House Bill 895 seeks to amend and create various sections of Florida law concerning prostitution and related offenses, introducing new definitions such as "adult," "assignation," "commercial sex," and "prostitution." The bill establishes section 796.031, which prohibits adults from engaging in prostitution and outlines criminal penalties for violations. It also allows for the admissibility of testimony regarding the reputation of locations involved in such charges and mandates educational programs for individuals convicted of these offenses. Additionally, the bill repeals section 796.04, which addresses coercion into prostitution, and amends section 796.06 to reclassify penalties for maintaining spaces for commercial sex from misdemeanors to felonies based on the number of offenses.

Furthermore, the bill enhances educational efforts related to human trafficking and commercial sex offenses by allowing judicial circuits to establish educational programs for offenders. It removes the mandatory minimum incarceration period for repeat offenders, providing judges with more discretion in sentencing. The bill also modifies vehicle impoundment laws, updates background check requirements for service provider personnel, and establishes the Rape Crisis Program Trust Fund, funded through court assessments from certain convictions. Overall, HB 895 aims to strengthen regulations surrounding criminal activities that exploit vulnerable populations while emphasizing education and community service as part of the penalties for violations. The act is set to take effect on October 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
H 895 Filed: 796.04, 796.06, 796.07, 397.4073, 60.05, 322.28, 397.417, 420.6241, 435.07, 480.041, 480.043, 480.046, 772.102, 787.01, 787.02, 794.056, 796.08, 796.09, 893.138, 895.02, 938.085