The bill amends Florida Statutes to strengthen protections for court officials by establishing criminal penalties for misconduct directed at them. It introduces the definition of "administrative assistant" and expands the list of protected personnel to include general magistrates, special magistrates, and child support enforcement hearing officers. Specific offenses such as knowingly threatening, harassing, or tampering with court officials are outlined, with penalties ranging from misdemeanors to felonies based on the severity of the offense. The bill also creates new sections defining terms related to these offenses and specifies penalties for retaliation against court officials involved in official investigations or proceedings, with enhanced penalties for retaliation resulting in bodily injury.

Additionally, the bill makes significant amendments to existing statutes, particularly in Section 918.12, which now includes provisions for tampering with or harassing court officials while removing references to jurors. It also broadens the definition of "racketeering activity" in Section 895.02 to include a wider range of crimes, such as aiding or soliciting noncitizen voting and Medicaid fraud. The offense severity ranking chart in Section 921.0022 is updated to adjust classifications for certain crimes, ensuring that these offenses are adequately addressed within Florida's criminal justice system. The act is set to take effect on October 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
H 1049 Filed: 918.12, 772.102, 895.02, 921.0022
H 1049 c1: 836.12, 918.12, 772.102, 895.02
H 1049 e1: 836.12, 918.12, 895.02, 921.0022
H 1049 er: 836.12, 918.12, 895.02, 921.0022