The proposed bill, titled the "Gay and Transgender Panic Legal Defenses Prohibition Act," aims to prohibit the use of gay and transgender panic defenses in criminal proceedings. It defines key terms such as "gender expression," "gender identity," and "sexual orientation," emphasizing that these characteristics should not be used to excuse or justify criminal behavior. The bill asserts that such defenses undermine the responsibility of perpetrators for harm inflicted on lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender individuals.

Specifically, the bill creates a new section in Florida Statutes (s. 900.06) that explicitly states that a nonviolent sexual advance or any perception or belief regarding an individual's sexual orientation or gender identity cannot be used as a defense in criminal cases. This includes attempts to mitigate the severity of an offense during sentencing. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.