyers

SB 1080 — Land Regulations: Requires local governments to process development and zoning applications within a set period, with refund provisions for excessive delay

SB 1168 — Tracking Devices: Criminalizes placing tracking devices on another’s property for criminal purposes

SB 1386 — Utility Workers: Establishes new penalties for assault or battery against utility workers maintaining critical infrastructure

SB 1804 — Human Trafficking: Creates the capital felony offense of trafficking vu…